Considering how god awful the film ended up the studio has to be thrilled. There is a market for bad horror films and this one benefited from the legacy of the original and Zombie's own rep from his last film. It will probably die soon in theaters, but will get new life whenever it does come to DVD.

It certainly has to be looked at as a success, but at least it is not enough of one for them to make a sequel. I hope.

Considering Dimension signed Zombie to a two picture deal, they must've like what they saw. I don't know what they were watching though????

Could it be that maybe, just maybe they LIKED THE MOVIE (like some people, me included)?? Is it still allowed for someone's opinion of a film to differ from others? But anyway, back to the DVD, since this is in DVD Talk...

Liking a movie and it actually being good are two different things. I like a lot of bad movies.

Yeah, anyway, back to the dvd...

Well, Matthew, it is my opinion that this is a good movie, AND I liked it. So, on topic, the DVD will make a ton of money.

Nateman241 no spaking I am BigBoy thanks for the funny now show me money.

It'll be close to $44 or $45 after this weekend. By it's 3rd weekend it'll definitely pass $50.

I never called HALLOWEEN (2007) a bomb, nor denied that FJtK was one. My statement supported the fact that studios can have a DVD release of a film out within 2 months of the theatrical release. For the record I think everyone is pleased with the box office take, in spite of the huge drop it'll have this weekend.

I don't care what they say, there will be a sequel of SOME kind... give 'em 10 months... they'll start thinking about it. They always do.

I thought the film was just okay. I find it disconcerting, however, that the biggest argument for people who absolutely loved the film is "At least Busta Rhymes wasn't in it!" or "It's better than most of the sequels!" Being better than most of the Halloween sequels isn't a hard task (and yes, I like them anyway). The fact that this movie ended up being only slightly better than some of the sequels should be an embarrassment. Rob made a movie anyone else could have made. It came off as the atypical slasher flick, something the original HALLOWEEN was not. Halloween is a classy film. It was well acted with amazing cinematography and had great suspense. The gritty angle just doesn't fit this series, and it's why the sequels are never nearly as good as the first. Still, I enjoyed parts of the movie, and will definitely add it to my collection (don't have Resurrection... That film never happened...)

If anything, Zombie should have been selected to remake Friday the 13th. That series could use a good strong reboot with a creative force at the helm.

I'd love to see what was in this workprint version, as well as the footage that didn't end up making it into either cut. I have faith that the DVD will likely outshine the film... and I'm hoping he'll release the version he thinks is best. Part of me wonders if the constraints of getting the film out by August 31st caused him to make some decisions with scenes he might have changed his mind about.

I think that he just didn't have the courage of his convictions (or didn't think through the screenplay enough). The first 45 minutes of this thing is it's own unique film. It owes very little to the Carpenter version and takes things in different (but, admitedly, not amazing) directions.

Then, the next hour is nearly identical to Carpenter... leading to rushed characterization and comparisons with the previous version (comparisons that this one loses... soundly).

I would have loved to see him take the movie in it's own direction. It can certainly have the same basic plot points as the 1978... but to have the same characters (right down to Tommy Doyle and Ben Tramer), identical dialog, identical scenes with identical staging... not only is this a stupid idea (again, because it begs comparison to a classic), but it doesn't necessarily fit what happens at the beginning of the film.

As someone mentioned in Movie Talk, the folks in Haddonfield were calm in 1978 and weren't concerned/aware that Michael was out. That made sense in that version. However, it makes NO BLOODY SENSE in this one. Given what transpires in this film -- and his method of escape (especially in the theatrical version) -- the town would be in an absolute fucking panic.

I wish Zombie had really continued in a logical direction plotwise based on the first 45 minutes. And the Loomis/Myers relationship could have been very different (almost tender) in this version, given the earlier scenes. Instead, it breaks down into typical "Evil... He's evil I tell you" stuff that doesn't fit this movie.


I didn't hate it, but I can't say I loved it. (Hey, at least it didn't have Busta Rhymes. ) I'm a Halloween whore and as long as they put it out packed with extras (and maybe a new cut), I'll be first in line to buy. HD DVD, please.

this is why my money goes to the purchase and/or rental of the DVD - why waste the time or money in seeing this in the theatre when the DVD will be more than likely be a better cut.

That’s very true. A lot of films that have a loyal fan base aren’t exactly loved by the critic’s. Some movies are just so awful, they’re great.

I very much agree with you. I personally found the beginning of the film to be very interesting. Taking the action to Haddonfield for a nearly scene for scene remake was the wrong move.
After seeing the final product I think LESS time should have been centered on the Haddonfield story. Cramming it full of anyone who was present in the '78 version and making them cardboard cut-outs was a bad choice. I had a real problem with how Laurie was written. In the original film something that set Laurie apart wasn't that she was conservative (she still shared a joint with Annie in the car, and expressed interest in Ben Tramer) it was that she was aware of her surroundings. During a class lecture about "fate" she proves herself attentive by answering a class related question and at the same time spying Myers outside the window watching her. All through the evening she sees him again and again. The phone calls with friends end in choking... is it real? Annie should be back with Paul by now. Why are the lights in the Wallace house going on and off? Her desire to find these answers leads her find her friends' bodies before Myers finds her.

The comparisons I feel between Laurie this film and Laurie old film, are a little off. This films focus was Michael Myers, were the films focus in the original was Laurie.

Hmm.. will this Halloween version be the same as the original (where Anchorbay double dipped release it from Lenticulars, TIN, Annvioersary...)


Im guessing as early as now, it looks like Blockbuster has a guaranteed exclusive coverart for it...

No, the first 45 minutes were about Michael, then the movie switched over to having NO main character.

Box office take..yep I feel taken. I also prefer the Busta Rymes Halloween to Zombieween. Please do not let ths man near Friday the 13th! Instead, let Zombie remake some of the younger generations horror films. Maybe then they will understand some of the older folks frustration. Coming this Fall Rob Zombie presents The Ring & Disturbia.

seantn,
That pretty much sums up how I felt about that. Michael's story was the focus, and then by making it a direct remake of the original film void of characterization it felt unfocused. It played out like a Friday the 13th film, where characterization is summed up by
Basically, if he intended Laurie to not be the focus he should have shortened the last half of the movie significantly so that Laurie would be a total plot device (Michael's final mission), but by directly copying the original film from that point on he turned her into the focus, whether he liked it or not. Then he abandoned all characterization making the film's final half feel detached from the first half.

Personally, I think Danielle Harris should have been Laurie... Scout lacked the naive thoughtfulness of a heroine and Harris has great screen presence. Scout Taylor Compton would have made a great Lynda.

I loved the update of Mr. Sandman on the soundtrack. It's a decent cover.

I wonder if the DVD cover will be the same as the theatrical one-sheet. I thought it was a little 'meh' and it seems like every high profile DVD release has a DVD specific cover these days...

You can't shorten the night of the killing of the babysitters less than what Zombie did though. Myers went through everything he did, he breaks out of Smiths Grove, and then HIS character arc is on the night he goes on a killing spree. I fail to see how that's unfocused. Also, I really like Danielle Harris as well, she does have great screen presence. But, her as Laurie would have just felt like another bland heroine in the likes of oh, Jordana Brewster from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning.

Anywho, there's scenes that are just flat out different in the workprint, like Michaels escape, most of the ending... so how is that all going to be reworked back into the film? I personally enjoyed the ending on the workprint much better. I hope it just doesn't end up as a deleted scene or something. I'd love a 'version A' and a 'version B' of this film, on seperate discs, seperate releases, or something. I want that ending on a cut of the film I can get somehow at retail.

I'd like that idea. I'd prefer it on the same release via seamless branching though.
What I mean by shorten is, since he had his own story going with the prequel angle he should have changed the remake part from what Carpenter established. Example, perhaps have it starting with Laurie already at the Doyle house babysitting, make it so Annie isn't even a babysitter, remove some more of the chase scenes. Keep the POV on Michael with her as a target, not shifting the story to her POV. Have his attack of the girls be more a continuation of the first half of the film and less of a remake. See, that's how I felt about Scout in the role, but maybe it was just the script. Danielle can elevate a terrible script by a bit (Halloween 5 anyone?) and Scout just didn't work for me spitting out Rob's awful dialogue.
Different strokes. I certainly still thought it was an entertaining film, just not a very great one. Personally, I thought it had replay value, and next Halloween it certainly will be in my queue for my marathon... something 3 and 8 have never been a part of...

I agree, the beginning was good and different, so why did Zombie have to remake the 2nd half off of the original? It would have been much better to take it in a new direction. Also, I HATED Michael Myers being the size of a WWE wrestler (which, ironically, the actor used to be). Terrible, terrible decision by Zombie.

He use to be a WCW wrestler.

WCW, WWE... they're all the size of monster trucks aren't they? I preferred a sleeker Michael as well. He was very eerie in the first film, something none of them have been able to capture... and I know it's a minor detail, but I hated the escape in the remake... way too ridiculous. I felt like I was watching outtakes from The Green Mile when they looked at the hand-cuffs and realized they wouldn't fit, etc. I thought his escape in the first film was fairly believable. You can imagine their security being rather unimpressive (despite the maximum security label). Everyone thought he was this catatonic immobile person, so a patient causing a huge mass breakout could certainly leave them flabbergasted and unsure how to react.

Ah, Nick Castle. The original "Shape" (for the first film only). I agree. He did a fantastic job.

He went on to direct a couple of great films too: The Last Starfighter, The Boy Who Could Fly.

Well didn't the 1st film actually have about 5 different people playing Michael all through it? Not that all of them were credited...

True, but in the scenes when he walked across the street or moved they were mostly played by Nick Castle. Stationary shots of him just watching the girls, etc, were by random production people.