wd40cloud
08-05-2004, 03:57 AM
Halloween II (Goodtimes Edition)
Specs and Features
93 mins, R, letterboxed widescreen (2.35:1), single-sided, single layered, Amary keep case packaging, Production Notes, Interactive Menus, scene access (18 chapters), languages: English (DD 2.0), subtitles: English, Spanish, and French
Film Review
What we have here is the original slasher film sequel. Only guess what? It was actually good. The film brings back the whole cast (with the exception of Nick Castle, the original Michael Myers, who is played here by a stuntman who is probably the best portrayal of Myers next to Castle) and a huge portion of the original film’s crew. It also brought back John Carpenter, but he only wrote the film, he had no interest in directing a sequel.
The film opens just as the original ends. After looking out the balcony to see that Michael has disappeared, the good doctor (Dr. Loomis) runs outside looking for him only to find a neighbor in the next yard complaining about being trick or treated to death. Then we’re stuck with the film’s opening credits.
The film’s main setting is the hospital where Laurie id being treated. Michael is also in the hospital, slowly but surely, killing off the hospital staff. Meanwhile Dr. Loomis now has the full cooperation of the police after the sheriff’s daughter is found dead.
The only real problem (my personal opinion) is the secret revealed about Michael’s relationship to Laurie. A neat idea which was stretched far too much in future sequels. If they had just ended the series with film, I don’t think the series would garner the reputation it unjustly deserves. NOTE: I will not spoil the secret for the 3 people reading this review that haven’t seen the film.
Image Quality
As you may or may not know this is the first time Halloween II was released in widescreen on any video format in the United State, and the results are good. Although, this is far from being a reference quality disc, the image quality is acceptable for a film of its age and considering it’s not anamorphically enhanced like the Universal reissue (which I haven’t seen). There’s the occasional speck and minimal grain.
Sound
Halloween II is presented Dolby Digital Stereo Surround. There is very little in way of channel separation. Adequate audio for an adequate transfer.
Supplemental Material
The only thing in way of supplements is several pages of Production Notes.
Final Thoughts
All in all a pretty good disc considering the company (Goodtimes). From what I’ve heard this release was a tad bit better than the Universal reissue, and a lot cheaper I picked mine up at my local Wal*Mart for a whopping $4.95. Sadly the disc is no out of print so it looks like if you want Halloween II on DVD you’ll have to settle for the high priced Universal reissue.
Specs and Features
93 mins, R, letterboxed widescreen (2.35:1), single-sided, single layered, Amary keep case packaging, Production Notes, Interactive Menus, scene access (18 chapters), languages: English (DD 2.0), subtitles: English, Spanish, and French
Film Review
What we have here is the original slasher film sequel. Only guess what? It was actually good. The film brings back the whole cast (with the exception of Nick Castle, the original Michael Myers, who is played here by a stuntman who is probably the best portrayal of Myers next to Castle) and a huge portion of the original film’s crew. It also brought back John Carpenter, but he only wrote the film, he had no interest in directing a sequel.
The film opens just as the original ends. After looking out the balcony to see that Michael has disappeared, the good doctor (Dr. Loomis) runs outside looking for him only to find a neighbor in the next yard complaining about being trick or treated to death. Then we’re stuck with the film’s opening credits.
The film’s main setting is the hospital where Laurie id being treated. Michael is also in the hospital, slowly but surely, killing off the hospital staff. Meanwhile Dr. Loomis now has the full cooperation of the police after the sheriff’s daughter is found dead.
The only real problem (my personal opinion) is the secret revealed about Michael’s relationship to Laurie. A neat idea which was stretched far too much in future sequels. If they had just ended the series with film, I don’t think the series would garner the reputation it unjustly deserves. NOTE: I will not spoil the secret for the 3 people reading this review that haven’t seen the film.
Image Quality
As you may or may not know this is the first time Halloween II was released in widescreen on any video format in the United State, and the results are good. Although, this is far from being a reference quality disc, the image quality is acceptable for a film of its age and considering it’s not anamorphically enhanced like the Universal reissue (which I haven’t seen). There’s the occasional speck and minimal grain.
Sound
Halloween II is presented Dolby Digital Stereo Surround. There is very little in way of channel separation. Adequate audio for an adequate transfer.
Supplemental Material
The only thing in way of supplements is several pages of Production Notes.
Final Thoughts
All in all a pretty good disc considering the company (Goodtimes). From what I’ve heard this release was a tad bit better than the Universal reissue, and a lot cheaper I picked mine up at my local Wal*Mart for a whopping $4.95. Sadly the disc is no out of print so it looks like if you want Halloween II on DVD you’ll have to settle for the high priced Universal reissue.