Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Definitely a mixed bag here, MGM, February 13, 2004
I thought the original "Poltergeist" an amazing film full of great atmosphere, likeable characters, and nicely done frights. Remember the paranormal researcher pulling his face apart in the mirror? The crawling slab of steak loaded with maggots? The corpse filled pit in the backyard? The young son counting the seconds between booms of thunder and flashes of lightening? The original "Poltergeist" had thrills aplenty. And then it all fell apart. Hollywood, in its inimitably greedy style, promptly laid the groundwork for a sequel. Why not? The suits knew the dupes would line up at the box office like good little sheep, willing to shell out millions of dollars for what is essentially a rehash of the original effort. Well, "Poltergeist II" is better than your average sequel to a smash hit, but just barely. What will really feel like a stone in your shoe is the sequel to the sequel, the heap o' screeching metal and flaming wreckage that is "Poltergeist III." The final entry in the series is so bad, so utterly devoid of any of the elements that fueled the success of the original, that my DVD player loudly protested--with sounds I will not recreate here--my efforts to watch it. "Poltergeist II" reacquaints us with the hapless Freeling family several months after the nightmare depicted in the first film. Still homeless after watching their spacious, modern abode implode into thin air, Steve and Diane Freeling (Craig T. Nelson and JoBeth Williams) along with their children Robby and Carol Anne (Oliver Robins and Heather O'Rourke), now live with Diane's mother Jess far from the tainted ghost and corpse filled suburbs. Steve now sells vacuum cleaners for a living instead of real estate, and the couple spends most of their time fighting with the insurance company over compensation for the disappearing house. Grandma Jess likes the idea of the family staying with her even as she notices Carol Anne's amazing clairvoyant powers. When Grams dies in her sleep, the nightmare begins anew as the poltergeists from the first movie track down Carol Anne. The spirits seek to find a way to the "light" (don't we all?), and won't rest until they get their way. Meanwhile, psychic investigator Tangina (Zelda Rubinstein) and an Indian shaman named Taylor (Will Sampson) investigate the site of the Freeling's destroyed home. It turns out that a religious zealot named Kane brought a bunch of followers out to California in the 19th century and promptly killed them in the name of utopian glory. It is the ghosts of Kane and his followers who seek the attentions of Carol Anne, with Kane himself turning up in the flesh to torment the Freelings. We should rightly classify "Poltergeist III" not as a horror film but as a disaster epic. On this outing, Carol Anne (once again played by the indomitable Heather O'Rourke) turns up in a Chicago high rise where she lives with her Uncle Bruce (Tom Skerritt), her Aunt Pat (Nancy Allen), and her obnoxious cousin Donna (Lara Flynn Boyle doing her best to look like Winona Ryder). Zelda Rubinstein reprises her role as the psychic Tangina for a third time. Sure enough, weird things start happening when a nerdy school counselor hypnotizes Carol Anne and opens a doorway through which the dauntless Kane returns. That's about all that happens in this schlockfest, although director Gary Sherman tricks up this installment with lots of dry ice and mirrors that provide little in the way of chills or thrills. "Poltergeist III" is a cheap, cheesy movie that deserves the obscurity in which it currently resides. Fans of the original movie will appreciate the reappearance of Craig Nelson, JoBeth Williams, Oliver Robins, and Heather O'Rourke in the second entry. I always thought some of the charm of the original came from the slightly bawdy antics and great chemistry of this cast. Nelson and Williams in particular have great presence onscreen, and truly do come off as a married couple just trying to raise their family in peace. Will Sampson's often humorous Taylor character is greatly appreciated, as is the downright sinister Julian Beck as the evil Reverend Kane. Beck's emaciated appearance and creepy accent do much to elevate this sequel from the realm of mediocrity. As for the spooky paranormal encounters, Nelson coughs up a mutated tequila worm, Robins battles his braces in the bathroom, and Williams shrieks her way through a couple more corpse scenes. Overall, "Poltergeist II" is good. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same about "Poltergeist III." Nancy Allen and Tom Skerritt have the all the allure of speed bumps, Boyle grates as a giggling teenybopper airhead, O'Rourke is wooden as Carol Anne, and Rubinstein's hammy performance attains epic proportions. The effects are acceptable, but the dialogue is clumsy and the pacing slow. What really killed the movie for me were the late 1980's fashion styles seen throughout the film. Thanks (I think) to MGM for releasing these films in their praiseworthy double feature collection. As usual, the only extras for both films are a trailer and scene selection menu. The disc presents both films in widescreen formats with excellent picture transfers. I think it would have been nice to have a commentary track with the actors for the second film; I would have liked to hear Nelson and Williams talk about their roles. Two actresses associated with the "Poltergeist" franchise, Dominique Dunne and Heather O'Rourke, have since died. Dunne's boyfriend murdered her after the first film and O'Rourke died during surgery. If you have seen the first film, you will probably want to watch these two as well. Just exercise extreme caution with "Poltergeist III," a movie so bad it has caused extreme cranial trauma to those poor souls who watch it.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
One good, one bad, October 1, 2003
I'm glad to have Poltergeist 2 on DVD, as it's one of the better horror sequels. Most of the cast is reunited, and it somewhat succeeds at taking a minor point from the first film (the Native American burial ground) and creating the interesting character of Taylor, played by the late Will Sampson.But it's Julian Beck as the super-creepy Kane that makes this one worth seeing. You just might have nightmares after watching him do his best to cajole Carole Anne to the "other side." On the flip side, the whole clairvoyant thing is overdone (Carole Anne has a connection to the spirit world, so her mother AND grandmother must have one too? Yeah...), and the ending is a pretty big letdown. And speaking of letdowns, just try to get thru Poltergeist 3. Poor little Carol Anne has been shipped off to Chicago to live with relatives (Nancy Allen and Tom Skeritt. Yawn.) but Kane (played by another actor since Beck had passed away) finds her. What then ensues are a bunch of cheap effects and ridiculous plot turns that insult rather than frighten. As you're popping the disc out after watching (or abandoning) the film, just remember: you got the infinitely superior Poltergeist 2 for a great price!
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
THEY'RE BACK and at a GREAT PRICE ! !, October 12, 2003
I've been really disappointed at the way MGM has treated the POLTERGEIST trilogy on DVD. First things first, the original POLTERGEIST was a MEGA-hit grossing over 70 million in the US alone and eventually grossing over 150 million in the international BOX OFFICE. So it's fair to say that MGM made ALOT of money on that particular film, so why is it that it was given shoddy treatment when released on DVD? It was released only with a theatrical trailer as an EXTRA. The first sequel, POLTERGEIST 2 was a decent-sized hit in 1986 grossing over 40 million in the US alone and let's not forget that the Special Effects were nominated for an OSCAR. Again, this film was released only with a theatrical trailer as an EXTRA. The least succesful film of the series was POLTERGEIST 3 which opened in the top 5 the first week but went downhill after that. However the film does have a CULT and fanatical following - many (dare I say it) have liked it even more than the original to the dismay of "original" POLTERGEIST loyalist. Again, it is presented along with P2 with only a theatrical trailer as a bonus. Why is MGM being so stingy? ? Especially when other horror movies that weren't as popular are being released in awesome DVD packaging and loaded with extras. That said, I must say that I'm glad to see both of these movies FINALLY released on DVD. Despite the LACK OF EXTRAS they are both presented in WIDESCREEN format and the picture quality on both films is EXCELLENT. Movies that are heavy in special effects need to be seen WIDESCREEN because you realize how much you DON'T see when it's formatted to fit your T.V screen. This is specially evident in P2. Let's just hope that MGM decides to re-release these films in a more deserving DVD package. POLTERGEIST 2 was originally released in 1986 and did pretty good business at the BOX OFFICE. Although many dismissed it as just another "pointless" sequel, it has stood the test of time due to it's elaborate (and spectacular) special effects and the performance of a very talented actor named Julian Beck who gives one of the creepiest performances EVER in a horror movie. Although he does not get much screen time, the character of REVEREND KANE will send chills up your spine especially during the scene in which Craig T Nelson and the sinister Minister have a few words on the patio of the family's Arizona home. Kane's demeaner changes from friendly to absolutely menacing. Evil emanates from his stare and if you scare easily, he will burn a permanent image of grotesqueness and horror in your sub conscious. Truly eerie. Other highlights include the now infamous VOMIT CREATURE scene and the hilarious (but dazzling) BRACES scene. POLTERGEIST 2:The Other Side is a spectacular and creepy excursion into the supernatural. It may not be as good as the original but it does have a darker, more menacing atmosphere than it's predessesor and it moves at a faster pace. POLTERGEIST 3, as previously mentioned was the only film in the franchise that did not RAKE in the BIG BUCKS but has since it's release in 1988, obtained a loyal following. P3 is a LOVE IT or HATE IT type of experience. Those who hate it view it as an INSULT to the original and curse the film for existing (I always laugh at the way it's so unfairly crucified by lover's of the original. Was the original POLTERGEIST THAT GOOD that any movie that pretends to equal it IS STONED TO DEATH?? Whatever!) Others however, enjoy it for what it is- an imaginative ghost story set in an unconventional setting and with some very creepy and inventive mirror effects. I give P3 alot of credit for trying something new and steering the series in a new direction. The Special effects are quite good. They were filmed live mechanically and it does give the film a rather GHOSTLY and MYSTERIOUS atmosphere. Anyone who states today's CGI effects look better are sadly mistaken. Computer Generated Special Effects look good in a fantasy element such as The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Harry Potter etc, but it has no place in a horror movie. I have said this before and I'll say it again, CGI effects makes today's horror movies look like video games and cartoons. They're just not scary and I know many horror movie buffs will agree. I'm starting to loose hope with today's horror films. I have yet to see a GOOD, SCARY movie ( I think THE RING was the last scary movie that I actually liked). Getting back to P3, the mechanical effects are creative, imaginative, ingenious and quite fun. There are no floating phantasms or monsters like the earlier films but you do get fingers poking out of mirrors, a frozen swimming pool, a breathing door, a ghostly mist freezing everything in it's path and a fantastic and slimy BIRTH scene. POLTERGEIST 3's main flaw however is in it's weak and unsatisfying climax. Especially when compared to the original's nail-biting and dazzling climax and even POLTERGEIST 2's surreal, fantasy inspired ending. However, we now know that this was due to Heather O Rourke's untimely passing before the film wrapped. Gary Sherman who didn't want to continue filming without Heather, had to re-write the ending and a body double (or "dummy"- I can't remember which one) was used in Heather's place. So if the ending feels rushed and uninspired- it was but P3 does move along at a great pace up until that final frame. And one final note to P3 haters- give the film a break. Many will agree that P3 doesn't even come close to the original but not many horror movies do- Let's not forget that the HORROR GENRE only has a few movies that are considered TRUE CLASSICS. And POLTERGEIST 3 looks quite good especially when compared to the other GA-ZILLION horror movies released throughout the 70's, 80's and even 90's- most of which were brainless slasher fares that had nothing more than excess violence and nudity on display. The POLTERGEIST films never stooped down to that level. And I have shown P3 to several of my friends and family members and many of them have enojoyed it and YES original POLTERGEIST fans, I know this may sound hard to believe but many of them have liked it EVEN MORE than the Speilberg/Hooper classic. Even my picky 15 year old niece states it's the "BEST IN THE SERIES" and has watched it at least 10 times. Anyone wanting to add 2 enjoying and quite frightening films to their DVD collection should get this MGM double feature. Although lacking in EXTRAS, the films look and sound GREAT and you can't beat the price. Let's just hope MGM releases these films in a more worthy and satisfying DVD. They're haunting additons to a CLASSIC CHILLER.
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