Poltergeist (1982) (25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by ditcin

Well, that's contrary to what was originally reported. I've read several things on the net that have been altered from when they first happened; completely forgotten.

Steven Spielberg is a multi-billionaire, and he can very well buy the copyrights to any story, or novel that he's interested in, to make into a movie. For instance: why would I go into a store and steal a $0.99 candy bar, and take the risk of going to jail for petty theft, serve time, pay a hefty fine and have a lifetime misdemeanor charge on my record, when I had a pocket full of money, and all I had to do was pay for it.

[TheOneWithThePrize]

Originally Posted by slimdude

Steven Spielberg is a multi-billionaire, and he can very well buy the copyrights to any story that he's interested in, to make into a movie. For instance: why would I go into a store and steal a $0.99 candy bar, and take the risk of going to jail for petty theft, serve time, pay a hefty fine and have a lifetime misdemeanor charge on my record, when I had a pocket full of money, and all I had to do was pay for it.

Because you suffer from kleptomania? People do dumb $#!+ all the time for a number of psychological reasons that have no bearing on their wealth, fame or whatever trait that supposedly makes them stand above everybody else. Not saying Spielberg pilferred any story but your example is lacking.

[klauswhereareyou]

The thing with Tobe Hooper is that he was actually fired from a few films prior to Poltergeist, so it's not too hard for some to buy in that he may've been kinda sidelined for Poltergeist. For films he wasn't outright fired there are rumors that he may've been cast aside or disappeared for stretches of time (Eaten Alive and The Funhouse).

Unrelated to that, I kind of wonder if MGM tried selling this to the MPAA more as a Spielberg film than a Hooper one so they could get a PG instead of an R since there was no PG-13 back then.

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by TheOneWithThePrize

Because you suffer from kleptomania.

Try telling that to a judge, and see where it gets you. There is no excuse for breaking the law of any kind. Whether if they are a kleptomaniac or not, a person has to control themselves and take responsibility for their actions.

[Kyle15]

How y'all look right now

[Bumblefeet]

You all have it wrong.

Tobe Hooper is Steven Spielberg.

Steven Spielberg is Tobe Hooper.

Think about it.

[Stanis]

Same old internet rumors and backstabbing, still no quality HD release :\

[Filmmaker]

This has always been the most pointless and disinteresting argument to me. Ask me to show you one Spielberg film that looks, sounds and feels like POLTERGEIST and I'll give you fistfuls. Ask me to show you one Hooper film that looks, sounds or feels anything remotely like POLTERGEIST and, well...

[Ruemorgue10]

Originally Posted by Filmmaker

This has always been the most pointless and disinteresting argument to me. Ask me to show you one Spielberg film that looks, sounds and feels like POLTERGEIST and I'll give you fistfuls. Ask me to show you one Hooper film that looks, sounds or feels anything remotely like POLTERGEIST and, well...

LIFEFORCE, dude.

[klauswhereareyou]

The stuff in the house when Carol Anne is kidnapped and later in the movie when all hell breaks loose is very similar to the abduction scene of the little boy in Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind.

[Boggle]

Originally Posted by Ruemorgue10

LIFEFORCE, dude.

Invaders from Mars as well.

It's obvious that Spielberg had a lot of input on Poltergeist, but some people seem intent on completely discrediting Tobe Hooper. I don't buy it.

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by Ruemorgue10

LIFEFORCE, dude.

A-****IN-MEN.

I've grown tired of this Hooper couldn't do spectacle. Lifeforce is a spectacle, especially in that third act.

[Filmmaker]

Originally Posted by Ruemorgue10

LIFEFORCE, dude.

I totally don't see it. LIFEFORCE was garbage, with none of the grace and sophistication of POLTERGEIST's direction. TO be fair, I haven't seen INVADERS FROM MARS, so I'll have to let that counterpoint stand uncontested.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by klauswhereareyou

The stuff in the house when Carol Anne is kidnapped and later in the movie when all hell breaks loose is very similar to the abduction scene of the little boy in Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind.

there's even the rolling thunder clouds that were in CE3K making an appearance in Poltergeist

[slimdude]

Being a good movie director is not a one-dimensional profession. You must have the talent to maintain a visual sense of creativity of filmmaking, to produce and film a variety genre of movies. The same goes for an actor. If they can only play one character although their career then they're going to be typecast. This what makes Tom Hanks such a fine actor because, he can play and star in any kind of movie, not just comedy.

[Ruemorgue10]

Originally Posted by Filmmaker

I totally don't see it. LIFEFORCE was garbage, with none of the grace and sophistication of POLTERGEIST's direction. TO be fair, I haven't seen INVADERS FROM MARS, so I'll have to let that counterpoint stand uncontested.

Compare the third acts of both films from a visual and audio standpoint, they are very similar.

[thatguamguy]

Originally Posted by ditcin

Well, that's contrary to what was originally reported. I've read several things on the net that have been altered from when they first happened; completely forgotten.

Translation: You have less proof for your claims than a Wikipedia page.

By the way, you can go on Google and read all of the original reporting; People magazine reported the lawsuit in 1982... in 1983, she lost a bid for summary judgement, according to the NY Times. In 1984, the case was thrown out. In 1985, the AP reported that Supreme Court declined to hear it -- if it was an out of court settlement as you claim, there would be no way for her to appeal to multiple courts, because there would be nothing to appeal.

I don't claim that it's impossible for all of those records to have been changed (including the physical scan of the original Times article), but you couldn't remember the author's name or the name of the play, so you'll forgive me if I need to see more evidence than just your memory.

[happydood]

Originally Posted by Boggle

Invaders from Mars as well.

It's obvious that Spielberg had a lot of input on Poltergeist, but some people seem intent on completely discrediting Tobe Hooper. I don't buy it.

I really started recognizing Hooper's contributions after watching The Funhouse. It's clear to me that both men have their fingerprints all over the movie, but a lot of people have to have everything be all one way or the other without any gray area.

[Boggle]

Originally Posted by happydood

I really started recognizing Hooper's contributions after watching The Funhouse. It's clear to me that both men have their fingerprints all over the movie, but a lot of people have to have everything be all one way or the other without any gray area.

Yep, I agree. Been re-watching a lot of Hooper's films since his passing and I came to the same conclusion. He has a pretty consistent body of work up until the mid to late 80's - not dissimilar to his contemporaries in that regard. Some people dismiss him as a one-trick pony, citing Texas Chainsaw as his only worthwhile film. Pure nonsense. If anything he's an underrated stylist.

I don't claim to know more than anyone else about the making of Poltergeist. Obviously I wasn't there, but even the people that were can't seem to agree on who was the real director of that film. To discredit Hooper completely just doesn't seem right in the face of testimony and the apparent style of the film.

[klauswhereareyou]

Originally Posted by The Geek

A-****IN-MEN.

I've grown tired of this Hooper couldn't do spectacle. Lifeforce is a spectacle, especially in that third act.

Maybe he learned from Spielberg how to do that on the set of Poltergeist? I think a stronger arguement would be if he was doing it before Poltergeist, but to be fair he only got to work with bigger budgets for a very limited time for those few years after Poltergeist.