My 2013: My 2014 - 10 Films I'm Looking Forward To

So tomorrow 2013 will be over and we will be ringing in 2014.  While 2015 looks to be THE year to go to the movies (well, if you're a franchise person), 2014 will be no slouch.  There's already plenty of notable projects and I'm sure more will pop up as the year goes and we get some more trailers and extra buzz from screenings.  While 2015 has all the hype in the world, it also could be setting up for a big disappointment.  2014 on the other hand has the sort of "well, let's just get through this year so we can get to 2015" type feel with the movies, meaning its probably going to surprise and turn out to be pretty damn good in its own right.  Remember or summer 2011 was only the preface to summer 2012...and then 2011 wound up being the much better summer?  I'm not saying that will happen, I'm just saying let's not discount 2014 before its even begun.

Below are 10 films that are currently on my radar (there's more than 10 actually, but I have ten digits and its a nice clean cut off) going into 2014.

My 2013: The Top 10 Films Of The Year

Hey folks!  Its finally here!  Follow the link below to see my Top 10 Films of 2013 over at Why So Blu!

BRANDON'S TOP 10 FILMS OF 2013!

My 2013: The Honorable Mentions

It’s hard to make a Top 10 list.  There are a ton of movies that come out every year.  And there are a lot of ones I enjoy.  To limit it to just 10 is crazy, crushing and heartbreaking as I snip away films from a bigger list of one’s I loved from the year.  It’s not until a few years separated to we see a much clearer picture of what we really did like and enjoy.  What we ended up going back to more often. What maybe didn’t hold up.  So, with that in mind I think it’s fair to take a gander at these 12 films that just barely didn’t make the cut for my Top 10 list.  Each of these has a chance to move on up the rankings as the years go by.  Consider this 11-22 if you will.  I’m doing alphabetical here because I don’t have to rank these so I’m not going to.  And this can also serve as clues and hints to what my Top 10 will include.

My 2013: The Top 10 Mainstream Movies I Didn't Like (Worst Of 2013)

It's off to negativity land now.  But, in order to remember 2013 fairly, we have to.  I really don't like to use the term "Worst" when making this list.  For one, I saw a lot of films in 2013, but I didn't see everything.  I made this "mainstream movies" because I'm sure there's plenty of bad super low budget indie projects that come out every week that its just really not fair to lump them in with this.  So we go on the big movies that stunk.  I also hate using "Worst" because I'm sure there's some on this list that some will argue are better than this damnation I've given it.  Some of these even might have a small fanbase.  There are also plenty of films out there that I didn't see because I could tell I wasn't going to like them and my critic peers who did see them only confirmed my dread.  I do get curious as to how bad some of these can be and checked them out myself or also had to review it for Why So Blu.  I also don't have all the time in the world like I used to, so I didn't need to see The Internship, Jack The Giant Slayer or A Haunted House to tell you they weren't any good.

My 2013: The 10 Best Movies You Probably Didn't See

In order to offset my Worst Of list (coming later today) I'd like to add something positive, so here's a look at 10 movies that, judging by box office, you likely didn't go check out but were well worth your time.  These are ones that specifically won't make my overall Top 10 list.  Pictured above is The Lone Ranger, which isn't on this list, but I don't think is as heinous as you may have heard.  It's biggest crime is being unnecessarily too damn long.  It does however, provide a fantastic final action sequence.  Just wanted to drop that tid bit while I'm here.  Without further adieu and, of course, in alphabetical order here's the Top 10 best movies you probably didn't see this year.

My 2013: 10 Best or Favorite New Characters In 2013

In this portion we discuss the characters that quite delighted me and that I may remember most glancing back to 2013.  Whether it be what they did, contributed to a movie's plot or someone just gave a terrific performance these folks just stuck in my mind the best.  This list was actually quite a bit tougher to edit down than I had thought.  All of them will be in alphabetical by character name until then end where I present the absolutely best and most memorable character of 2013 (that one was easy).

Quickie Retrospective: Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)

Gremlins 2: The New Batch
1990
Director: Joe Dante
Starring: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Dick Miller, John Glover, Christopher Lee, Howie Mandel, Robert Prosky, Robert Picardo, Haviland Morris
Rated: PG-13

Kate: Elevator! Sound alarm!
Gremlins: ENH! ENH! ENH! ENH! ENH!

Quickie Retrospective: Gremlins (1984)

Gremlins
1984
Director: Joe Dante
Writer: Chris Columbus
Starring: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton, Frances Lee McCain, Judge Reinhold, Corey Feldman, Dick Miller
Rated: PG

They're watching Snow White. And they love it.
      ~Billy Peltzer



Merry Christmas or Happy Day Off Work for those who don't partake.  And for those of you not qualifying for either working, thank you for putting the hours today to help those who are in need of you or your company's services.  Happy Friggin' Holidays I guess could cover it, but being as its December 25th I think its a bit obvious what day I'm commemorating this piece with.  I'm covering one of my all-time favorite movies and its a Christmas movie at that!  GREMLINS, baby! Ho ho freakin' ho!

My 2013: The 5 Films That Surprised Me

In this look back, I'm focusing on 5 films that pleasantly surprised me this year.  These are films that for all intents and purposes looked bad from the trailers, had production problems, had people behind or in front of the camera I usually don't like...whatever the case may be...I was really surprised to find when these films came out, and I saw them on my own accord or was recommended them by a peer, and really enjoyed them and was pretty surprised that I'd qualify them as good/great/enjoyable.  And I'm well aware I just wrote the run-on sentence to end all run-on sentences just now.  I'm presenting them in no preferential order, just alphabetical.

My 2013: Funniest Scene In A Non-Comedy Film - The Ferris Wheel Scene From Texas Chainsaw 3D

It's that time of year where a boatload of Oscar-bait movies and crowding into theaters and best and worst of the year lists are crowding your web browser.  Everybody does it, and Naptown Nerd will be no different.  Although, since this is my site, I get to make my own rules, do my own thing and phrase and word things how I want to.  So we'll have lists and maybe some moments like this one I'm kicking off this little stretch with.

Ranking Rustys (And The Rest Of The Vacation Series!)

Tis the season...to rank stuff.  This might have been the most bitter ending to any retrospective series ever.  That last movie was heinous, absolutely heinous.  But the first four I rather liked.  Even the ones I found weaker I was able to find positives in.  This seriously is slated for a reboot with Ed Helms as Rusty taking his wife (Christina Applegate I believe) on their first family vacation.  Its been put on delay, so who knows when that'll happen.  It would have been nice to give Anthony Michael Hall or Johnny Galecki a shot at being Rusty again and then grab a major female star to play his wife, but oh well.  Why those two over the others?  Well, one is the original which could draw some buzz and the other is a genuine household name television star.  We'll revisit the series when we get to that.  For now, here's the rankings and a bit of what's going on after this and a bit of a preview of next month.  Thanks for reading and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

BONUS: Griswold Expanded Universe

While there's been no films since...well, let's forget that one....the Griswolds have popped up on two other occasions for "new" adventures and homages. This piece is to acknowledge and take a little look at them.

Vacation Retrospective: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure (2003)

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure
2003
Director: Nick Marck
Starring:  Randy Quaid, Miriam Flynn, Dana Barron, Jake Thomas, Fred Willard, Ed Asner, Sung Hi Lee, Eric Idle
Not Rated

Why the hell did I do this to myself?
      ~Brandon Peters

Vacation Retrospective: Vegas Vacation (1997)

Vegas Vacation
1997
Director: Stephen Kessler
Starring: Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Ethan Embry, Marisol Nichols, Randy Quaid, Wayne Newton, Miriam Flynn
Rated: PG

Every time I belch, the plate shifts and my legs give out. But man, what a view!
                                       ~Cousin Eddie

Vacation Retrospective: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

 

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

1989

Director:  Jeremiah S. Chechik

Starring:  Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid, Johnny Galecki, Juliette Lewis, Doris Roberts

Rated: PG-13

Clark: Hey kids, I heard on the news that an airline pilot spotted Santa's sled on its way in from New york.

Eddie: You serious Clark? 

Vacation Retrospective: National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985)

National Lampoon's European Vacation
1985
Director: Amy Heckerling
Starring: Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Jason Lively, Dana Hill, Eric Idle
Rated: R

Clark:  I'll have a Coke.
Stewardess:  Do you want that in the can?
Clark:  No, I'll have it right here.

Vacation Retrospective: National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)

 

National Lampoon's Vacation

1983

Director: Harold Ramis

Starring: Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Anthony Michael Hall, Imogene Coca, Randy Quaid, Dana Barron, Miriam Flynn, John Candy, Christie Brinkley, Jane Krakowski, Eugene Levy

Rated: R

When I was a boy, just about every summer we'd take a vacation.  And you know, in 18 years, we never had fun.

                                                     ~Clark Griswold

Something Nobody Wants To Celebrate: Gus Van Sant's PSYCHO Remake Turns 15 Today

Whether we're willing to admit it or not, the much maligned Gus Van Sant remake of Alfred Hitchock's Psycho from 1998 has left a legacy.  You don't have to be favorable or liked to have made an impression or leave your mark.  When discussions happen about remakes-their quality, their necessity, what to do and what not to do-you'll be hard pressed to find the remake conversation where this movie DOESN'T come up.  Today, I've decided on its 15th anniversary, to take a look back at the film that terrified people and made them scared for different reasons than the original film.  It opened film lovers' eyes and frightened them of the reality this film was the gateway for.  That NO MOVIE, no matter how perfect the first time around or how loved and adored was safe from being remade or retooled.

Everything That Has A Beginning...Has An End...And A Ranking. The Matrix Ranked

I learned something this retrospective.  That I, along with plenty of others, severely underrated this film franchise and trilogy.  While it has some problems, I'd like to know another franchise that is without fault.  With the sequels, I think many people mistook confusion and their inability to comprehend some plot points and devices for anger and dislike.  Sometimes you don't get a movie on the first view.  Sometimes we have expectations that aren't met and don't open the door and allow ourselves to appreciate what it is they are giving us.  The Wachowskis gave us a pretty damn good trilogy that I think really deserves more respect beyond the praise of the first movie.  Its also a franchise that sort of pioneered and incorporated outside sources or expanded universe material in a way that was pretty effective.  I'm excited for the next time I sit down to watch this franchise through.  This retrospective was a both a reminder and eye opener for the quality of The Matrix series.  For the first time, I'm incorporating into this, everything I've covered for the franchise as canon.

Sleepy Hollow - Episode 09 - "Sanctuary"

My loyal CraneCasters, apologies up front.  I've had a busy week and was planing on writing this while out of town.  Unfortunately as I sit to write this, I realize I have forgotten to pack my notes.  So, I'm not going to be able to provide a play by play this week but I can give you my thoughts Sleepy Hollow's latest episode before taking a week off.

The Matrix Retrospectived: The Matrix Revolutions (2003)

The Matrix Revolutions
2003
Director: Andy & Lana Wachowski
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Harry Lennix, MONICA BELLUCCI
Rated: R

Seraph:  Did you always know.
Oracle:  Oh, no.  No I didn't.  But I believed...I believed.

The Matrix Retrospectived: Enter The Matrix (2003)

In addition to The Animatrix, The Matrix sequels had a video game tie in as well.  And no, this wasn't some generic LJN type thing, this was the real deal.  This had the actors from the movie in a plot with scenes written and directed by the Wachowskis.  It was a pretty big deal.  The story didn't follow Neo, Morpheus, Trinity and the gang though.  It followed the exploits of Niobe and Ghost aboard the Logos.  When playing for the first time after seeing The Matrix Reloaded, one can go "Ohhhh, so THAT'S where Jada Pinkett-Smith's scenes went!"  She was a big casting announcement for this movie back in 2002 and when you see the film you're left kinda like "That was it?" with her.  But come the video game, she gets far more meat to chew on.

The Matrix Retrospectived: The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

 

The Matrix Reloaded

2003

Director: Andy & Lana Wachowski

Starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie Anne-Moss, Hugo Weaving, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Harold Perrineau, Monica Bellucci

Rated: R

I can't help it, Morpheus, I can't help thinking, what if you're wrong?  What if all this, the prophecy, everything is bullshit?

                  ~Niobe

Sleepy Hollow - Episode 08 "Necromancer"

For my normal readers who may be coming in expecting The Matrix Reloaded (it's coming either tonight or tomorrow) and are baffled at a Sleepy Hollow recap mid-season, well if you listen to the IchaPod CraneCast which I co-host with Aaron Neuwirth and Maxwell Haddad you'd know we are on a hiatus while Aaron takes a quest to South Africa for two weeks.  For our listeners I've agreed, to recap these missing couple weeks here.  In addition, I'm also going to to cover 2 episodes of of The Walking Dead for Aaron as well...so be ready for that.

Anywho, let's get into this, because we had another badass episode of Sleepy Hollow on our hands!

First: Thank you to whoever decided to put the Captain Irving axe dodge in the opening recap!  The IchaPod CraneCast appreciates it!

The Matrix Retrospectived: The Animatrix(2003) -PART 3

Here we are with the conclusion of our run of The Animatrix.  This glorious collection of shorts displays what seems like an endless amount of possibilities for this franchise outside of its main story.  You don't need Neo, Morpheus or Agent Smith to fill this universe.  I'm surprised this franchise hasn't turned to TV.  It would be a PERFECT medium to continue these stories.  The format would allow for really cool one-offs and interested further explorations of The Matrix that could take their time and not have to get to an endgame due to having to be concealed within 2.5 hours.  For now, thank you to this brilliant little run of shorts, while they can be incredibly different visions and stories, they manage to maintain the integrity, philosophy and heart of the series, easily making it one of the family in this franchise.

SILENT NIGHT DEADLY NIGHT Returns To Theaters This December!

If you don't go, Billy will PUNISH you!  The great Justin Beahm is teaming with Screenvision and Fangoria to return the controversial holiday classic Silent Night, Deadly Night to theaters.  Its got an all new amazing HD transfer too!  It opens December 4th to what I'm sure will amount to ZERO protesting as opposed to the first time around!  Can we also take a moment to marvel at this really awesome new poster design?  I remember the original poster of the Santa's arm with an axe going down a chimney being iconic, but this thing takes the movie to an incredibly new area of dread.  I hope this rerelease is a sign that a Blu-ray is definitely in the works.  I love when my 80's slashers come to do high definition and this is a big one that is missing.  Also, if this does well, maybe we can celebrate "Garbage Day" next year!  Official details from the press release and a link to where you can find tickets follow below!

The Matrix Retrospectived: The Animatrix(2003)- PART 2

Now we take a look at the next 3 entries of the series.  In addition to Final Flight of the Osiris being released in theaters, 4 of these shorts made their debut on the official website for the franchise.  The remaining 4 debuted on the DVD release in 2003.

The Matrix Retrospectived: The Animatrix(2003)- PART 1

Previously, we covered Dark Fury for the Riddick series.  This is the project that inspired that.  In anticipation for The Matrix sequels in 2003, the creators went back to the well where they received their inspiration.  The Wachowski's produced a series of 9 tie-ins and one-offs revolving around the world created in the first film and setting up the second film.  The stories all would take on different styles of Anime with many different contributors.  I'm very much a person who really enjoys these stories and considers them very much a part of this franchise.  If you're purchasing a set of the 3 movies and this isn't included; you're doing it wrong!  In the next 3 pieces, we'll be going over each of these shorts.

Introducing THE COLLECTIONARY

If you've noticed to the side, there's a little link with Superman on it called "The Collectionary".  If you click it you'll be taken to a super cool online shop where you can find tons of items, rare and fun regarding our favorite hero in a red cape.  But, they're not just limited to Superman, there's stuff there for fans of sports, movies and many other things.  Since they are big fans and sharing my blog with their shoppers, I find no problem in giving them the podium for a second to let them tell you a little bit about their shop!

The Matrix Retrospectived: The Matrix (1999)

 

The Matrix

1999

Directors: Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski

Starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Joe Pantoliano

Rated: R

You know, I know this steak doesn't exist. I know that when I put it in my mouth, the Matrix is telling my brain that it is juicy and delicious. After nine years, you know what I realize?  Ignorance is bliss.

                       ~Cypher

Why I Can't And WON'T Hate On THE WALKING DEAD

 

This article was intended to be posted right before the season 4 premiere of The Walking Dead, but I kept a strict "Nothing but Halloween" policy last month here.  But in light of my Twitter feed and articles I've read in the past week or so, I think now is a perfect time for it.

Ranking The HALLOWEEN Franchise

Holy friggin' crap.  We're here! Day 31 of 31 Days Of Halloween.  I can't believe it.  This has probably been the most involved and biggest retrospective yet (and maybe ever).  James Bond may have had more movies, but I also had a lot more time (3.5 months).  This has been an awesome undertaking and one of the franchises I always wanted to do when it came to retrospectives.  I want to thank all my guest writers who submitted pieces to enhance and class up this joint.  You guys were all great and didn't even half ass anything when you could have.  It truly means a lot and I am full of gratitude.

I don't really have much more to say, being as I've been talking about this stuff for 31 days now.  At the bottom and at the top of this will be no surprise, but I'm sure there will be a shocker or two here as I don't see eye to eye with a lot of the "safe" rankings of this series by a majority of the fanbase.  I discovered this film and series on my own and I'll do my rankings as...my own.  Happy Halloween, and don't forget to scroll to the end for a tease of November's MUCH smaller retrospective.

My 10 Favroite Kills Of The Halloween Franchise

Okay, so I thought this would be some fun.  He's not as masterful as Freddy or as creative as Jason, but Michael has had some great kills in his run.  Halloween I think is known more for its suspense than its kills for a majority of the series run.  However, they weren't shy about dabbling in what was making its imitators more famous.  This was a bit tougher than I imagined.  If Michael was this tough, I don't know if I'm ready to spend many hours thinking about Jason and Freddy.  There were some omissions that I'm sure you'll point out, but trust me, I thought of them.  I also tried to stay away from deaths that were callbacks to other murders.  I want to point out that these are the ones I enjoyed quite a bit and stuck with me THIS time around (and no..."#1 Tina - Just because" isn't how this list is gonna go).  Opinions, tastes and favorites tend to rotate quite a bit in this life.  I could make this same list and 6 months and I'm sure there'd be some changes and alterations.  And folks, remember with lists like this, its not so much the order, its what's in them that's important.

In Memoriam: COW!!!

Fuck...fuck...fuck...fuuuuck....fuck...fuck
              ~Gary Scott

Halloween II: A Rob Zombie Film (2009) - Guest Article

Halloween II
2009
Director: Rob Zombie
Starring: Scout Taylor-Compton, Malcolm McDowell, Tyler Mane, Brad Dourif, Danielle Harris, Brea Grant, and oddly in her 2nd movie in this retrospective Margot Kidder
Rated: R

I'm a little confused, are we talking about the "Austin Powers" Mike Myers or is this someone else?
                        ~Weird Al Yankovic


When I asked writer/author Randy Shaffer to do a guest spot for this retrospective, we quickly found out we both share something very uncommon amongst Halloween and horror fans in general.  Both of us have a love for this very weird almost arthouse slasher that is Rob Zombie's second Halloween film.  We agree that is highly misunderstood and very much unfairly slammed. Randy wrote what was intended be an "In Defense Of" piece to go with mine, but I enjoyed it so much and was going to cover the exact same bases myself that I decided to sub his in for mine here.  Know that I agree 100% with his assessment of Halloween II.  The first time I saw this film I felt there was something there with this one, then when I saw the Director's Cut (see THIS version if you watch it) things started to work even better.  I enjoy this film more and more with each subsequent viewing.  I have some other things that I'll brush over when I rank the films.  So here's a first here on Naptown Nerd, someone else doing the actual movie piece.  Its fantastic, enjoy!

In Memoriam: Ismael Cruz

Hey mikey, how you doin? Look, you can't let those walls get you down... believe me I know. I spent a little time behind walls. I know they can drive you crazy... you gotta look beyond the walls, you know, learn to live inside your head.

Halloween, Halloween 4 & Halloween 5 Back In Theaters This Weekend!

Hey folks!  Just in time for its 35th anniversary and...the week of Halloween, Screen Vision and Compass International are bringing the original Halloween and 2 of its sequels to the big screen.  They've had a couple showings this month already of these, so I think part of the screenings this week are an encore presentation for those of you who couldn't make it.  Seeing the original Halloween on the big screen is something you just kinda gotta do.  Hopefully you don't get stuck with a shit audience.  The special thing here is...how often do we ever see a revival of Halloween 4 & 5!  Pretty cool to see little Danielle Harris chased by Michael again!  Anywho, check out the link below for theater times near you and preorder yourself some tickets!

http://www.screenvision.com/cinema-events/halloween/

Enjoy the show!

Michael Myers: From Slasher To Hobo - I STILL Love You! (GuestArticle)

Today, I'm proud to provide a guest piece from the owner of Why So Blu? himself, Brian White!  He is the man I have dubbed "Blu-ray Jesus" as the man blesses us writers not only Blu-rays to review but stellar reviews and unboxings!  Brian provides us a positive look at the effects and history of his personal adventure of loving both Carpenter's original vision of Halloween and Rob Zombie's.

Halloween: A Rob Zombie Film (2007)

Halloween
2007
Director: Rob Zombie
Starring: Malcolm McDowell, Sheri Moon, Tyler Mane, Scout-Taylor Compton, Brad Dourif, Danielle Harris, Danny Trejo, William Forsythe
Rated: R

Seriously though, on a scale from one to ten...seven-five?

How about...zero!

More like...zero plus 11.

     ~Bob and Linda

The Michael Myers Death Stare (Guest Article)

I'm extremely happy to have Aaron Neuwirth of Out Now With Aaron & Abe fame, Why So Blu? fame, The Code Is Zeek fame and The IchaPod CraneCast fame entertain us on this Saturday before Halloween.  Aaron is one of the best young (to me young, that is) minds of cinema around and someone who's truly helped me big time with a break or two in the criticism field.  Before we move on to his reimagining, let's take one last look at what made Michael tick and work in the original.  I hope you enjoy his first guest appearance here on Naptown Nerd.

In Memoriam: The Original Series' Canon

There's not a single person or word left I'd like to write about regarding Halloween: Resurrection.  However, it did make one big notable kill; the original franchise's storyline.  Yes, there were (to keep things simple) 2 different stories, but they all stemmed from the first 2 films.  Resurrection did open solid and made its money back, but things were much notably down from H20's take.  Plus there was plenty of fan backlash.  Moustapha Akkad pledged to truck on with a further sequel to the franchise.  Akkad vowed never to have remake of the original film.  There were many ideas floating about on how and where to take this film after Resurrection.  There was a popular script that featured Michael Myers in prison awaiting his trial or death row or something.  Another idea was to explore Michael's past as a child through a prequel.  I think another idea kind of combined both of those.  I don't think bringing Busta Rhymes back was ever in the cards.

Halloween: Resurrection (2002)

Halloween: Resurrection
2002
Director: Rick Rosenthal
Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Busta Rhymes, Tyra Banks, Bianca Kajlich, Katee Sackhoff, Ryan Merriman, Sean Patrick Thomas, Thomas Ian Nicholas
Rated: R

Trick or treat, motherfucker!

How HALLOWEEN Became The 'Choose Your Own Adventure' Of Horror Franchises (Guest Article)

Folks, this is kind of a big deal here on Naptown Nerd.  The tables turn here, as I am proud to give you FORBES writer Scott Mendelson's first guest article for the site.  As you all probably know, I got my start doing guest pieces for his old blog Mendelson's Memos.  

In Memoriam: Jimmy Howell

Jimmy's been suspended five times already for gettin' a little crazy with the STICK!
                       ~Jimmy

Halloween: H20 (1998)

Halloween: H20
Director: Steve Miner
Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Josh Hartnett, Adam Arkin, Michelle Williams, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, LL Cool J, Jodi Lynn O-Keefe, Nancy Stephens
Rated: R

I can't, I'm having my nipples pierced.
            ~Will Brennan

Halloween Water? hahahhahahahahah
            ~Every jackass in 1998 who thought they were telling an original joke.

As the stock in this series was seriously plummeting, luck struck the Halloween franchise's side.  Scream came out and resurrected interest and acclaim in the slasher film.  The film also played as a love letter to films like Halloween.  Also, Halloween was happening upon its 20th anniversary.  This brought Jamie Lee Curtis and John Carpenter back out of the woodwork to try and give this thing another go in celebration.  Shit was about to get real.  Dr. Loomis might not be around any more but Laurie Strode was coming home!

A Collection Of Some Terrible Michael Myers Masks

 

 When Halloween 7 went into preproduction back in 1997-98, an Michael Myers mask photograph leaked to the web.  It caused quite the uproar.  It was a nice looking mask, except for one thing; it had distinctly blue lips.  Horror fans don't tend to ever like change, so this was a catastrophe.  Nobody knew where the image came from, but it was thought to have come from the prop department on the film.  They were going to change Michael up!  Heavens no!  Same same same same!  Apparently, however, the image came from a costume store developer and that was to be one of their masks the following fall and had nothing to do with Halloween 7.  But, who knows, maybe it was a cover up story after the studio heard the fan backlash.  It wasn't like Halloween 7 wasn't afraid to change or try a different mask midshot either. 

Retropolis: Halloween & The Midnight Movies

The great Jim Dietz returns with another terrific guest spot here in the Halloween Retrospective.  This was originally published last week on Jim's blog, but he slid it my way to be an inclusion in this retrospective.  And thank you, Jim for that.  This is a great look back at his experiences with midnight movie revivals and his first taste of John Carpenter's Halloween.

Halloween:The Curse Of Michael Myers, Part III (The Producer's Cut)

I see only one bastard in this house.
          ~Kara Strode

The Producer's Cut of Halloween 6 is not a great film by any means, but its an important one.  It does help that its heads and shoulders above what was released theatrically.  The 90s was a weak time for horror, and for some reason all the horror icons being villains wasn't enough.  They all apparently needed to have some sort backstory and retcon to the truth of the original.  Freddy started it, Jason and Leatherface followed suit and Michael Myers couldn't even escape it (a could months later, Pinhead too would join in).  Things as they were weren't good enough.  There was always something "behind the evil" or "this is what it REALLY is".  The evil in all these needed to be explained where no explanation was necessary.  Mythologies were being forced where the makers didn't realize they had spent the previous decade creating one on their own.  But, these are movie monsters and these mythologies did attempt to make them more classical in a sense.  They're attempts at taking the characters into different places and its different, but not in all cases does it work.

Halloween:The Curse Of Michael Myers, Part II (Acquiring The Producer's Cut)

He hears the voice too, you know.  Just like that other boy who lived in that house.
                          ~Mrs. Blankenship


This part of our story takes place in 1996 when I was 14.  Things were very different back then.  You kids nowadays can get this thing pretty damn easy.

Halloween 6 came and it went for most people.  But for fans of the series, this movie would never ever leave our consciousness.  Shortly after the film opened, people started realizing that there were things in the trailers, promo images and behind the scenes pictures that never happened in the movie.  On the old message boards of yore me and fellow obsessives began wondering about this.  And finally, Fangoria reported on the extensive reshoots and elements that had been removed from the film.  There was a whole other version of this movie that we were not shown.  As fans, we wanted to see it.  Badly.  This apparently wasn't your run of the mill, delete a scene or two either.  Apparently, this thing had 45 minutes of footage giving the film a different feel and story.

In Memoriam: Jamie Lloyd

There's no kind way to say this.  Jamie's life kind of sucked.  And it wasn't a long life either.  She died on Halloween night 1995 at around the age of 15.  The only positive experience in life she was in her first 8 years.  There was so much this young girl didn't get to fully appreciate and experience.