Poltergeist (1982) (25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)

[Member-167298]

MassiveMovieBuff - Did you grow up watching Poltergeist? If not, maybe that is why you think it is overrated.

Easily one of the scariest movies I saw as a kid.

I also love Part III. I liked Part II when I was younger, but now it just seems like a watered down version of the original so I pretend it doesn't exist.

[MassiveMovieBuff]

Originally Posted by PrestonXI

MassiveMovieBuff - Did you grow up watching Poltergeist? If not, maybe that is why you think it is overrated.

Easily one of the scariest movies I saw as a kid.

I also love Part III. I liked Part II when I was younger, but now it just seems like a watered down version of the original so I pretend it doesn't exist.

I grew up with part 3 but I did see part 1 for the first time when I was 12. I actually didn't like it that much my first time. It grew on me the more times I saw it.

[Dotpattern]

Originally Posted by cherbert

I have always thought that! There is no way Tobe Hooper directed this. I just can't think why Spielberg would have given the credit away.

From what I've read over the years, Spielberg was also working on E.T. at the time and his contract with Universal prohibited him from directing anything else. Apparently, he had every intention of not directing Poltergeist but was not happy with the footage he saw coming in from Hooper. Cast and crew have done interviews stating that Spielberg directed most scenes.

Interestingly, this vintage "making of" featurette on the DVD shows Spielberg being very hands-on, with only a shot or two of Hooper observing in the background.

Poltergeist (1982) Making Of Featurette - YouTube

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by PrestonXI

MassiveMovieBuff - Did you grow up watching Poltergeist? If not, maybe that is why you think it is overrated.

Easily one of the scariest movies I saw as a kid.

I also love Part III. I liked Part II when I was younger, but now it just seems like a watered down version of the original so I pretend it doesn't exist.

I grew up watching it as a kid, which is the point I think.

It was terrifying as a kid, but not so much as an adult.

...seems more like a Disney version of a horror movie.

[emmet otter]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

...seems more like a Disney version of a horror movie.

Hah! So true. Never looked at it that way.

[cherbert]

Originally Posted by Dotpattern

From what I've read over the years, Spielberg was also working on E.T. at the time and his contract with Universal prohibited him from directing anything else. Apparently, he had every intention of not directing Poltergeist but was not happy with the footage he saw coming in from Hooper. Cast and crew have done interviews stating that Spielberg directed most scenes.

Interestingly, this vintage "making of" featurette on the DVD shows Spielberg being very hands-on, with only a shot or two of Hooper observing in the background.

Poltergeist (1982) Making Of Featurette - YouTube

Very interesting. Thank you.

[rocknblues81]

Originally Posted by MassiveMovieBuff

Yeah the first one is solid and that was a great ending. I guess the reason I think its overrated is that its on so many lists of the scariest movies ever made which I don't find that its scary at all but I guess certain movies effect people in different ways. One thing that I loved about part 2 was the main theme "Carol Anne's theme" from the first one at the end credits of part 2. The choir sounded so much better in that version to me. I love part 3. Its dark and creepy IMO but its Def not perfect. The John Hancock Tower was a perfect location for the movie too.

I agree. The original is worth owning, but its not one of the best horror movies ever.

[Lyle_JP]

Originally Posted by darkness2918

Are there still people who believe Steven Spielberg secretly directed this instead of Tobe Hooper? I was talking to a friend last week who still thinks this is true so I was curious if anyone here also felt that way.

Zelda Rubinstein claimed repeatedly that Hooper never directed one minute of one scene with her. It was all Spielberg, while Hopper just "smoked weed and sat in the corner", as she described it.

And there is no argument whatsoever about Hooper's involvement in the film's post production: There simply was none. On the final day of shooting, Hooper collected his check and disappeared. All of the editing, scoring, and effects work were overseen by Spielberg alone.

[GasmaskAvenger]

Originally Posted by Lyle_JP

It was all Spielberg, while Hopper just "smoked weed and sat in the corner", as she described it.

I wouldn't be surprised if Tobe was ostracized by Spielberg by that point of the filming. Wouldn't blame a guy who's supposed to be getting his big Hollywood break taken away from his producer and retaliating by getting baked as hell.

[StingingVelvet]

Hooper brought all this upon himself, I feel no real pity. He took a brilliant start to a career and flushed it away with drugs and poor decisions.

[TheBoss062]

I have a sneaking feeling that Warner Bros. will wait until the 30 year anniversary in 2022 to release a UHD of the film.

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by TheBoss062

I have a sneaking feeling that Warner Bros. will wait until the 30 year anniversary in 2022 to release a UHD of the film.

2022 would be the 40th anniversary. The 30th anniversary was in 2012.

[Nailwraps]

This year also marks the film's 35th anniversary. They could just release a new edition this year.

[Markgway]

Hooper made a memorable debut (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) and the rest was rubbish.

It doesn't surprise me that Spielberg directed Poltergeist because there's absolutely nothing in Hooper's filmography to suggest him capable of work of this high standard.

[MJD64]

As someone who loves Spielberg and is very familiar with Hopper's work I've always maintained that Spielberg essentially made this movie. His sensibilities and technique are all over it. Just the way the suburban-dwelling Freeling's are seen as the 80's family-ideal is pure Spielberg from that period ( I'm still convinced that Hopper would have blackly satirized that Reagan-ideal vision; and the movie might have been more interesting in that respect as a result of it).

Hopper's Texas Chain Saw is certainly his one masterpiece but I still like Salem's Lot, most of The Funhouse ( a shame that some great build-up is dissipated once the ludicrous looking monster is revealed) and the genuinely bonkers Lifeforce is still quite a guilty pleasure of mine.

[klauswhereareyou]

I'm of the mind that more than likely Hooper was director in name on this, but I will admit that at least the last act where all hell is breaking loose feels more in line with Hooper's filmography than it does Spielberg's (except maybe the lone exception being the last 30 minutes of Temple of Doom). Of course maybe it was Spielberg aping Hooper?

Side note apparently Hooper did not film all of Eaten Alive (1976), and left the films The Dark (1979) and Venom (1981) due to "creative differences."

[MJD64]

Originally Posted by klauswhereareyou

I'm of the mind that more than likely Hooper was director in name on this, but I will admit that at least the last act where all hell is breaking loose feels more in line with Hooper's filmography than it does Spielberg's (except maybe the lone exception being the last 30 minutes of Temple of Doom). Of course maybe it was Spielberg aping Hooper?

That special-effects heavy climax always reminded me more of Raiders of The Lost Ark, especially Karen Allen's rather gruesome encounter with those mummified remains in the underground tomb (which is also repeated with JoBeth Williams in the swimming pool), as well as the climax to that film. Still, there is a kind of gothic frisson that may well have been influenced by Hopper.

[postmodel]

All I know is Lifeforce is amazing. Hooper unfortunately has had way more misses than hits, but IMO his standouts are phenomenal.

TCM
Eaten Alive
TCM2
Lifeforce

I can re-watch all 4 of those over and over again. And that's all that matters in my eyes.

I will count Poltergeist I guess to add to that Hooper list...but yeah we all know the "history" of that one. It's a shame that the honest truth has yet to be officially confirmed though common stories from various people who worked on the film lets you know what's up.

Do you think Spielberg would get in a lot of trouble with the DGA today if he officially came out saying that was his film? Obviously that's a huge issue for them.

This is a pretty cool article regarding similar situations:

http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/4691...tdirected.html

[Nicolawicz]

Originally Posted by MJD64

That special-effects heavy climax always reminded me more of Raiders of The Lost Ark, especially Karen Allen's rather gruesome encounter with those mummified remains in the underground tomb (which is also repeated with JoBeth Williams in the swimming pool), as well as the climax to that film.

There's also that dolly zoom shot (which Spielberg uses in Jaws and E.T.).

[klauswhereareyou]

Originally Posted by postmodel

All I know is Lifeforce is amazing. Hooper unfortunately has had way more misses than hits, but IMO his standouts are phenomenal.

TCM
Eaten Alive
TCM2
Lifeforce

I can re-watch all 4 of those over and over again. And that's all that matters in my eyes.

I will count Poltergeist I guess to add to that Hooper list...but yeah we all know the "history" of that one. It's a shame that the honest truth has yet to be officially confirmed though common stories from various people who worked on the film lets you know what's up.

Do you think Spielberg would get in a lot of trouble with the DGA today if he officially came out saying that was his film? Obviously that's a huge issue for them.

This is a pretty cool article regarding similar situations:

http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/4691...tdirected.html

Yeah I'd add The Funhouse to that list, but I agree.