hack/chop/sloppy..whatever..the editing is terrible in the tv cut of Halloween 2

It's no better than a bootleg when some kid decides to reedit a film themselves using the finalized print they have available on a dvd. Since the soundtrack for example is made to go with the final/theatrical cut of the film. When you decide to place scenes in a different order,it won't match up at all.

A good example of this would be placing the post-credit sequence from the theatrical print until 20 minutes or later into the film. The credit music is fading out during the first few seconds of the scene.

And in the tv print,when we cut to this scene much later into the film from a scene that had no music at all in it. This credit score fading out in this scene is jarring and makes no sense at all.

It would be cool if Universal re-edited the television edit into the theatrical cut, similar to what Anchor Bay did with the television edit of the first film. You know, that is if the original 35mm elements of the additional footage still exists. Regardless or not, some of the additional footage in the television cut would make the theatrical cut a better film with a bit more substance.

And in my opnion, Halloween 2 is a weak entry, however I'll put the blame on production problems with the film (such as Carpenter not liking Rosenthal's progression of the flick) similar to Halloween 6's problems.

I wish Universal would put out some special editions of Halloween 2 and Halloween 3 that could be up to par with Anchor Bay's output and now with the Weinsteins out of Miramax/Dimension, Buena Vista should be able to put out special editions out of six through eight with no problem.

Because it's unintentionally hilarious.

That it is,that it is

But I wouldn't pay $20 or even $1 to see it,when I can see it for free whenever AMC reairs it(and record it if I like).

Ironically I recorded this off WGN when I was a kid and for years it was the only version I had seen. I eventually got the theatrical version on VHS years later, and ended up recording over my old copy (the tv cut). I was actually confused when I saw the theatrical version for the first time. "Where's the scene with Jimmy at the end???" So part of it is nostalgia.

Plus according to rumor the tv version is the closest thing to Rick Rosenthal's director's cut out there (for better or worse) and it's interesting just in that regard. I know several sources say Carpenter went in and added all the gore scenes after the fact against Rosenthal's wishes (Rosenthal wanted to keep the film more in lines with the original).

I don't think the tv cut of H2 is close to the "Rosenthal cut" and am sure bootleggers just said that to sell copies of this version. There is no way as incompetently edited as the tv version is(and not just content cuts!) that it could be the Rosenthal cut. He may not be the greatest director ever,but he's not as bad as the tv cut implies!

And yes I do remember being confused by the 'happy' ending missing when I saw the theatrical version for the first time. Since I remember catching the last half of the film on tv as a kid with the 'happy' ending(sometime in the early 90's) only to find "Jimmy" missing from the end of the theatrical version when I rented it.

I'm glad that ending was cut from the theatrical version though


I do agree the actual cut footage added to the tv print is good though and enhances the film. But 98% of the tv cut is nothing but the theatrical version with scenes mixed around,cut out completely with a ton of 'content' edits lowering the body count of the film(most people disappear,or are heard 'moaning' after being stabbed to show they're not dead!).

It's a good example of just how strict network cenorship was back in the day though. John Carpenters The Thing is another tv network travesty from the time period(I think it runs 80 minutes without commercials and all the transformation effects are cut entirely including aftermath footage of the frozen thing when discovered!). This version aired on TBS recently,while most other channels use the theatrical version cut for language and some gore...but not all the transformations are cut entirely this time.

So what we need for Halloween II - Special Edition is the theatrical cut only, along with deleted scenes and the alternate ending. The alternate opening is unnecessary; all it does is shift the arrangement of scenes, and inexplicably cuts one of Loomis's great lines: "You don't know what death is!"

--THX

I don't mean to openly doubt you, but this seems unlikely to me; the original HALLOWEEN is amazingly slight on the gore factor and builds horror more through atmospheric tension than anything else. HALLOWEEN: RESURRECTION (Rosenthal's other entry in the franchise), on the other hand, is measurably more overt in its violence...whenever I watch it, I always think, "Man, Michael Myers is really pissed off in this one!"...

Oh, and Julie, I know what a "hack" is...I just don't know what "hackly" is...

DVD Authority review of Halloween 4 up here.

Home Theater Forum review of Halloween 4 up here.

DVD Talk review of Halloween 5 up here.

--THX

Review of Halloween: 25 Years of Terror up at DVD Verdict. This thing sounds packed. Though, sadly, little or nothing from John Carpenter, Debra Hill, and Jamie Lee Curtis. In any case, click here for more.

--THX

Never saw the theatrical cut of H6, but I was able to check out the "producer's cut" and I have to say...it wasn't that bad, but it's not Halloween to me.

Let's not go criticizing all kids "re-editing" films. Someone "re-edited" parts one and two into one big three hour (or so) flick. They also took the extra TV footage from I and inserted it into the "R" (read: BOOBIES!) version.

Unfortunately, there was none of the extra footage from HII, but I thought it was pretty kick ass (and seamless).

I have a hard time believing H1 and 2 can be edited together 'seamlessly'. Since the directing styles and atmosphere of the two films are totally different. That it would be so obvious when part 2 begins and Carpenter is not directing

Did anyone get the new Halloween disc yet? No Best Buys near me got this, or the Divimax of 4 and 5.

I couldn't find either of these either. Checked my Walmart, CC, BB and Target, not one of the three releases were to be found!

I had all three of these new Halloween DVD's ship yesterday from DVD Empire. This might be one of those cases where you're pretty much forced to order these from an online retailer.

Mr. Cinema, do you mean the Halloween: 25 years of terror DVD. I got mine yesterday and watched all of disc 1 on the same day. Very good, candid documentaries and some interesting extras. I'm not a huge horror fan (though I'm getting there slowly) but I do love the 1st film. I also have 2+3 but I haven't watched them yet. I will get 4+5 but will read all the reviews to find out which is the best version to buy of each/
Also with the documentary you get a free comic, didn't know thatat the time of ordering so it was a nice surprise!

yes. Are there 2-discs in this set? I'm gonna stop by my local Best Buy to see if they do have them. Their online inventory system isn't always accurate. I believe they only show titles as in stock if there are 3 or more at the store.

I got all three no problem from my Best Buy today. It's in Frederick, MD and I was there about a half hour after open. There were still a few copies left of each.

Yes, it is a 2 disc set.

My Best Buy had them all, but I had ordered 4 & 5 with Amazon credit. I got the 2-disc documentary. It comes with a comic book, insert, and slipcover.

The Best Buy near me today had oh I don't know, two or three of each Halloween (4 and 5). I picked up Halloween 5 last week at a local FYE, as they had it out early and they only had one. So I grabbed it. I'm guessing larger stores only have a couple/few while some smaller stores may only have recieved one of each 4 and 5, while probably getting a couple copies of the documentary itself. They're find-able, sorry to anybody who couldn't find one as of yet but, they may have sold earlier today. To be expected with releases that aren't the new hollywood hits that will appear on the 'new releases' rack.

I found these easily at Future Shop.

I saw all of these out last week at my Best Buy, but I decided to hold off simply because I have a large "to watch" pile and I figured these are best watched in October anyways.

Plus, I'm sure BB or CC or somewhere will have these for cheaper closer to Halloween in the Fall.

I ordered the following from DDD:

Halloween 25Years - 11.99
Halloween 4 Divimax - 11.89
Halloween 5 Divimax - 11.99
Halloween 25th Anniversary Edition Divimax - 17.99

Free Shipping of course!
RickWJ324

I might go to Future Shop later today, to see if I can find them there.