Halloween (UK)
Click to read:
The night HE came home
Certificate: 18
Running Time: 91
Retail Price: £24.99
Release Date: 01/10/2001
Content Type: Movie
Synopsis:
Fifteen Years ago, Michael Myers brutally massacred his sister. Now, after escaping from a mental hospital, he's back to relive his grisly a crime again, and again...and again.
'This is Halloween like you've never seen or heard it before!'
Halloween has been fully restored under the supervision of Lucasfilm's THX Digital Mastering Services. The video was transferred by the award-winning colourist Adam Adams ('Terminator 2, Titanic') from a new 35mm interpositive (made from the original camera negative) and approved by the film's cinematographer Dean Cundey ('Jurassic Park, Who Framed Roger Rabbit'). The new Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack was created by Chace Productions in association with Alan Howarth using the original 16-rack music studio master and the recently original 35mm magnetic dialogue & effects tracks.
Special Features:
TV Version
Documentary: `Halloween Un-masked 2000` - Produced and Directed by Mark Cerulli
Trivia
8 Page Booklet
Original Theatrical Trailers
TV and Radio Spots
Talent Bios
Still and Poster Gallery
Behind-the-Scenes Still Gallery
Video Tracks:
Widescreen Anamorphic 2.35:1
Pan & Scan 1.33:1
Audio Tracks:
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo English
Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono English
Directed By:
John Carpenter
Written By:
Debra Hill
John Carpenter
Starring:
Charles Cyphers
P.J. Soles
Nancy Kyes
Jamie Lee Curtis
Donald Pleasence
Casting By:
Tommy Lee Wallace
Soundtrack By:
John Carpenter
Director of Photography:
Dean Cundey
Editor:
Tommy Lee Wallace
Charles Bornstein
Producer:
Kool Lusby
Debra Hill
Executive Producer:
Irwin Yablans
Moustapha Akkad
Distributor:
Anchor Bay
Your Opinions and Comments
thinking about williem shatner reminds me of michael myers
also known as the shape there are some classic moments
including the final struggle between michael and laurie strode
in the extras department sadley there isn`t an audio commentry by john carpenter but on disc two is the fantastic
tv version cut of the film and there is a 30 min documentry
The only disappointment for me as a John Carpenter fan is the absence of a commentry, I think it would have been pretty good if he had teamed up with Debra Hill or Jamie Lee (they`ll probably release another version I guess as JC has done commentries for his other movies). The featurette is pretty good (with old movies it`s good to see the cast as they are now), although Jamie Lee Curtis is absent. I can`t really understand why they released a two disk version, personally I think they should have just included the scenes added for the TV version by themselves rather than sticking two versions on.
The DVD also features numerous trailers/TV/Radio commercials. The transfer is excellent and has been remastered, I remember the picture of the VHS release being abysmal!
Imitated, ripped-off and stricken with sequelitis, Halloween made its mark as the original slasher movie back in 1978 when it scared audiences silly and, as word-of-mouth spread, went into the record books as "the highest grossing horror movie ever". Director John Carpenter co-wrote and directed this seminal horror movie; a genuine suspenseful horror movie which is mostly devoid of the blood and gore that are so replete in the modern "horror" flick. A fairly simple but very effective tale, which was especially novel at the time the movie was made and released: a group of high school youths, including the prudish babysitter heroine (played magnificently by the then-unknown Jamie Lee Curtis), who become unwitting prey for the older and even more dangerous and somewhat supernatural psychopath Michael Myers.
It is a release that focuses on the film in the first place and adds interesting and rare material that will give viewers a better understanding for the importance of the movie itself.
Last but not the least of Halloween`s bright spots is John Carpenter`s musical score. John Carpenter composed the entire score in three days. It`s rather simplistic, but extremely effective, the rhythm and pacing is excellent and really adds to the suspense of the film particularly the scenes where Michael is chasing Laurie in the house and then outside across the street. Indeed the score to Halloween is one of the most memorable and intricate parts of the film and it would not be as effective a film without it. No matter how tame it may seem by today's standards, this is landmark film will always remain a classic.
Never has "Halloween" looked or sounded so good - not even in theaters during its original theatrical run. This is a must-own and a must-see disc, hands down!
Video: All I can say is bravo to Anchor Bay. This THX approved 2.35:1 transfer is truly fantastic. The image is sharp as a tack and colours are solid finely rendered. You've never seen nighttime at Halloween until you see this. There are defects, as expected from a 1978 film but if you compare this to previous video incarnations you will see the difference immediately. Dean Cundey's cinematography is fantastic and should be studied by all film-students and buffs. You will never see another American slasher film so eloquently film.
Audio: What a remaster. From the opening spine chilling notes of John Carpenter terrific score you know you've never heard "Halloween" sound this good. Hell there's even strong bass and surrounds during the thunderous rain scene near the beginning. Whenever I watched this film on TV I always found that the dialogue was very low compared to music and sound effects, thankfully this is not present here and all sound is mix exquisitely. You also get the "old" THX intro to showoff.
Extras: I believe a new special edition is coming out this year with the extra that is most noticeably absent on this disc- the laserdisc commentary featuring John Carpenter and Debra Hill. So you may want to wait for that, unless you can get this for cheap.
On Disc 2, the TV version of the film containing about 15 extra minutes is presented for the first time in widescreen! Sadly the quality of the print is not as good as the theatrical version and the sound is plain 2.0. There are some good scenes in this film, however they bog down the relentless pace of the original.
The main extra on this disc is the 30-minute retrospective documentary, "Halloween Unmasked". Featuring interviews from the major crew and cast, this is essential stuff for Halloween fans. The production is dealt with in-depth and you get a fair bit of information for only 30 minutes.
A massive stills gallery is full of interesting photographs. And rounding of the disc are tons of TV spots, radio spots, trailers and talent bios. Contain in the case is an informative 6 page booklet. Oh and there's a great holograph on the cover.
Overall: Great film, great transfer and audio, slightly disappointing extras. This is a fine package, but I'm sure most people will wait for the Special Edition.
Halloween is probaly the best slasher movie of all time, without there would be no Friday 13th or Scream. John Carpenter does a great job writing and directing the brilliant cast. He also has created a brilliant score for the film. Michael Myers is the ultimate boogey man, who even today still sends chills up your spine!
Sound:
A good sound mix, the 5.1 is welcome and is used to great effect.
Picture:
Again a good transfer supervised by cinematographer Dean Cundey.
Extras:
On disc 2 is the television version of the film with an extra 11 minutes added on. Not much really. Halloween Un-Masked is a good documenatry with interviews with every member of the cast and crew.