Poltergeist (1982) (25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)

[shogun123]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

Panasonic P65ST30.

I have a Panasonic 47 inch et5b led but wish I had gotten a plasma, my next one will definitely be a 65 inch Panasonic plasma, will take some saving though.

[NoirFan]

Panasonic plasmas do offer a gorgeous image - if you wait a few months after a model is released, the price seems to go down dramatically. I also ran the color slides for 150 hours before watching anything, as recommended. I'm not sure how much of a difference it made, but I've been quite pleased with the overall results, particularly the blacks, and especially when viewing B & W BDs.

[shogun123]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

Panasonic plasmas do offer a gorgeous image - if you wait a few months after a model is released, the price seems to go down dramatically. I also ran the color slides for 150 hours before watching anything, as recommended. I'm not sure how much of a difference it made, but I've been quite pleased with the overall results, particularly the blacks, and especially when viewing B & W BDs.

Where did you get the colour slides? I think I'll get a plasma next year sometime if I can save enough.

[ditcin]

Originally Posted by little flower

I heard that there has never been many extras when this movie has come out on Dvd and LaserDisc and so on. I was thinking of taking my Blu-ray copy back until I heard that this movie has never had many extras. I do have the Blu-ray edition in the Digibook and that is a nice extra. If it might be a while until this comes out on Blu-ray with more extra maybe I will just keep the Blu-ray copy that I have now. I have not opened it yet so I can still take it back.

I can see WB re-releasing POLTERGEIST when the remake comes to theaters. I think the reason no real SE was done is Speilberg. There was a big controversy during the film's theatrical release when doubt was cast on TOBE HOOPER directing it, or rather, how much was really directed by Hooper. I have the original press kit and in it there's a b&W of Speilberg looking like he's directing a scene when he was the Producer.
I know of at least one extra or actually extended scene that's never been seen, but is in the trailer. Also, when one listens to the CD soundtrack the music in that scene is longer; while in the film the music loops, repeats because of the cut.
There were some really good TV spots that originally aired but they never were part of the Bonus Features.
Both MGM and WB have dragged their feet on this film and unfortunately members of the cast have since died leaving less to be interviewed or used in an audio commentary.
- Scott

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by shogun123

Where did you get the colour slides? I think I'll get a plasma next year sometime if I can save enough.

More info here, although these settings/instructions are for the 2011 models. Some people say the color slides make a difference, others say they don't. I'm no techie, so I just did them to be on the safe side. YMMV.

[xanderville]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

More info here, although these settings/instructions are for the 2011 models. Some people say the color slides make a difference, others say they don't. I'm no techie, so I just did them to be on the safe side. YMMV.

I used the slides with mine and then used the recommended settings from the other forum on my Panny. I have not compared the picture to another Panny that did not use the slides, but the picture on my TV looks amazing. I would also recommend it just to be on the safe side.

[HomerThompson]

Originally Posted by ditcin

I can see WB re-releasing POLTERGEIST when the remake comes to theaters. I think the reason no real SE was done is Speilberg. There was a big controversy during the film's theatrical release when doubt was cast on TOBE HOOPER directing it, or rather, how much was really directed by Hooper. I have the original press kit and in it there's a b&W of Speilberg looking like he's directing a scene when he was the Producer.

I would love to see a retrospective documentary produced but as you said, there's the fact that Spielberg apparently ghost-directed the film and you can't do a comprehensive documentary without tackling that elephant in the room. Maybe one day when Tobe Hooper has passed on they'll finally address it but I doubt they will while the filmmakers are still alive out of respect.

[ditcin]

Originally Posted by HomerThompson

I would love to see a retrospective documentary produced but as you said, there's the fact that Spielberg apparently ghost-directed the film and you can't do a comprehensive documentary without tackling that elephant in the room. Maybe one day when Tobe Hooper has passed on they'll finally address it but I doubt they will while the filmmakers are still alive out of respect.

Actually, I think the person that needs to pass away for this to happen is Speilberg. He is extremely ego driven and obnoxious. Hooper had come from Chainsaw Massacre and bottom of the barrel budget production. No one expected such a polished film as Poltergeist - yet when one compares camera shots much of Hooper style in Poltergeist can be seen in films like Lifefore and even Invaders from Mars. This is especially noticeable in how he handles character reaction shots where the camera dollies in to a close-up on expressions of awe and surprise. The expressions are almost over done and over emphasized but hold staying power like a visual exclamation. I think the man although hired by both MGM and Speilberg delivered perhaps too much for Speilberg's ego to handle. All the recognition that the film earned always went to Speilberg overlooking Hooper unfairly. I believe Speilberg in a very shifty maneuver took up the machine and purposely inserted himself into the publicity to gain attention. Hooper couldn't say a thing or stand up if he wished not to be blacklisted by Speilberg - something he did the ET star Dee Wallace who stood up to him. There was a laserdisc release just for the making of Jurassic Park where there is a video of Speilberg with a group of special effects people discussing how to handle the T-Rex and some scenes. The crew is suggesting various scenarios while Speilberg ignores them yacking on and on then starts spouting "his" ideas, all of which were just stated by the crew around him. Then all the special effects guys become yes men agreeing with what the "genius" Speilberg just stated. It made me sick. I really don't think anyone within the industry expected Hooper to deliver as much as he did and it was just too much for Speilberg's super ego. As successful as Poltergeist was Hooper was not in the limelight as much as he should have been during and after the film's release. In fact he was out of media attention which just doesn't seem right or normal - yet Speilberg would be seen often. It really stinks.
-Scott

[indisposed]

It would be nice if an independent company could put together a comprehensive documentary on the production of the Poltergeist films, a la Never Sleep Again. That could make up for the lack of substantial/satisfying extras on the official DVD's or Blu-ray.

[shogun123]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

More info here, although these settings/instructions are for the 2011 models. Some people say the color slides make a difference, others say they don't. I'm no techie, so I just did them to be on the safe side. YMMV.

Saved, thanks.

[Eny-]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

More info here, although these settings/instructions are for the 2011 models. Some people say the color slides make a difference, others say they don't. I'm no techie, so I just did them to be on the safe side. YMMV.

It's more of a placebo effect than anything these days.

The goal of running the slides is evenly burning of the phosphors but since nowadays this is done in the factory there is no real need to do it again.

Of course, I do it anyhow just to be sure. I'm also a proud owner of a panny.

One thing I noticed though is that they lowered the quality of the components. I had a G10 plasma (circa 2007/08) and it was a better graded screen than my present screen (last year's ST50). Line bleed is specially atrocious when I had none with the G10...

Sorry for the off-topic.

[klauswhereareyou]

Something happened on the set of this film. Whatever happened, based on what people who worked on the film that had nothing to lose at the time they spilled the beans (Zelda Rubinstein saying that Hooper did not direct her, but Spielberg did), there was some amount of time Spielberg spent actually directing (not just 2nd unit) Poltergeist.

I have a feeling that when Spielberg got bad press for his role in Poltergeist, that led to him taking a much less hands on approach on the next film he producedTwilight Zone the Movie (specifically the Landis portion), which of course later had he been on the set he might've actually said to Landis...uh hey guys let's not put an aging actor and two small children next to a helicoptor with explosions going off, maybe not a good idea!

[L'armée des ombres]

Originally Posted by ditcin

Speilberg.Speilberg Speilberg's Speilberg Speilberg Speilberg -Speilberg Speilberg Speilberg Speilberg's Speilberg

You don't like him much? Spielberg that is?

[shogun123]

Watched the blu ray of this last night and thoroughly enjoyed it (had seen it before of course but on crappy vhs and on tv) It was very cinematic in a way that modern movies very seldom are, movies these days feel like videos projected on a big screen.

[OneWayFilms]

Originally Posted by shogun123

Watched the blu ray of this last night and thoroughly enjoyed it (had seen it before of course but on crappy vhs and on tv) It was very cinematic in a way that modern movies very seldom are, movies these days feel like videos projected on a big screen.

YES....THAT'S what I miss about modern movies. They lack that big cinematic FEEL to them. You're right...Poltergeist felt VERY cinematic.

What do you suppose makes the difference? What is done different? Surely it isn't the FILM quality itself, is it?

[Wotan420]

Heard Sam Rockwell signed on to the new Poltergeist movie, should be interesting.

And the Panasonic plasma discussion. Just be warned that image retention/burn-in is a problem. Have a 60 inch GT from last year. Picture is stunning. But if you watch sports and ESPN a lot the logos are a *****. BBC America too. It's really a pain in the ass to have to zoom in on your cable box all the time to avoid image retention if you leave anything like that on for a while. But it is what it is.

The pixel rotator crap is highly annoying and doesn't fix the problem

I don't know what kind of tv I'll get next time in a few years (hopefully) but due to them still not fixing this kind of stuff it probably won't be a plasma.

[shogun123]

Originally Posted by Wotan420

Heard Sam Rockwell signed on to the new Poltergeist movie, should be interesting.

And the Panasonic plasma discussion. Just be warned that image retention/burn-in is a problem. Have a 60 inch GT from last year. Picture is stunning. But if you watch sports and ESPN a lot the logos are a *****. BBC America too. It's really a pain in the ass to have to zoom in on your cable box all the time to avoid image retention if you leave anything like that on for a while. But it is what it is.

The pixel rotator crap is highly annoying and doesn't fix the problem

I don't know what kind of tv I'll get next time in a few years (hopefully) but due to them still not fixing this kind of stuff it probably won't be a plasma.

That's why I didn't get a plasma BUT the backlight bleed of the LED is really really annoying.

[klauswhereareyou]

Actually if the remake was an african amercian family being haunted I'd embrace it, especially if this was suppossed to be a whole different family from the original film. How many ghost movies exist that involve an african american family? Very few if any. At least it would be going in a different direction.

[shogun123]

Originally Posted by klauswhereareyou

Actually if the remake was an african amercian family being haunted I'd embrace it, especially if this was suppossed to be a whole different family from the original film. How many ghost movies exist that involve an african american family? Very few if any. At least it would be going in a different direction.

I absolutely adore Blaxploitation, a blaxploitation remake of Poltergeist I'd definitely buy.

[Wotan420]

Originally Posted by shogun123

I absolutely adore Blaxploitation, a blaxploitation remake of Poltergeist I'd definitely buy.

I don't know a black haunting movie just sounds like a Comedy lol. Black people's reaction to being scared is always fun to watch