28 from Glasgow, love films - so you'll probably only ever see me write about them lol
28 from Glasgow, love films - so you'll probably only ever see me write about them lol
Member since:08.03.2004
Reviews:116
Members who trust:9
Its been twenty years since Michael Myers first haunted teenager Laurie Strode in the original terrifying Halloween film. Returning for one sequel, Jamie Lee Curtis stayed out of the rest of the increasingly dull Halloween films. But it has been 20 years, and what better way to celebrate than making a new film and bringing back the mainstays of the original film. Unfortunately Donald Pleasance died after making the attrocious "Curse Of Michael Myers" film, but paying tribute is a voice over the credits from the original film to introduce today's movie going audience to the story.
The story is a simple, but effective one. Stalked sister of mad man fakes her own death, goes into hiding, assumes a new identity, picks up an alcohol problem and drug dependancy, gets herself a kid, becomes headmistress in a secluded posh private school in Northern California. Except, Laurie Strode (or Keri Tate as she is now known) fears the return of her knife-wielding brother every day. To top it all, her son is now 17 (the age she was when Michael escaped from the mental institution), and Halloween is fast approaching. First mistake is that Dr Loomis (the late Donald Pleasance) holds a file on Laurie's whereabouts, and as Michael despatches Marion Whittington (Nancy Stephens returning to the role that she first played in the original film for a cameo here), he finds the file, and drives (still having never had a single driving lesson, remember) all the way to where Laurie now hides. The school is empty, bar the four misfits (including John - Laurie's son played here by Josh Harnett) who plan to have their own private party. And as Michael finally comes face to face with Laurie, she knows that the only way to win now is to face up to her fears and fight him. The last half an hour is a swiftly paced crowd pleasing revenge thriller that see's Laurie finally exorcise her demons. Jamie Lee Curtis delivers an outstanding, and unusually real performance, lending her character equal measures of vulnerability and the same gutsiness that we first saw in the original film, and was sadly lacking in her wooden performance in the original sequel. Adam Arkin and LL Cool J are both here for moral support, the former completely miscast, and unimportant to proceedings. Janet Leigh (Jamie's real life mother) gives us a cool cameo that pays homage to her own routes in Psycho (complete with soundtrack and the car that she was buried in). The teen cast are attractive enough, and are believable enough, but sadly when it comes down to it the only thing you are interested in is the final battle between Laurie and Michael. And it delivers, as does the entire film, which cuts the bull and the Scream-esque cleverness, and just delivers a sharp terse 90 minutes of entertainment.
This film compared to all the other Halloween sequels is a masterpiece, but even compared to the original film, it still holds its own. Where the original film lacked plot and any raison d'etre, this film has a huge backstory to lean on for plot, and you actually care more about Laurie now that she is a broken down battered human being who has virtually nothing left to lose. In short, she is human, and maybe thats why she is even more believable as a victimised mother who is running away from her terrifying past than she was as a goofy teenager being stalked by a masked mad man. Kudos to Jamie for returning to the role that made her famous 20 years later, and paying tribute to the fans who gave her her career. Its great to see Laurie back on the screen, and finally destroying Michael for good.
The DVD is a little short on Extra's with the exception of a short documentary and a music video, but it looks and sounds great.
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Production Year: 1978 - Horror - Director: John Carpenter - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Donald Pleasence, P. J. Soles, Jamie Lee Curtis, Nancy Loomis
Production Year: 1980 - Horror - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Peter Cushing, Diana Dors, Denholm Elliott, Brian Cox, Sian Phillips
Halloweenis one of the great modern horror films, but as a franchise its track record has ... more
been spotty at best, painfully bad at worst.Halloween H2O: Twenty Years Later, directed by horror vet Steve Miner (Friday the 13thparts 2 and 3,House), won't disp...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Halloweenis one of the great modern horror films, but as a franchise its track record has ... more
been spotty at best, painfully bad at worst.Halloween H2O: Twenty Years Later, directed by horror vet Steve Miner (Friday the 13thparts 2 and 3,House), won't disp...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
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struggling with the horrifying 20-year old memories of the maniacal killer Michael Myers when he suddenly reappears with a vengeance! And this Halloween his terror ...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Advantages: Original characters, classy, good actors, scary and suspenseful. Disadvantages: Too short, for some reason another voice is used to resemble Donald Pleasance - let's jsut say it doesn't
![Halloween H20: Twenty Years Later [DVD] [1998]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/76558861.jpg "Halloween H20: Twenty Years Later [DVD] [1998]")
Oct 20th, 2006
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