Ok I'll bite. I personally love Zombie's Halloween II, and I don't like his first outing nearly as much. It is a very different film than any other Halloween film (or even slasher films in general), right down to the film stock. It's a dark, grim movie. I love the grainy 16mm stock that was used. Zombie really tried to make this HIS Halloween movie, with no apologies. He didn't even use the iconic theme and I think it works given the vastly different tone of the film.
This story is about the aftermath of a massacre, and the effect it has on the survivors. STC really dug in and gave a chilling performance (and I couldn't stand her in the first one). She's beaten down and it really shows. Her relationship with Annie is scarred and the director's cut really focuses on this. Danielle Harris is great too, and there is one scene at the end that is beautifully executed (again, in the director's cut). If you've seen it, you know what I'm talking about.
I think it is important to separate yourself from the rest of the Halloween films before watching HII, because it is very different.
I actually prefer the ending of the theatrical cut, but overall the DC is the way to go...maybe another editing project will be added to my to-do list
