Comments on: Dimension keeps “Halloween” from us until last minute http://www.scene-stealers.com/blogs/dimension-keeps-halloween-from-us-until-last-minute/ Movies with Rock Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:22:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: John Taylor http://www.scene-stealers.com/blogs/dimension-keeps-halloween-from-us-until-last-minute/#comment-1106 John Taylor Tue, 11 Sep 2007 00:56:26 +0000 http://www.scene-stealers.com/blogs/dimension-keeps-halloween-from-us-until-last-minute/#comment-1106 I tried to respond to this on World Of Pop,but uh.. Anyway. I am always suspect of movies that drop in August. Studios frequently use that month as a dumping ground for movies that aren't good. I can almost always agree,save this year's amazing Superbad,most of the other films that have come out in August were bad. I am a horror fan. That being said,I also dig Zombie as a director.'The Devil's Rejects' is in my top 20 of all time. Having seen the much circulated 'Workprint' and the theatrical release,I can see many improvements in the 'Final' cut. The much loathed rape scene in the workprint was pushing towards 'Hostel' territory.{he-he} The workprint was long and moved very slowly. Fell asleep twice the first time I tried to labor through it. I was really worried what the final product was going to be. I was right to worry. I am loyal to the genre,and while Zombie's version was good,it didn't even come close to the original. Maybe it never really had a chance. I think Zombie gave it a great try,but trying to reinvent an icon has to be a daunting task. He failed,for me,but I can't imagine another director that would have gotten as close as he did. Studios need to learn from this,but a 'Nightmare' remake is no doubt coming down the pike. While I brace for the next wave of these films,I will cherish the originals as I have for many years. Like the funny,witty,bloody children I will never have.Micheal Meyers,R.I.P. I tried to respond to this on World Of Pop,but uh.. Anyway. I am always suspect of movies that drop in August. Studios frequently use that month as a dumping ground for movies that aren’t good. I can almost always agree,save this year’s amazing Superbad,most of the other films that have come out in August were bad.
I am a horror fan. That being said,I also dig Zombie as a director.’The Devil’s Rejects’ is in my top 20 of all time. Having seen the much circulated ‘Workprint’ and the theatrical release,I can see many improvements in the ‘Final’ cut. The much loathed rape scene in the workprint was pushing towards ‘Hostel’ territory.{he-he}
The workprint was long and moved very slowly. Fell asleep twice the first time I tried to labor through it. I was really worried what the final product was going to be.
I was right to worry. I am loyal to the genre,and while Zombie’s version was good,it didn’t even come close to the original. Maybe it never really had a chance. I think Zombie gave it a great try,but trying to reinvent an icon has to be a daunting task. He failed,for me,but I can’t imagine another director that would have gotten as close as he did.
Studios need to learn from this,but a ‘Nightmare’ remake is no doubt coming down the pike. While I brace for the next wave of these films,I will cherish the originals as I have for many years. Like the funny,witty,bloody children I will never have.Micheal Meyers,R.I.P.

]]> By: Cleavy http://www.scene-stealers.com/blogs/dimension-keeps-halloween-from-us-until-last-minute/#comment-990 Cleavy Thu, 06 Sep 2007 21:40:40 +0000 http://www.scene-stealers.com/blogs/dimension-keeps-halloween-from-us-until-last-minute/#comment-990 As an obsessive horror fan, I feel that Zombie's Halloween is basically solid. No, it didn't blow me away, I probably won't buy it on DVD, and will probably remember it vaguely but fondly. This film did justice to the best of the franchise (being Halloween, II, and H2O - which surprisingly rocks!). I actually jumped a few times in the theater - a rare pleasure for me. Zombie puts his mark on the film, most notably in the over-the-top family dynamic and creative scenes of unapologetic brutality. Zombie's best remains The Devil's Rejects (with House of 1000 Corpses being a worthy first attempt). I think he's most in his element when working with his original material, and not confined by audience expectations and a likely laborious reworking of a classic, innovative film. On a different note, I think that Eric is right and wrong in regards to studios withholding advance screenings of many horror films. Yes, I think the studios are afraid of bad reviews. And, really, many of these films deserve a "stinker alert" (as do many films in many other genres). However, one item that is rarely addressed is that the horror genre has only recently been studied, in terms of film theory, as a legitimate genre worthy of academic and critical interest. I think if many film critics were more diligent in keeping current with contemporary film theory, they would actually have the tools with which to work with these films on the genre's own terms. Basically, even the incredible, creative, artistic, innovative horror films will likely receive bad reviews from the majority of critics, simply because most critics are incapable of effectively addressing the genre as a whole. Then again, if critics are too academic in their approach to reviews, they will likely alienate their audience. What the hell... As an obsessive horror fan, I feel that Zombie’s Halloween is basically solid. No, it didn’t blow me away, I probably won’t buy it on DVD, and will probably remember it vaguely but fondly. This film did justice to the best of the franchise (being Halloween, II, and H2O - which surprisingly rocks!). I actually jumped a few times in the theater - a rare pleasure for me. Zombie puts his mark on the film, most notably in the over-the-top family dynamic and creative scenes of unapologetic brutality. Zombie’s best remains The Devil’s Rejects (with House of 1000 Corpses being a worthy first attempt). I think he’s most in his element when working with his original material, and not confined by audience expectations and a likely laborious reworking of a classic, innovative film.

On a different note, I think that Eric is right and wrong in regards to studios withholding advance screenings of many horror films. Yes, I think the studios are afraid of bad reviews. And, really, many of these films deserve a “stinker alert” (as do many films in many other genres). However, one item that is rarely addressed is that the horror genre has only recently been studied, in terms of film theory, as a legitimate genre worthy of academic and critical interest. I think if many film critics were more diligent in keeping current with contemporary film theory, they would actually have the tools with which to work with these films on the genre’s own terms. Basically, even the incredible, creative, artistic, innovative horror films will likely receive bad reviews from the majority of critics, simply because most critics are incapable of effectively addressing the genre as a whole. Then again, if critics are too academic in their approach to reviews, they will likely alienate their audience. What the hell…

]]> By: ChrisKnudsen http://www.scene-stealers.com/blogs/dimension-keeps-halloween-from-us-until-last-minute/#comment-975 ChrisKnudsen Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:48:20 +0000 http://www.scene-stealers.com/blogs/dimension-keeps-halloween-from-us-until-last-minute/#comment-975 Halloween III is so bad ass. It reminds me of Trolls 2 but without the odd looking food. Halloween III is so bad ass. It reminds me of Trolls 2 but without the odd looking food.

]]> By: Eric Melin http://www.scene-stealers.com/blogs/dimension-keeps-halloween-from-us-until-last-minute/#comment-932 Eric Melin Wed, 05 Sep 2007 19:19:34 +0000 http://www.scene-stealers.com/blogs/dimension-keeps-halloween-from-us-until-last-minute/#comment-932 <p>You are right, I was one off in my count. I said it was mangled six times since the original and before the Zombie version, so that would be 8 total. There are actually 9 total, counting Zombie's:</p> <p>Halloween (1978)<br /> Halloween II (1981)- co-written by John Carpenter, but not directed by him<br /> Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)- featuring no sign of Michael Myers or Jamie Lee Curtis!<br /> Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)- he's back!<br /> Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989)- he's back again, one year later<br /> Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)- featuring Paul Rudd!<br /> Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)- Curtis is back, with LL Cool J in tow<br /> Halloween: Resurrection (2002)- Curtis is back one last time, with Busta Rhymes instead<br /> Halloween (2007)- Zombie starts over with no Curtis or rap stars</p> You are right, I was one off in my count. I said it was mangled six times since the original and before the Zombie version, so that would be 8 total. There are actually 9 total, counting Zombie’s:

Halloween (1978)
Halloween II (1981)- co-written by John Carpenter, but not directed by him
Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)- featuring no sign of Michael Myers or Jamie Lee Curtis!
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)- he’s back!
Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989)- he’s back again, one year later
Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)- featuring Paul Rudd!
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)- Curtis is back, with LL Cool J in tow
Halloween: Resurrection (2002)- Curtis is back one last time, with Busta Rhymes instead
Halloween (2007)- Zombie starts over with no Curtis or rap stars

]]> By: Randall http://www.scene-stealers.com/blogs/dimension-keeps-halloween-from-us-until-last-minute/#comment-930 Randall Wed, 05 Sep 2007 17:58:05 +0000 http://www.scene-stealers.com/blogs/dimension-keeps-halloween-from-us-until-last-minute/#comment-930 I'm not sure of your "consistently mangled" count (you say six times, but it looks like this is the ninth go-round for the title), but <em>Halloween II</em> is that rare example of a (mostly) worthy horror sequel. I've wisely skipped the rest. I’m not sure of your “consistently mangled” count (you say six times, but it looks like this is the ninth go-round for the title), but Halloween II is that rare example of a (mostly) worthy horror sequel. I’ve wisely skipped the rest.

]]> By: Kinsey http://www.scene-stealers.com/blogs/dimension-keeps-halloween-from-us-until-last-minute/#comment-893 Kinsey Tue, 04 Sep 2007 20:22:44 +0000 http://www.scene-stealers.com/blogs/dimension-keeps-halloween-from-us-until-last-minute/#comment-893 Yes, but the thing is that all people,critics as well have types of comedies they like, and types they don't. Same for horror, romantic comides, etc Yes, but the thing is that all people,critics as well have types of comedies they like, and types they don’t. Same for horror, romantic comides, etc

]]> By: Alan Rapp http://www.scene-stealers.com/blogs/dimension-keeps-halloween-from-us-until-last-minute/#comment-755 Alan Rapp Fri, 31 Aug 2007 18:39:48 +0000 http://www.scene-stealers.com/blogs/dimension-keeps-halloween-from-us-until-last-minute/#comment-755 Nice post! Nice post!

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