Poltergeist (1982) (25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)

[Member-167298]

Originally Posted by Liquid_Swords

Part 3 is pretty cheesy I guess now, but that movie scared me badly as a young child lol. I hope we get a release soon.

I saw Poltergeist III so many times on TV as a kid and loved it. Even now, I think there are some legitimately creative ideas in it. Would love to see a Blu at some point.

[HomerThompson]

I've been holding out on buying the blu-ray (already own the DVD) in hopes of a Special Edition. With Gremlins and Back to the Future receiving retrospective documentaries, and the reboot coming out this July, I thought we might finally be seeing a proper Poltergeist blu-ray this year.

I know the controversy surrounding the Spielberg/Hooper who directed what might be the reason we haven't had any kind of documentary or featurettes pertaining to the film, but was that really the "unofficial" reason?

[DMRI2006]

Originally Posted by PrestonXI

I saw Poltergeist III so many times on TV as a kid and loved it. Even now, I think there are some legitimately creative ideas in it. Would love to see a Blu at some point.

There already is one -- Fox released it basically everywhere except the U.S. It's region free and it's not very expensive.

[DMRI2006]

Originally Posted by HomerThompson

I've been holding out on buying the blu-ray (already own the DVD) in hopes of a Special Edition. With Gremlins and Back to the Future receiving retrospective documentaries, and the reboot coming out this July, I thought we might finally be seeing a proper Poltergeist blu-ray this year.

Hell will freeze over before they package a Special Edition for this film or TWILIGHT ZONE THE MOVIE and you can be sure Spielberg is the reason. There's also no way you could record a commentary or do cast interviews and not go into Hooper and Spielberg's "creative relationship" -- or Hooper's reported drug use -- without making it so vanilla and watered down it'd be worthless anyway.

I mean, Warner wouldn't even put this 1982 featurette on the Blu-Ray...the one showing Spielberg "not directing" the film (lol)

Poltergeist (1982) Making Of Featurette - YouTube

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by HomerThompson

I've been holding out on buying the blu-ray (already own the DVD) in hopes of a Special Edition. With Gremlins and Back to the Future receiving retrospective documentaries, and the reboot coming out this July, I thought we might finally be seeing a proper Poltergeist blu-ray this year.

it would be great if they could include the deleted Pizza hut scene and not have that jarring edit, but I think this wouldn't ever happen.
To tell you the truth, if there is so much problem with that scene I would prefer they included it and they muted the word "pizza hut", than not having the scene at all!

Another solution would be to digitally alter the word. I assume they can do anything these days..
"pizza fat" perhaps?
or "pizza cat", "pizza nut" etc.

[Count Orlok]

Anyone else think that WB will release a special edition BD over the summer to cash in on the remake? I've been wanting to buy this for awhile, but with my luck, they'll announce it as soon as I unwrap the shrinkwrap.

If they do, I hope it's something worthwhile and not a repackage or just a different audio encode.

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by Count Orlok

Anyone else think that WB will release a special edition BD over the summer to cash in on the remake? I've been wanting to buy this for awhile, but with my luck, they'll announce it as soon as I unwrap the shrinkwrap.

If they do, I hope it's something worthwhile and not a repackage or just a different audio encode.

No one can give a definite answer, but the studio themselves, but If you truly want Poltergeist on blu-ray, don't procrastinate any longer, just buy it! Warner Brothers may, or may not ever release a special edition, so get the blu-ray while you can. You could have purchased it a long time ago, when it was on sale for only $9.99, including the digibook. Now, the blu-ray is $20.00.

[Filmmaker]

Warner Bros. distributes the classic original. 20th Century Fox will be distributing the naff remake. It's unlikely one studio would want to help, even indirectly, promote another studio's film, so I doubt you'll see a special edition of the 1982 film.

[Marv Inc.]

We did get a My Bloody Valentine Special Edition. Thanks to the Lions Gate remake and the original being Paramount.

[Monterey Jack]

Given the behinds-the-scenes turmoil regarding who "really" directed Poltergeist, I doubt we'll ever get a real behind-the-scenes peek into the making of the film.

[OneWayFilms]

Even if they DO re-release it, it's VERY doubtful it would be another digi-book. So, I would order the digi-book NOW and if they upgrade the film itself, it's worth getting again and sticking it in the current Digi-book.

[GuruAskew]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

Given the behinds-the-scenes turmoil regarding who "really" directed Poltergeist, I doubt we'll ever get a real behind-the-scenes peek into the making of the film.

I don't see WHV ever addressing the Hooper/Spielberg controversy or the deaths/curse in a documentary. Like "Twilight Zone: The Movie" that content is best served by sources of information that aren't filtered through the studio.

That said, Warner had nothing to do with the making of the film (it was produced by Amblin and released by United Artists and Warner assumed video rights years later) but even if the troubled production didn't reflect poorly on them it could still open them up to litigation.

The way I see it, the Hooper/Spielberg thing is unusual but not unprecedented. George Lucas did the same thing on the Star Wars sequels, Robert Rodriguez essentially directed Machete and Predators simultaneously with no-name co-directors rather than focusing on one or the other, and the Broccolis have basically run the Bond series like a television series for decades with creative decisions happening on an executive level and yes-man directors deferring to producers.

[HomerThompson]

Another one is Kurt Russell who ghost-directed Tombstone. He waited until the death of credited director George P. Cosmatos before revealing it though.

http://www.hollywood-elsewhere.com/i...06/russell.pdf

Another credited George P. Cosmatos film was Rambo: First Blood Part II which is said to actually be Sylvester Stallone who ghost-directed it.

Some other ones as well:

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

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by GuruAskew

I don't see WHV ever addressing the Hooper/Spielberg controversy or the deaths/curse in a documentary.

Any theoretical opinions, or speculations on the mysterious deaths of the Poltergeist costars will never be confirmed by any man, whether if their deaths were coincidental, or a curse. Poltergeist was just a Hollywood movie! The only person who actually knows what happened and why, is the Almighty God.

[Mateo Sanboval]

Originally Posted by slimdude

Any theoretical or speculations on the mysterious deaths of the Poltergeist costars will never be confirmed by any man, whether if their deaths were coincidental, or a curse. Poltergeist was just a Hollywood movie! The only person who actually knows what happened and why, is the Almighty God.

Priceless.

[Maddyfan2012]

Finally pulled the trigger & bought this I didn't even realize I didn't already own it till I saw a preview for the remake. So stoked now I'm debating if I wanna buy the 2 pack of 2, & 3 or individuals? I'm thinking I'm gonna buy the 2 pack just because (I don't hate them) they aren't as good as the first imho..


1 question I do have I thought MGM released all of these films originally when did Warner acquire the rights? Was it just for the bluray release? I tried to look online about it but found nothing.

[BNex99]

Originally Posted by Maddyfan2012

1 question I do have I thought MGM released all of these films originally when did Warner acquire the rights? Was it just for the bluray release? I tried to look online about it but found nothing.

I'm not sure of all the details, but Turner owned the pre-1986 MGM catalog, and then later merged with Warner. This is why all of MGM's classic films are distributed by Warner now, including 1982's Poltergeist. II & III were 1986 and 1988, respectively, so they're still owned by MGM. That's my understanding, at least.

[Maddyfan2012]

Originally Posted by BNex99

I'm not sure of all the details, but Turner owned the pre-1986 MGM catalog, and then later merged with Warner. This is why all of MGM's classic films are distributed by Warner now, including 1982's Poltergeist. II & III were 1986 and 1988, respectively, so they're still owned by MGM. That's my understanding, at least.

That makes sense thanks for answering the question!

[Markgway]

Originally Posted by slimdude

The only person who actually knows what happened and why, is the Almighty God.

Or any of the hundreds of cast and crew who worked on the set.

Just saying...

[Maddyfan2012]

Originally Posted by Markgway

Or any of the hundreds of cast and crew who worked on the set.

Just saying...

Haha!