Poltergeist (1982) (25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)

[steel_breeze]

Originally Posted by MJD64

...and oh yeah, Spielberg totally directed this movie! His fingerprints are all over it, especially in the family dynamic and interactions. That is pure Spielberg.

Totally agree... and not just because of the "family dynamics". Even the manner in which things are revealed, the blocking of actors and the use of foreground characters who "fold into the frame" as the camera moves is pure Spielberg (which he, in turn, got from Fellini). Think of that scene in the hallway on the second floor, when the camera pulls back to reveal all the family members as they're preparing to go into "the haunted room". The blocking in that scene alone -- with its artful use of foreground/background, characters trading places within the frame, and all accomplished in a single long take -- is NOT Tobe Hooper, lol.

[Wickerman1972]

Any indication this is gonna get redone? It's a classic and deserves better than VC1 and bd25. Needs a 4k scan, the full treatment.

[WorkShed]

Originally Posted by Wickerman1972

Any indication this is gonna get redone? It's a classic and deserves better than VC1 and bd25. Needs a 4k scan, the full treatment.

Not too sure about the rights to this film. It was originally produced and theatrically distributed by MGM. However, Warner Brothers got the home video rights starting in 1999, I believe.

Now, 20th Century Fox currently have home video rights to the sequels through their acquisition of much of MGM backlog. However, MGM still make other home video releases through third-parties and have recently exercised that due to the fact that MGM is hemorrhaging funds. We're seeing tons of new releases of MGM titles in the works.

Shout! recently produced Collector's Editions of the sequels. Considering two other MGM franchises (Carrie and Species) both had their sequels released from Shout! and later saw the original film released through the company, I'm willing to bet that there is a good chance that Shout! will release a Collector's Edition of the original Poltergeist.

[Wernski]

Originally Posted by WorkShed

I'm willing to bet that there is a good chance that Shout! will release a Collector's Edition of the original Poltergeist.

I would love that, but I feel like there's some kind of agreement by people behind the scenes not to cooperate with this, which is why this film keeps getting screwed out of the special edition it should've rightly had for decades. But fingers are definitely crossed.

[Monterey Jack]

Even if Scream Factory did the original film, the fact is the only extras we'd get is maybe an interview with some of the lower-tier visual effects artists, one of the background extras and the trailer and a few TV spots. NO ONE wants to discuss this production in detail, even 35 years after the fact. Would that REALLY be worth dropping $35 on for a newly-commissioned slipcover and a free poster? The existing Blu looks and sounds great, so I can live with that.

[Nailwraps]

Originally Posted by WorkShed

Not too sure about the rights to this film. It was originally produced and theatrically distributed by MGM. However, Warner Brothers got the home video rights starting in 1999, I believe.

That's because the first film was part of the pre-86 MGM library bought by Ted Turner which long story short, the library is now owned by Turner which is now owned by Warner (with some exceptions such as the original Flipper TV series still being own by MGM).

Funny thing; Poltergeist II is the first film in MGM's own post-86 library.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by Wickerman1972

Any indication this is gonna get redone? It's a classic and deserves better than VC1 and bd25. Needs a 4k scan, the full treatment.

While I wouldn't kick a 4k remaster out of bed for eating crackers the last time I watched the BD I thought it still looked great. A shorter movie like that with no supplements is fine on a BD25.

Would love an SE of this someday though, of course. Likely will never happen but we can dream.

[WorkShed]

Originally Posted by Nailwraps

That's because the first film was part of the pre-86 MGM library bought by Ted Turner which long story short, the library is now owned by Turner which is now owned by Warner (with some exceptions such as the original Flipper TV series still being own by MGM).

Funny thing; Poltergeist II is the first film in MGM's own post-86 library.

Thanks for the information!

[Wickerman1972]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

While I wouldn't kick a 4k remaster out of bed for eating crackers the last time I watched the BD I thought it still looked great. A shorter movie like that with no supplements is fine on a BD25.

Would love an SE of this someday though, of course. Likely will never happen but we can dream.

I don't actually have it yet but will take y'all's word for it that it looks good. But I'm guessing 2k scan and if that's the case it can look better and a film of its stature deserves the best. But then again I think that everything should get a 4k scan nowadays. Even 4k scanning The Texas Chainsaw Massacre made a difference and it's only 16mm.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by Wickerman1972

I don't actually have it yet but will take y'all's word for it that it looks good. But I'm guessing 2k scan and if that's the case it can look better and a film of its stature deserves the best. But then again I think that everything should get a 4k scan nowadays. Even 4k scanning The Texas Chainsaw Massacre made a difference and it's only 16mm.

In a perfect world every catalog title would be scanned in 4k and put out on UHD tomorrow, but it ain't a perfect world. Poltergeist looks good.

[klauswhereareyou]

Another story from someone on the set who comments on who directed the film:http://www.blumhouse.com/2017/07/14/...d-poltergeist/

[OneWayFilms]

Yes, it has Stephen's signature all over it, but I'm glad Tobe was there and was able to have creative input as well.

After Stephen did Duel, Jaws, Poltergeist and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, no one could fault him for desiring to move away from the chillers he was doing on a regular basis.

The Color Purple, Schindler's List, etc... was his next phase in his career.

But he's been away from it so long now, and I MISS his signature touch in a scary film and would LOVE to see Stephen do another horror/suspenseful film.

[klauswhereareyou]

I've always thought for years this was at the very least a co-directing effort. Now knowing the reason why (the threat of an impending director's strike back in 1981), it makes even more sense.

[Todd Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by OneWayFilms

Yes, it has Stephen's signature all over it, but I'm glad Tobe was there and was able to have creative input as well.

After Stephen did Duel, Jaws, Poltergeist and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, no one could fault him for desiring to move away from the chillers he was doing on a regular basis.

The Color Purple, Schindler's List, etc... was his next phase in his career.

But he's been away from it so long now, and I MISS his signature touch in a scary film and would LOVE to see Stephen do another horror/suspenseful film.

If you are insisting on referring to Steven Spielberg by his first name like he was a personal friend, at least get his name right.

[SeanJoyce]

Anybody else feel that Poltergeist would have been a stronger film had Spielberg not meddled so much?

I'm one of those adamant about the fact that the film is primarily Spielberg's and there's no denying it's a classic, but the nastiness that an unfettered Hooper could have unleashed would have resulted in an even stronger haunted house pic.

When assessing Hooper's filmography Poltergeist gets a special consideration asterisk from me.

[postmodel]

I would love to see this picture:

“It’s the scene where the tree comes in to grabs the boy, and we have two cameras set up. In the foreground on an apple box is (an excited) Tobe, standing right behind him is Spielberg pointing. Next to him was my brother on camera and me.”

Does it exist online somewhere?

I like how he summed up the way the directing worked out between the two. Makes sense. It's a great film. Obviously Spielberg is still cranking out some classics, and I wish I could say Hooper's last film, Djinn, was an unseen classic, but I unfortunately cannot. I believe I read somewhere that that film holds the usual story though of producers stepping in too often.

[klauswhereareyou]

Originally Posted by postmodel

I would love to see this picture:



Does it exist online somewhere?

I like how he summed up the way the directing worked out between the two. Makes sense. It's a great film. Obviously Spielberg is still cranking out some classics, and I wish I could say Hooper's last film, Djinn, was an unseen classic, but I unfortunately cannot. I believe I read somewhere that that film holds the usual story though of producers stepping in too often.

This was in the article I posted the other day:

[postmodel]

Originally Posted by klauswhereareyou

This was in the article I posted the other day:

And of course what I quoted came from the same article! Haha

Oh man, definitely not on my game this morning. Thanks for posting it here though! It is a wonderful picture especially given the circumstances of this production.

[Lyle_JP]

Originally Posted by SeanJoyce

Anybody else feel that Poltergeist would have been a stronger film had Spielberg not meddled so much?

He didn't "meddle". He directed the whole picture. And had intended to from the beginning. Hooper was, at best, a "consultant".

[PowellPressburger]

There is nothing wrong with Poltergeist. The movie is perfect even with that edit of going to the neighbors.

Everything about this movie is why 1982 was one of the greatest years for movies ever! and that Jerry Goldsmith score is everything.