My lowdown: 7 out of 10
Pros: Exposition- Not just obtrusive exposition, but exposition that has some good acting, some shocking scenes and some visuals that are hard to forget. I think Sheri Moon proves her mettle as an actress with her role as Michael's mother. Capturing the totemic cultural fixation on the mask is also a plus.
Malcolm Mc Dowell- Not Donald Pleasence, but capable, flawed and even more out of his element than the original Loomis. Loomis is no action hero. He's a doctor who has bitten off more than he can chew, and this Loomis personifies that quite ably.
Better teenagers-In the original Jamie Lee looks like she could use a little Prozac in her coffee. She's a sad caricature who cadaverously shuffles through her day. Scout Taylor Compton plays a lively, intelligent, three dimensional young woman who elicits plenty of sympathy. Annie and Lynda also benefit from a little more filling out.
Good first and third acts with some bold choices made.
Cons: Overstimulation/amped up gore- It's Rob Zombie and he barely holds back the Zombie touch. It is a loud, gritty, nerve racking film. It could stand to be less so. Zombie tries to transgress where Carpenter tried to impress. This is made for the Red Bull generation and it shows. The original Halloween was a horror movie you could watch on basic cable with a child or younger sibling, but this lacks that potential. Zombie's lack of restraint challenges the movie's chance of being something iconic. Some of these kills just don't need to happen.
Michael's hugeness- Unless Hiroshima has just come your way, huge isn't scary. The decision to remove the mystique of the Shape and replace it with meer hulking size was not that smart of a decision. It marrs certain scenes, but doesn't always get in the way.
Remember that this movie comes as a reboot and a remake and replaced the prospect of a Halloween 9. Zombie didn't have to be better than Carpenter, just better than Halloween 9. And this was better than a Halloween 9 would have been.

question...
 

wow it’s been a while since i posted here - i've been super busy w/ grad school, work, life, etc. still that's no excuse and i don't intend many of you here recognize me, accept for the ones that have been on for awhile.

anyway... was V the only one to view the movie so far? and if so this question is for him.

i've been hearing a lot about this movie from people i know in the industry and the two overall complaints seem to be that one, it lacks the original's suspense and two, in the way zombie displays the myer's back story he draws sympathy towards him and makes him less of the creepy supernatural boogieman that he was in the original. people vilified gus van sant for his "to the tee" remake of psycho b/c he didn't add anything to the original, so i guess my question is that in taking away these two original elements and making it more brutal does zombie ruin the film or just disrespect the original?

Welcome back, T. Yes its been awhile since I saw you here...(last time it was voting in my tournament bout 9-10 months back I think)...

No, I am not the only one who has seen it...as is apparent from the 3 replies above ^^^ - Illdojo, Shady and Doc have seen it too. As regards your double query...

First, there is NONE of the creepiness of the original in this one. The stalking is perennially non-existent, and in the second half of the movie, you can actually count the minutes before a person on-screen would turn up dead. There's not much character development for the supporting cast of Laurie's 2 friends...Annie and Linda...(come to think of it, they share a couple of scenes together before their respective death scenes, which isnt much at all)...and you actually DONT get a chance to feel anythin for em... (**possible spoiler**)its like a moment taken out of Hostel...watch em sizzle the screen for a sec, then a gruesome death the next...and then Loomis finds em...so it goes again...

Its overall a very gory and violent movie...like I said in the first post...think of The Devil's Rejects with a Michael Myers storyline...the buildup to the background of Michael itself has many holes {{**SPOILER** 1) He is shown killing his pet in the very first frame, yet Zombie explores the "why" part of it which is totally unnecessary IMO, and 2) He kills everyone of his family on Halloween except his baby sister (whom he loves?!) yet goes after her in the climax?}}

If you ask me, Zombie himself seemed puzzled about how to develop this remake. Its like a series of disjointed sequences (at least after the first 30 minutes or so) and I thought it was a tad too lengthy. Even during the climactic scenes there is no feeling of dread or foreboding (which was so chillingly apparent in JC's original), and Tyler Mane's huge bulky existence "nullifies" much of the suspense factor (oddly, when it should have added to it).

About your second query, I watched Zombie's take with a totally open mind (forgetting that JC's original and its sequels ever existed), and Zombie's Halloween comes across as a violent slasher MINUS the atmosphere. Period. Its fierce, brutal...it hits your stomach like a series of violent blows, the acting's flawless and taut...and the script's pacy. BUT where this one fails...is the EFFECT. You d feel like coming out after watching Rambo in a slasher...thats what this one is. The deaths look ultra-realistic, and some of the effects done in em are visually stunning. Those are the only two redeemingly good qualities of this one - acting and gore effects.

And yes, the background does make you feel a bit sympathetic towards Michael (just like the feeling The Devil's Rejects left you with), BUT, pardoning the pun...if all kids with similar backgrounds went on to become Michael Myers' we would have ended World War XX by now.

Zombie has TRIED to make this one "his own", but in doing so...he has tarnished himself...because JC's masterpiece still stands tall on its pedestal, still the superior movie by all counts. It cannot be disrespected (heck 6 weaker sequels couldnt do it) and Zombie sure as hell hasnt ruined it...he has only ruined himself and his image as a movie-maker.

I just hope that fans of the original forgive him...and give him another chance for his next one...

Damn Bro, OUCH!!!!! :D
I still loved it. :p Compared to every sequel with the exception of Part 2(a continuation of pt. 1). It is now my 3rd favorite in the franchise. I guess I just like Zombie's films.

My breakdown of the franchise:

1) The Original....Duh
2) Part 2
3) Zombie's version
4) Part 6 "The Curse of MM"
5) Part 4 "The Return of MM"
6) Part 5 "The Revenge of MM"
7) H20
8) Part 3 "Season of the Witch"
9) Resurrection

I justy got back from the theater, never have I waited in such a long line to be seated. To me it lived up to my expectations, Zombie has amazed me once again.
(Reading from here on may contain spoilers, please read at your own risk)









The story to little Michael, does make you feel sympathetic for him, that until his first vicitim, after that he is one twisted little fuck. When Michael firsts puts on the mask as a child, there was nothing freaker than that! I don't know what it is but something about a 7 ft tall, 300lb killer in a movie freaks me out.

Like V has stated, the kills are very realistic, and imo Zombie did a good job with the atmosphere. He made Michael creepier than ever before, the acting top notch. The dialogue was present day, and the teenagers even acted as they should, not like in the JC's, they weren't respectful, or proper. Rob did an amazing job with adapting today morals and standards. I know some of you have seen the test screener, and I heard you guys mention a rape scene. If you could PM me and tell me who does the raping and to what girl, the only one I could think of while watching was Annie. Or did the completely cut the girl out as well?? IMO this is one you must give it a watch!

Please highlight the empty space as I didn't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it.

i saw the trailer ...how do they explain Micheal breaking those 3/8 inch chains in that scene with the guards just looks stupid

My local papre gave it 4 out of 5 stars. My son went to a midnight showing last night........i'l have to wait until he gets up to get the low-down.

Edee and I caught the 10:30pm show last night...I have to say it is good but I was a little dissappointed...using every actor (I mean EVERYactor) that was in House of 1000 and Devile Rej...kind of silly...the look into the young Michael wasnot what I expected...not so much an evil force...just a really whacekd out kid who grows into a really whacked out individual...but...it was entertaining, it was well shot, the sound effects were top notch... so 3.5 out of 5 stars here.

Possible Spoiler warning.

(Highlight)

I was told that Michael talks, runs and changes his mask to show his mood as well as groping his sister before killing her. Please tell me this isn't true. I was also told he masturbates over recordings of dying animals.

Ferretchucker:
Not completely. Yes, the Shape is not the only mask used, but he doesn't change masks all the time and the Shape occurs through most of the movie. The "groping" isn't entirely a groping or a rape. Remember that this is about a developing psychopath. If you keep in mind that it is about the genesis of a psychopath, the dysfunction is not as obtrusive. At least Zombie didn't go with the Gacy childhood

this movie proves the reason why I havent watched any Rob Zombie movies...whats the redneck/white trash fasination all about....didnt fit at all in this movie.. 3/10 ...this should never been a Halloween movie

I didn't really like it. There were only really 2 parts that made me jump, the latter one causing me to hit my self in the jaw and bite my lip pretty hard. Other than that I was completely unimpressed. Zombie's choice to recycle the Devil's Rejects actors was a bad move in my opinion and he didn't stop there. He also reused a lot of the camera angles and techniques that made House of 1000 corpses and devil's Rejects so eerie. Also the whole "if you have sex you will die" stereotype is so overused.

What I realllllly didn't like though, was giving Michael a face. It made me sympathize and, in turn, like the movie a whooolllle lot less than I would have if it was a straight up remake rather than a prequel.

From Variety (www.variety.com) :-

"Rob Zombie's "Halloween" shook up Friday moviegoers with a boffo $10.98 million from 3,472 venues.

The estimate for the MGM distributed Dimension title reps the highest Friday ever for a Labor Day weekend entry or holdover.

The last pic to post a Friday high over the Labor Day frame was 2005's "Transporter 2" which soaked up $5.6 million on its opening day."


Its a commercial success already.

Guess Zombie wont be complaining, after all.:rolleyes:

well, i'll see it but i don't know if i'll like it.

this movie is a big poop

this movie made poo nuts so I told it to go poo-nuts

I said, "GO AWAY, POO NUTS!"

but should i go see it? i was going to go this afternoon but now i'm not sure. i don' t really want to give money to a poo-nutty film (i'd normally just wait a few weeks until its in the long slide) but i feel almost obliged to see it?

what's my ethical obligation as a horror fan??

I do believe you are obliged. Just like I feel obliged to listen to any Beatles song that is playing just because it's the Beatles. Who knows? You may even like it, just don't punch yourself in the jaw like i did.... on that note, do you think I could sue Rob Zombie for inflicting pain in my lip through a crappy movie.

If you are really serious, and you really want to know, you'll at least go to see it.

I'll tell ya something though: I walked out, and I got my money back.

But you may have a problem here. Because I don't think they let little monkeys into the theatre. Not even little monkeys with money.

You got your money back? Why didn't I think of that. I spent most of the time walking around the lobby and when I got back to the movie I still knew what was going on.

so im the only one who enjoyed it....???? :confused: :(


oh well hope saw 4 gets a better reception

I enjoyed it, he could of done a better job, But I really enjoyed it just because it Michael!

This movie is not going to please fans of the original Halloween, but if you go into it and not look at it like a film of the series and not expect much, you may just enjoy it. As much as I love the original, this one is OK. It's not great, but it's there, so do yourself a favor, stop wondering about it and just go see it. It's not THAT bad.

Disappointing? Yes.
Terrible? No.

Review in my thread. It contains spoilers, so be warned.

:eek: The film grossed $31 million opening weekend.....http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...goryid=13&cs=1

I enjoyed it very much and I am a huge fan of the original! I think Zombie made it his and made it kick ass.

http://logo.cafepress.com/3/142414.3564333.JPG

You're selling a lot of Halloween there, I notice. Could it be you have a vested interest in this remake going over well?

I noticed that too....Hmmmm....

i read $26 million

sorry that was last night....... now i read $31 on comingsoon.net

i didn't read any of this thread, just the title -first off

how can you say that it dissapointed. I thought that this film lived completly up to the original., without copying it. It stood on its own. Rob Zombie's genius, it was a great film. And the only film since the original Halloween that I actually got scared watching. Amazing job, wow can't say enough about it, absolutely amazing film

guess im not the only one then :D

Well perhaps if you read the rest of the thread you would understand why some of us were dissapointed.

[QUOTE=_____V_____;623886]There's almost no suspense or foreboding...Michael is basically a terminator-esque unstoppable killing machine...the body count is very high...
The movie lacks one big factor the original had - atmosphere. There is NONE of that here. QUOTE]
Thats because the original was made by movie makers who knew how to make a horror movie. Today a horror movie just means lots of killing.

Indeed. Don't come to conclusions without reading what we are discussing.

strange. one guy says he didn't like it and the rest cancel seeing it on the basis of his, albeit well respected, opinion. i say go watch and make up your own mind.

Awww man!! I was really looking forward to going to see this film, maybe now i'll hold off... or and 'Death Sentence' it was ok...it was entertaining...but i wouldn't go see it again or buy a copy of it when it comes out on dvd.

Count the number of times I have said that myself in this very thread...

Others HAVE watched it and many have LOVED it. So do go and watch it...and then form your own conclusions, like tony said.

I didn't think it was great, but hey, some people liked it. And come on, if one guys word on if a movie or not is going to make you not want to watch it, you are too easily pushed around. It's his OPINION. It isn't everyones final word.

I know it is nasty and mean for me to say this, but this is one of those movies that is absolutely banking on people coming to see it out of curiosity--and even, at some point, people coming to see it to learn if all the horrible things they're hearing really are true.

Yes, it makes sense to "go and see it for yourself" and decide for yourself how good you think it is. But it also makes sense to avoid a turkey when you smell one.

I see lots of movies because they look interesting to me. I also DON'T see lots of movies because they DON'T appear interesting. The free choice thing swings both ways.