Halloween 4/Halloween 5 ~ Blu-rays 8/21/12 - Reviews

[movieman1979]

Originally Posted by bestblus

Can we all at least agree that Resurrection is the worst one of the series?

Yes, oh yes, it most certainly is. For me H2O puts that series to bed the minute Laurie puts the business end of an axe to Mike's jugular. The end, book it, done, someone get the lights on the way out.

[BluPat]

Halloween 5 really is a good movie.....at the beginning. The first 30 minutes or so with Ellie Cornell (Rachel) at home during the daytime with Michael stalking her and then when Wendy Kaplan (Tina) comes to Rachel's to see her.....that whole section of the movie is VERY good and effectively creepy IMO. But after Rachel gets killed and from the middle of the movie onward to the end it snowballs into one pile of caca.

If they could have kept the feel of the first 30 minutes into the whole thing, it had the potential to be one of the best in the series. Even things as subtle as Tina lying on Rachel's bed and hearing the 'Halloween' theme slowly and softly playing in the background is so classic. That alone adds to the eerie atmosphere of her house (even in the daytime).

I don't know what happened after that. It's a shame.

[Omen2002]

Originally Posted by zafisher94

definitely. The director's cut is a completely different movie (more character development, better paced, 20 min longer, more Laurie's story, and different ending)

You ain't kidding. I remember thinking the movie was pretty bad when I saw it theatrically. I had zero interest in ever owning a copy. Last years famous .99 sale at certain BBV's rolls around and I said may as well buy a copy. It sat on a shelf for nearly a year until a friend from the UK was going on about the Director's Cut of the movie and how good it was. Long story short, I watched it and, what a difference. I honestly forget how the theatrical version went anymore. At the end of watching the movie I was like, this doesn't seem like the movie I remember. I wasn't aware that there was that much changed in the movie. It certainly makes sense now.

Originally Posted by zafisher94

That is a great point. I always noticed that in The Devil's Rejects. You have a group of horribly, demented, ruthless, but in some sick way likable. Yet the good guys are all unlikable in their personalities and we find ourselves rooting for the murdering, raping, evil villains. It does speak volumes about our society today. The only people who I found weren't rooting for the the Firefly family was my grandparents, which then makes me think of differences of their generation to ours.

I also feel the same about H2's cinematography.

I find the ending to The Devil's Rejects very sad. What I find funny is that in House of 1000 Corpses, I dislike the characters and by the end of The Devil's Rejects it feels like I'm saying goodbye to old friends. I don't know what that says about me as a person and I really don't care. What it tells me is, Rob Zombie and those involved did a helluva job on that movie, IMO.

[BluPat]

Halloween 4 has one of the best openings/intros in the franchise. The subtle music and the scenes of the secluded, desolate landscapes and farming communities are creepy.

[zafisher94]

Originally Posted by BluPat

Halloween 4 has one of the best openings/intros in the franchise. The subtle music and the scenes of the secluded, desolate landscapes and farming communities are creepy.

indeed, it is pretty cool. I also do enjoy H5's pumpkin slashing

[bdisc]

I can't believe how low H4 and H5 got on the Tomatometer.

I think for a low budget 80s slasher movie, H4 should have gotten at least a 60%. I thought H4 was one of the better slasher sequels.

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by bdisc

I can't believe how low H4 and H5 got on the Tomatometer.

I think for a low budget 80s slasher movie, H4 should have gotten at least a 60%. I thought H4 was one of the better slasher sequels.

Agreed!! I was a junior in high school when it came out. We all went to see it and it scared $hit out of us back then. I still love this sequel! It's my 2nd favorite other than the original.

[bdisc]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

It's my 2nd favorite other than the original.

Agreed. Most fans would say H2 is the best sequel, but I felt it was lackluster (had something missing).

[SwaggerJagger]

I will probably get these when they become $7.99 or around that price. I own both Zombie remakes and Halloween 6, H20, and Resurrection on Blu-Ray, so I'll eventually get these are the others. I love this movies, but I've only watched these sequels a few times, H20 is practically the only sequel I've watched many many times.

[steev210]

IMO I think HII is the best sequel, but 4 was a solid attempt to bring the series back to its roots after the Myer-less HIII, (even though I do enjoy that installment as a stand alone film not connected to the rest of the series). They nailed the tone/feel/atmosphere of Halloween-especailly with the opening shots. It felt like Halloween. My biggest complaint is the mask. Who in their right mind approved this design that was supposedly sculpted by professional artists? There are guys that make better replicas of the mask in their basements. To me, Michael wasn't scary in this movie-the mask looked like it had a smile on it and what's with the Luke Perry/Beverly Hills 90120 long sideburns? LOL. Other than that it did have a decent amount of suspense, great cast, a good score and was fairly bloodless like H1. I'd give
H4 ***1/2 out of ****

H5 I think is a complete mess. There is ZERO late Fall atmosphere on display-the trees all have their leaves that are lush and green, flowers are blooming in people's gardens (even on the Carruther's porch), homes have green lawns. It looks more like spring/summer and that ruined it for me. Living in the Northeast (and this I'm sure this applies to the midwest) by October 31 most of the leaves have fallen off the trees-the remaining leaves are brown, gold, orange, red-lawns have a greenish/brown died out look and there is no flower blooming going on. Jamie's psychic link to Michael was silly, having her be a mute for 50% of the film was a waste, the Myers house looked more like Munster's gothic house, the stuttering kid, obnoxious, annoying Tina along with the keystone cops and dorky male leads were too much to take. The mask was slightly better-it was creepier than H4 but the big nose was a mistake. I'd give H5 *1/2 out of **** mainly for the opening credits, the laundry chute scene and the attic scene.

I know I'll be flamed but I think H6 was a huge improvement over 5. Awesome atmosphere, great mask, Paul Rudd, decent suspense and Michael was more bad @ss. The film is a bit of a mess (editing, script) but I would give H6 *** out of ****

[hamchuck1]

Originally Posted by steev210

IMO I think HII is the best sequel, but 4 was a solid attempt to bring the series back to its roots after the Myer-less HIII, (even though I do enjoy that installment as a stand alone film not connected to the rest of the series). They nailed the tone/feel/atmosphere of Halloween-especailly with the opening shots. It felt like Halloween. My biggest complaint is the mask. Who in their right mind approved this design that was supposedly sculpted by professional artists? There are guys that make better replicas of the mask in their basements. To me, Michael wasn't scary in this movie-the mask looked like it had a smile on it and what's with the Luke Perry/Beverly Hills 90120 long sideburns? LOL. Other than that it did have a decent amount of suspense, great cast, a good score and was fairly bloodless like H1. I'd give
H4 ***1/2 out of ****

H5 I think is a complete mess. There is ZERO late Fall atmosphere on display-the trees all have their leaves that are lush and green, flowers are blooming in people's gardens (even on the Carruther's porch), homes have green lawns. It looks more like spring/summer and that ruined it for me. Living in the Northeast (and this I'm sure this applies to the midwest) by October 31 most of the leaves have fallen off the trees-the remaining leaves are brown, gold, orange, red-lawns have a greenish/brown died out look and there is no flower blooming going on. Jamie's psychic link to Michael was silly, having her be a mute for 50% of the film was a waste, the Myers house looked more like Munster's gothic house, the stuttering kid, obnoxious, annoying Tina along with the keystone cops and dorky male leads were too much to take. The mask was slightly better-it was creepier than H4 but the big nose was a mistake. I'd give H5 *1/2 out of **** mainly for the opening credits, the laundry chute scene and the attic scene.

I know I'll be flamed but I think H6 was a huge improvement over 5. Awesome atmosphere, great mask, Paul Rudd, decent suspense and Michael was more bad @ass. The film is a bit of a mess (editing, script) but I would give H6 *** out of ****

I'm with you, man. I love part 6. Great atmosphere and mask. I also like the schitzo editing. At least its different.

[Arlington]

Here's a link to Zombie's H2 on DVDTalk...if you scroll halfway down or so after the review, there's the writer's ranking of the series, which seems to mirror many opinions on here:

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/40960/halloween-ii/

[steev210]

Originally Posted by hamchuck1

I'm with you, man. I love part 6. Great atmosphere and mask. I also like the schitzo editing. At least its different.

Yeah, the editing on H6 was different-as far removed from Carpenter's as you could get. I don't know if it really fits a Halloween movie though. I think the H6 Producer's Cut had better editing and score, although the electric guitar matched the quick cut/schizo editing in the theatrical version. Either way I loved H6. I know a lot of fans hate the curse of thorn storyline but I think Daniel Farrands was attempting to tie it back to the Druid storyline introduced in HII and just expand on it. Personally I had no problem with it and it seemed like a logical progression to take the series after it was incorporated further in H5. But to each his own...

[steev210]

Originally Posted by Arlington

Here's a link to Zombie's H2 on DVDTalk...if you scroll halfway down or so after the review, there's the writer's ranking of the series, which seems to mirror many opinions on here:

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/40960/halloween-ii/

Thanks Arlington, that was a good read-I enjoyed that article. I love hearing people's opinions of the series...where they rank each installment and why...even if their opinions do not agree with my own-I ceratinly appreciate them.

[mayorofsmpleton]

Originally Posted by BluPat

Halloween 5 really is a good movie.....at the beginning. The first 30 minutes or so with Ellie Cornell (Rachel) at home during the daytime with Michael stalking her and then when Wendy Kaplan (Tina) comes to Rachel's to see her.....that whole section of the movie is VERY good and effectively creepy IMO. But after Rachel gets killed and from the middle of the movie onward to the end it snowballs into one pile of caca.

If they could have kept the feel of the first 30 minutes into the whole thing, it had the potential to be one of the best in the series. Even things as subtle as Tina lying on Rachel's bed and hearing the 'Halloween' theme slowly and softly playing in the background is so classic. That alone adds to the eerie atmosphere of her house (even in the daytime).

I don't know what happened after that. It's a shame.

You forgetting when she runs outside in her robe and then the goofy cops with their 'wacky' sound effects show up? It's pretty bad at that point. Also when Michael washes up on the 'Hermit' who keeps him for a year... what the heck was that? Oh right, 6 explains he was likely a member of 'Thorn'

Uh-huh.

[mayorofsmpleton]

Originally Posted by bdisc

Agreed. Most fans would say H2 is the best sequel, but I felt it was lackluster (had something missing).

I think it gets a "free pass" because of Carpenter/Hill's involvement, the original cast/crew participating... but the whole thing is a dull retread of the first movie -- without any of the subtlety and with a LOT of bad dialogue, poor acting and forced story.

I can't stand "It's like 1-2 make one long movie!" comments. How you can watch those two back to back and think they are similar astounds me. They 'look' the same -- but that's about it. Tonally they are so different.

[mayorofsmpleton]

I'd rank 'em as follows.

Halloween - * * * *
Halloween II (2009) (DCut) - * * * 1/2
Halloween 4 - * * * / Halloween H20 - * * *
Halloween (2007) (DCut) - * * (improved on theatrical but not by much)
Halloween (2007) (Theatrical) - * *
Halloween 2 - * 1/2
Halloween 5 - * 1/2
Halloween 6 (PCut) - * 1/2
Halloween 6 (Theatrical) - *
Halloween II (2009) - 1/2 *
Halloween Resurrection - Zero (can't rank a movie that doesn't exist...)

It's interesting because while I rank the remake above a few of the sequels -- it's the sequels I watch each year -- nostalgia sometimes trumps quality. I'm also a sucker for b-movies. This will be the first year I include 3 in with the bunch when I marathon. It's been too long since I've seen it to give a fair score.

[bdisc]

Originally Posted by mayorofsmpleton

I'd rank 'em as follows.

Halloween - * * * *
Halloween II (2009) (DCut) - * * * 1/2
Halloween 4 - * * * / Halloween H20 - * * *
Halloween (2007) (DCut) - * * (improved on theatrical but not by much)
Halloween (2007) (Theatrical) - * *
Halloween 2 - * 1/2
Halloween 5 - * 1/2
Halloween 6 (PCut) - * 1/2
Halloween 6 (Theatrical) - *
Halloween II (2009) - 1/2 *
Halloween Resurrection - Zero (can't rank a movie that doesn't exist...)

It's interesting because while I rank the remake above a few of the sequels -- it's the sequels I watch each year -- nostalgia sometimes trumps quality. I'm also a sucker for b-movies. This will be the first year I include 3 in with the bunch when I marathon. It's been too long since I've seen it to give a fair score.

I was originally going to get Halloween II Collector's Edition, Halloween 4, and Halloween 5, but now I'm rethinking H5.

H5 was pretty terrible, so I'm leaning toward just having H1, H2, and H4.

[Forever Knight]

The first 5 films are untouchable.

[leem6453]

Deepdiscountdvd has Halloween 4 and 5 for $16.21 each. I just pulled the trigger.