Is Halloween (1978) on BD worth buying?

[katjakassin]

Originally Posted by J_UNTITLED

I hope they will re-release it at some point on BD in a better transfer/upgrade... but, the chances of that happening aren't exactly great since there is never that great of a demand for "Halloween." Still, when you think about how many times there was a double-dip going on with it on DVD than perhaps there is still hope yet.

I think you answered your own question. There is some sort of a demand on "Halloween" or Anchor Bay would never have released so many versions. Infact, if there wasn't a demand, Halloween wouldn't have been one of the first Blu-rays released from Anchor Bay.

I would bet everything that I own that once and if the Blu-ray disc because the industry standard, that Halloween will get several more releases. I wouldn't even be surprised to see a set much like what Anchor Bay did for Dawn of the Dead a couple of years back.

[owa]

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

Best Buy has this on sale this week for $14.99.

Heh, I just got through looking through the ad and was going to post that. Anyway, yeah, that's a great deal on it.

Looks great, sounds good, imo.

[obiwopkenobi62]

I had watched Rob Zombies Halloween on DVD/theatrical version and just watched the unrated Blu over the weekend. I really like the unrated Blu. My wife liked it better than John carpenters.

[Eagle_23]

Just got this delivered from Amazon last Thursday and I have to say I'm blown away. The PQ certainly is an upgrade but just as well the audio which a lot of reviewers weren't impressed by. For example the scene where Loomis and the nurse go to pick Michael up. The rain and atmosphere in that scene really come to life on the BD. Additionally the price they have this running at is a steal (12.75 or so from Amazon). Halloween is my favorite horror movie so I'd definitely recommend this. Great buy!

[BladeRunner2007]

I do love the movie, it's a masterpiece. But I heard the colors were changed on the BD. I love the blue-ish tint on the 1999 U.S. Anchor Bay DVD. So is the BD better or worse? I heard the '99 DVD has the original color timing, which was always intended by director of cinematography Dean Cundey. Can anyone help, or post some screenshots of their BD?

[PowellPressburger]

well the color correction issue was before the BD... The older Anchor Bay 2 Disc Limited Edtion contained the best color for the transfer... but they used a different one for other DVD and now BD release.. I wish they would do another edition on Blu that fixes it.... but I still like the Blu a lot. It looks great. Nice deep blacks esp during the scene where you start seeing his mask behind Jamie Lee on that infamous scene.

[nathanp]

I love the movie and the transfer, I'd say go for it.

[AKORIS]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

well the color correction issue was before the BD... The older Anchor Bay 2 Disc Limited Edtion contained the best color for the transfer... but they used a different one for other DVD and now BD release.. I wish they would do another edition on Blu that fixes it.... but I still like the Blu a lot. It looks great. Nice deep blacks esp during the scene where you start seeing his mask behind Jamie Lee on that infamous scene.

*******completely agree about the older Anchor Bay release-- that's THE
transfer to own-- wish that it was used for the blu...... however considering that this is one of the best horror films of all time and the hi-def
resolution is a spectacular upgrade and it's usually available for 10 bucks or less........ the original question is beyond comprehension to me

[borninusa]

Just get it!

[MikeZ.]

Exactly ! It was the $ 9.99 price tag that allowed me to take the risk, and 20 minutes in, boy did I feel blessed !!! https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Hallo...Reviews/521/1/

SUPERIOR !!! ESP. when you consider it was 1978 !!!

[BladeRunner2007]

Found this review of the BD. It looks incredible, but the gray-ish night time scene don't appeal to me. Damn, why didn't they use the Cundey transfer

[mywhitenoise]

The color really isn't that much different. I actually think it's the daytime scenes that suffer most, because those had a more orange hue on the '99 transfers.
But for $9.99 it's worth the upgrade, and it'll make the double dip (if there ever is one) a lot easier to swallow.

[retablo]

Point of contention is that Carpenter approved the Criterion laserdisc master was before the Anchor Bay DVD, and it didn't have all the blues. Then Cundey approved that 1999 master which bumped up all the colors. So who's right? My feeling is that the blues were oversaturated because of DVDs lack of clarity and resolution and were never supposed to be THAT bright, but that's just my guess. Either that, or Cundey was offering a sort of revisionist history regarding the film — or maybe those colors were intended from the beginning but never achieved until then. I just don't feel like Carpenter would approve a transfer of his own film is it had the wrong color timing.

[MaCruz]

Classic movie! Get it!

[BladeRunner2007]

Originally Posted by retablo

Point of contention is that Carpenter approved the Criterion laserdisc master was before the Anchor Bay DVD, and it didn't have all the blues. Then Cundey approved that 1999 master which bumped up all the colors. So who's right? My feeling is that the blues were oversaturated because of DVDs lack of clarity and resolution and were never supposed to be THAT bright, but that's just my guess. Either that, or Cundey was offering a sort of revisionist history regarding the film — or maybe those colors were intended from the beginning but never achieved until then. I just don't feel like Carpenter would approve a transfer of his own film is it had the wrong color timing.

Well, to me it is not that important who approved to what, but rather which I prefer. And I prefer Cundey's transfer, even if Carpenter did not approve it.

[fiveseven4combat]

Everything looked fine for me. I'd go for it, an original is always worth it.

[MrFilmFanatic]

It's the best looking version that I have seen and like others have said, you can get it for $10! It's a no brainer!

[md99]

Few more shots here if you are interested

http://www.somniumxxx.biz/br_screencap/halloween/

[retablo]

Originally Posted by BladeRunner2007

Well, to me it is not that important who approved to what, but rather which I prefer. And I prefer Cundey's transfer, even if Carpenter did not approve it.

Then don't buy it. Problem solved.

I prefer a lot of things, doesn't mean I get them.

[MaCruz]

It will be $9.99 at BB from 1/10 - 1/16 ..

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=127048