Customer Reviews

Halloween II / Halloween III - Season of the Witch (Double Feature)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

in this two disc collection, you'll find the only two Halloween films Universal Studios produced, the decent Halloween II and the odious Halloween III: Season of the Witch. so why did i give this product five stars? because i'm a Halloween fan and i know any other fan of the series will want to get this.

Halloween II picks up where John Carpenter's classic left off. unstoppable killer Michael Myers is still on the loose, carving his way through victims on a bloody path that leads to the hospitalized Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis). a large portion of the film takes place in a hospital, which is somewhat dismaying because a hospital isn't a very fitting setting for a movie that takes place on Halloween night. and the blood and violence is ratcheted up considerably this time around, after its predecessor inspired a boom of gore-filled holiday slasher copycats that Halloween II had to keep pace with. the ending is explosive and seemingly final, leading to...

Halloween III: Season of the Witch, the misunderstood child of the franchise. Halloween III was an experiment in sequel-making, the result of Carpenter's choice to end the Michael Myers saga which seemingly petered out at the end of Halloween II. Carpenter and partner Debra Hill were approached by Universal for another Halloween film, so they decided to turn the series into a sort of anthology in the same vein as The Twilight Zone, where each installment was its own self-contained story but involving the dark holiday in some way. with the aid of famous screenwriter Nigel Kneale, they concocted a story involving an evil novelty company using Halloween masks in an attempt to invoke Halloween's mystical past by murdering millions of children on Halloween night. the film shares some aesthetic similarities to the previous two films (the opening credits involving the visage of a jack o'lantern and mysterious, calm killers whom seem to be able to walk faster than a normal person can run) but the comparisons really end there. the film shares more in common with Invasion of the Body Snatchers, sharing a disastrous, wide-spread conspiracy threat that the world needs to be alerted about before it's too late.

the film is incredibly flawed (apparently, the evil plot which takes effect at 9 PM throught the country, but time zones didn't seem to be a major factor in the plot's planning), but the film can be admired as a cautionary tale of commercialism gone mad and technology made for our enjoyment and benefit being used against us.

both these films can be seen as the trial-and-error genesis of the movie sequel. one film adheres to the repetitive-yet-popular nature of most sequels, while the other film completely abandons popular movie sequel formula. Halloween fans will definitely like this product, but film buffs and students of film can find plenty to learn from with these two movies.

There have been many sequels to John Carpenter's 1978 classic, "Halloween", including an uncalled for remake that spawned its own sequel. But, I don't think I could give a higher recommendation to any of the sequels than I can to this particular pair, except maybe "H2O", which wasn't a masterpiece but at least dealt with the original victim character of Laurie Strode. However, before I go into WHY I recommend these two sequels, let me give the customary brief synopses.

"Halloween II", from 1981, picks up right where the original classic film left off. On that same fateful Halloween night in 1978, Michael Myers is still on the loose, Dr. Loomis is still in hot pursuit, and Laurie Strode is still fighting to stay alive, this time from largely from a hospital bed. The movie itself is little more than an extension of the hunt for Michael and an increase to his body count, a story-less plot that is the main reason I don't like slasher film sequels (and many slasher film originals) and tend to lean towards monster-type horror films. However, read on to find out why I feel this one can be one of the more enjoyable Halloween sequels.

"Halloween III: Season of the Witch" is a complete change of tactics from the creators of the film series. Leaving Michael Myers for dead, this 1982 film was meant to turn the Halloween franchise into something that the Myers fans didn't allow. A shame too, because it would have meant completely new horror stories set on the holiday in each new installment. The first and only one in this attempt at turning Halloween into an anthology series, "Halloween III" is about a doctor who travels to a strange little town to investigate a mysterious death. While there, he and the daughter of the deceased strike up a romance and uncover a disturbing plot by a mad warlock to exterminate countless children and their families through murderous Halloween masks. Horror films always fit well around Halloween, but this much maligned sequel is one of the few that I consider a must-watch near or on October 31st.

So, why do I recommend these two installments of the Halloween franchise above all the other sequels? Let's start with Halloween 2. As a standalone film, this doesn't work. It just doesn't. It is nothing more than an extension of the ending of the original John Carpenter masterpiece. This really is nothing more than a feature-length extension of that film's climax. There's no plot. There are new characters, but they don't amount to much in the long run. What makes this film work is that, with the returning cast, writers, and crew members, you can watch this film right after the original as though it is one long movie, and in that way it works well; especially if you enjoy all the chasing around of slasher films, which I admit gets a little boring for me, but with the superior style and cast of this film compared to the many lame copycats, it is still entertaining. This one also has the big reveal of Laurie's relationship to Michael, which I assume was only cooked up to give this one more importance. Admittedly, even John Carpenter and co-writer Debra Hill didn't want to make this story-less sequel, but they manage to keep it interesting with the great visuals and dialogue, and a classically disturbing scene about the whole razorblades in the candy scare that was prominent at the time. So, basically, this is a great one to directly follow (and I mean immediately) a viewing of the original film. Together, it's like an extended cut version of "Halloween". Though, if you don't have the original film handy, then no point viewing this one. Recommended as the "Halloween" 1978 companion.

As for "Halloween III: Season of the Witch", this is the one that is great as a standalone film. It needs no prior knowledge of the previous 2 films. This is its own story. Why do I love this one? Well, besides the fact that I would have loved the whole idea of making the film franchise an anthology series, this one is just a disturbing little film. I mean, the evil conspiracy plot of the villain is just so wicked, and he and his creations so creepy, that it's just a really fun movie! Granted, it requires an attentive viewer. It has a big Nancy Drew quality of sneaking around in the dark trying to unveil a plot, but it's full of worthwhile stuff, including the crazy death scenes, kind of attractive in a different sort of way female lead, and of course that unforgettable television commercial jingle, "Eight more days till Halloween, Halloween, Halloween; Eight more days till Halloween, Silver Shamrock!" I'm part of a small group of folks who really love this one!

So, that's the films in a nutshell. Part 2 brings back Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasence, while Part 3 stars Tom Atkins, Stacey Nelkin, and Dan O'Herlihy. The double feature DVD release is basically a repackaging of the two films' separate disc releases, so we happily get two separate discs here rather than a double sided, cramped one. The films are in anamorphic widescreen and unfortunately, only "Halloween 2" includes bonus features: the trailer and some text stuff. This is definitely a great way to own these two films, just make sure you already have the original 1978 classic first.

And, if you want more of the same, there are a total of 8 films in the original Halloween franchise (I'll review all of them here on Amazon this month, if I can), and if you just love Halloween themed films (like Halloween 3), I highly recommend the 2008 release "Trick `r Treat" for a really fun, creepshow-style anthology focused on one of my two favorite holidays!

Halloween II: Not at all the best in the series. Better than Curse of Michael Myers, but worse than all the others. It has no real characters and no real plot. Just a pick up of where the last one left us to a cat-and-mouse through a hospital to Michael's death. That's about it.
Halloween III: Season of the Witch is my personal favorite of all the sequels. Too many people give this film a hard time because boo-hoo, Michael isn't in it. Yeah, like we really need to see him running around stabbing people again. This is more of a spooky film and gets away from the slasher angle of the others.
I give Halloween 2 only 2 stars, but Halloween 3 gets 5 stars.

Halloween 2 is a fantastic sequel. It's not as good as the original, but really, what is? Aside from Psycho, Halloween is probably the best slasher film ever made. There is no way any sequel or remake is going to top it. But Halloween 2 is pretty darn good nonetheless, and probably better than any of the other sequels. And Halloween 3 is a darn good movie itself, even if it's not part of the "official" Halloween timeline. Bu then, there really isn't an "official" Halloween timeline, is there? There are about FOUR different timelines, if you count the remake. Four separate continuities. The truth is, Halloween 3 is a great movie taken on its own merits.

As far as I know, you get the same single-disc releases, just packaged together for a cheaper price, so there's no reason not to buy this set. This is a terribly written review, but I hope I conveyed my feelings well.

HALLOWEEN II- I love this sequel! I love how it takes place right after the original ended! Michael has been shot six times by Dr. Loomis, but he gets up and walks away! Loomis continues his hunt and Laurie Strode is taken to Haddonfield Memorial Hospital. Michael stalks the hospital in search for Laurie. Loomis finds out something about Michael that he NEVER knew. I love the showdown at the ending with Michael, Loomis, and Laurie. HALLOWEEN II is a treat for any and all fans of HALLOWEEN, horror, and slashers! I highly recommend HALLOWEEN II!!!


HALLOWEEN III: Season of the Witch- Since 1998, I've been a big hard-core HALLOWEEN fan! I love HALLOWEEN III. People just hate it, because Michael Myers is not in it...SO WHAT!!! A little temporary change never hurts anyone. I love the storyline with the warlock named Cochran making HALLOWEEN masks out of Stonehenge. I love the "Happy happy HALLOWEEN" song and Cochran's speech to Dan about the Celts and how HALLOWEEN was 3,000 years ago. I really appreciate this "sequel" yes, I called it a sequel, because it's called HALLOWEEN III!!! Another part I love is what happens to Little Buddy Kupfer when he watches the commercial and his head turns into snakes and bugs. The last part I love is the ending, it keeps you in suspense. This classic film earns the right to be called "HALLOWEEN III"

Although Michael Myers, Dr. Loomis, and Laurie Strode have been taken out, this is 100% really good HALLOWEEN material. It starts off with a man named Harry Grimbridge trying to run away from some men in business suits. In his hand, he's grasping on to a Silver Shamrock HALLOWEEN Pumpkin mask. Later, he passes out and taken to the hospital by the filling station attendant named Walter Jones. Later in the night, Harry is murdered by one of the business man. Dr. Daniel Challis wants to investigate why he was murdered. Dan has a bad relationship with his ex-wife, who is played by the actress that played Annie in original HALLOWEEN. Dan hardly spends any time with his kids. Dan and the murdered man's daughter; Ellie Grimbridge make a plan and go to Santa Mira where the Silver Shamrock company is. (For some reason, I love the scene at the bar when Dan is drinking beer and that silly cartoon is on, then the original Halloween plays.) Conal Cochran is the boss, and Dan finds out that Conal is a warlock who plans to use the popular masks as a way to kill all the children on HALLOWEEN. Dan must stop it from happening. This really is a classic in its own way. I highly recommend HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH!!!

HAPPY THIRTIETH ANNIVERSARY, MICHAEL MYERS!!!

"Halloween II"

"Halloween II" is one of the best sequels ever made in horror history. It begins exactly where the first one ended - Michael Myers is shot and falls from the balcony. Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasance reprise their roles as Laurie Strode and Dr. Sam Loomis. John Carpenter and Debra Hill wrote the suspenseful script and Rick Rosenthal provided great direction. The eerie trademark soundtrack from the original is also used in this superb sequel.

If you enjoy a high body count, you will enjoy "Halloween II." Michael Myers pursues Laurie Strode to the Haddonfield Memorial Hospital; he begins dispatching the entire staff within its sanitized, claustrophobic corridors. In this sequel, we learn why Michael Myers is intent on destroying Laurie. We also learn that Michael Myers is well versed in the ancient occult religion of Druidism.

Michael Myers is Samhain, the Lord of the Dead. He can't be killed because he is already dead. Satanic evilness has possessed his body and given it the illusion of life. Bullets and fire can not stop him.

This film is a must see for fans of high body count slasher flicks and horror films set at hospitals. "Visiting Hours" is also highly recommended.

The DVD has a grainy full screen teaser trailer; production notes; biographies of the major stars, the directors and the producer; recommendations, and a DVD newsletter offer.

"Halloween III - Season of the Witch"

Laurie Strode and Michael Myers were both in the psychiatric hospital when "Halloween III - Season of the Witch" was filmed. They needed a rest. This shouldn't keep you from watching this underrated gem that serves up more gore and tension than its predecessors. Millions of innocent lives are threatened throughout the country in this conspiracy horror film.

Instead of Michael Myers, we have another madman who is Conal Cochran, a Druid who owns a toy factory, Silver Shamrock Novelties. This factory is an evil version of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. It is producing novelties of horror intent on killing children. Cochran owns the town of Santa Mira where the factory is located. It has a six o'clock curfew, cameras monitor everyone's movement and, instead of oompa oompas, an army of killer androids operate the machinery.

"Halloween III" has quite a bit of suspense and tension. As the hours and seconds tick by on this Halloween night, the viewer is drawn closer to an impending disaster. A doctor and his young girlfriend struggle to stop it. Will they be too late?

This high tech, conspiratorial horror film is highly recommended for those who love small towns with big, deadly secrets. Other films in this genre include "The Secret of Harvest Home" and "The Stepford Wives." "Halloween III" will make you think twice about visiting a small, secluded town on Halloween.

Surprisingly enough, the DVD has no extras. Not even a trailer. The film is presented in widescreen with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1.

These movies are amazing still! I love all of the original horror movies and these are just as good! I definately recommend any horror fan to watch these!

For the halloween season I found Amazon was the place to shop for some of my favorite movies. I bought Halloween I, II, III, Halloween 4&5 by the way are the best of the bounch. And then I thought I would complete my collection of scream and bought Scream 4.
Amozon.com is my favorite place to by the movies I want

"Halloween II" is about the same night of October 31st 1978, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) has been hospitalized and Michael Myers is still on the loose. Dr. Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasance) is still hot on his trail to stop him as he discovers what is the truth behind Michael Myers's intentions as the killer is in the halls of the hospital killing whoever is in his way to get to Laurie. Onward to "Halloween III: Season of the Witch" goes beyond Haddonfield as it goes into Southern California where a doctor named Dr. Daniel Cahills (Tom Atkins) is puzzled by a strange old dying toy salesman who babbles about some mysterious conspiracy that will happen soon then he dies later on. After the death of the toy salesman, Daniel discovers a strange mask as evidence for it could be the link and key to his death as she joins up with a woman named Ellie (Stacey Nelkin) to a small California town called Santa Mari which is the home of the popular novelty/mask/toy company called "Silver Shamrock". The owner Colnal Cochran is a modern warlock that wants to murder all children on Halloween night using special technologically advanced magic masks.

"Halloween II" is an excellent follow-up to the immortal John Carpenter masterpiece that is just as fun, scary and thrilling as the original but with some added gore in it including a scene where a guy is hammered to the skull or a syringe to the eye. "Halloween III" is the misunderstood installment of the franchise for Michael Myers was abscent in it well because John Carpenter who produced part 2 and this installment decided that Michael's story is done with part 2 and wanted to make a "Creepshow" and "Twilight Zone"-esque anthology of different horror stories about Halloween every year instead of Michael but fans didn't accept it.

This Double feature offers great picture and sound quality with only two extras which is trailer for Halloween 2 and filmographies with production notes on Halloween 2 but nothing for Halloween III.

The spooky atmosphere makes these films. I recommend this Film to anyone. My favourite movies are pts 1-5. Pt 1 - 3 brings me back to my youth and the DVD transfers are fine, if you are after something intelligent, this is not for you, for the films are a fun and entertaining session of good-looking horny teens getting slashed. Not great but what the hell its all popcorn stuff anyway. If anyone is interested in Halloween collectables, email taylor5821@hotmail.com