A Halloween box set?

[Cujo108]

A member over at the HTF posted the following:


Just picked up the latest issue of Video Watchdog and saw this little tidbit:

"Kim Newman just recorded commentary tracks with Steve Jones for HALLOWEEN II and HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH - these releases will be out in the US as part of an Anchor Bay box set and in the UK as individual releases."

Since the 25th Anniversary Edition of HALLOWEEN is scheduled for release in Fall 2003 from Anchor Bay, I'm pretty sure that's when the box set is coming out.

..................................................

So, does anyone know if this is true, or what? i sure hope it is, because I'd love to get the classic that is HALLOWEEN 3: SEASON OF THE WITCH on DVD again with some good extras! Anyone know anything?

[TobalRox]

Kind of strange that AB all of a sudden would have the rights when Universal obviously wants to release 2 themselves, and they couldn't care less about 3 and are happy with Goodtimes owning the rights. Whatever....

[Joni Backman]

It's true.

Anchor Bay's box set (all parts except 6) is out in England.

Part one doesn't include TV-version, but there's 59min John Carpenter document.

All parts are anamorphic.

Here are specs for parts 2 & 3:

Part 2:
Audio commentary by authors Stephen Jones and Kim Newman
Detailed production background written by Stephen Jones
Biographies
Region 0

Part 3:
Audio commentary by authors Stephen Jones and Kim Newman. Detailed production background written by Stephen Jones. Biographies. Region 0.

Same extras (and not so great ones) for both. But better than nothing and they're both uncut (first time in England) Former versions of part 2 lost part of hot-tub scene because BBFC sure as hell doesn't like titties and violence in same frame. I guess they're little loosened up these days. But they still ruined (this year) Steve-O : Don't try this at Home, Last House on the Left, House by the Cemetery etc.

My guess is : If Anchor Bay will release some Halloween box set in States and it will take year or so, it will be much classier release than this UK-box.

[TobalRox]

I'm jus tnot sure if they have the rights stateside, that's all. If so, I guess it's cool, but I already have all of them except 6 and 7.

[raskolnikov]

Season of the Witch is presented in 1.85:1 aspect ratio in the UK box... is that the correct ratio, because I've read elsewhere it should be 2.35:1?

The prints for both parts II and III are really poor. The other discs are much better though, and the set is available for a reasonable price (well below RRP from most retailers) which makes it a tempting purchase...

[TobalRox]

3 is 2.35:1, I have the Goodtimes disc and that's what it's at. It didn't go 1.85:1 until 4, I believe.

[KillerCannabis]

If AB gave this box set a release in the States, I'm not sure if I'd get it or not, since I've already got all the Halloween movies. But it is a sweet looking box nonetheless.

[Joni Backman]

Originally posted by raskolnikov
Season of the Witch is presented in 1.85:1 aspect ratio in the UK box... is that the correct ratio, because I've read elsewhere it should be 2.35:1?

The prints for both parts II and III are really poor. The other discs are much better though, and the set is available for a reasonable price (well below RRP from most retailers) which makes it a tempting purchase...

Have you seen 'em, or just heard about them?

When Anchor Bay UK is releasing box sets this is what happens.

Their Dead Trilogy box was a fucking joke! NotLD is only in re-edited form. Dawn is cut by BBFC. Day is same fucked up transfer distributors used in Scandinavia (looks worse than old as hell Anchor Bay NTSC-release).

I was smart enough not to buy the Dead box, but I ordered this Halloween 6-dvd set, because I wanted to have part 3 anamorphic + Carpenter documentary etc.

I already have every part of the series. Part 3 (Goodtimes), Part 2 (Universal's anamorphic release). And I kinda knew this was something stupid to buy for £47 (about $80).

From this day on I'm not going to buy anything normal-priced dvd's from UK's AB. Not even Two Evil Eyes which has been out there for about a month. Their quality standards are really fucked compared to American Anchor Bay.

[TobalRox]

What does the box look like? Anyway, I already have 1,3,4,and 5, with a roommate having 2 (I sold it to him back when I thought Universal was releasing an SE), and I was gonna get H20 and 6 soon, so I don't see getting the box worth it that much unless there are a lot of good extras.

[dwatts]

Crap - is that true about the dead box? I was going to pick that up next weekend :(

[Joni Backman]

Originally posted by TobalRox
What does the box look like? Anyway, I already have 1,3,4,and 5, with a roommate having 2 (I sold it to him back when I thought Universal was releasing an SE), and I was gonna get H20 and 6 soon, so I don't see getting the box worth it that much unless there are a lot of good extras.

Here's what Anchor Bay UK says about their product. Of course they don't mention aspect ratio of part three. Only NEW extra is the 59min Carpenter documentary.

http://www.anchorbay.co.uk/perl/search.pl?CO=ABDHALL

I'm pissed for spending my money on this one.

[raskolnikov]

Originally posted by Joni Backman
Have you seen 'em, or just heard about them?


I've got the box set and have watched part 2 and had a flick through Part 3. These two are honestly no better than VHS quality, but are still watchable. The print for Halloween II is really murky, especially in the darker scenes.

Having said that, I've got no problem with the other discs in the set - much better. Would have been nice if the box was treated with a bit more respect from AB UK (surely something like this should be handled as a deluxe collector's item rather than a quickly thrown together cash-in?) but it's OK for the price...

[Joni Backman]

I sure as hell did a big mistake when I did order this one.

Parts 2 and 3 look terrible (thank God I didn't sell my R1-DVDs) but the most fucked up thing is that part 3 is cut!

Before the box was released BBFC didn't mention anything about it, but after the release date they mention that it's "re-edited".

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/website/Classified.nsf/ClassifiedWorks/A2FC1FD2BEE9163D80256C1700325A66?OpenDocument

Well, at least the box is fine-looking and Carpenter documentary is great (made by same people who made "Argento - An Eye for Horror").

[rhett]

That is great news if the stateside stuff is true! I already own all the Halloween's except for Part 6 (which I never want to own), but if a box comes out I will sell em all off just so I can get the box.