Halloween Movie Marathon (Live Blog)

It is officially Halloween and thus we begin the Halloween Movie Marathon.  There are quite a few people here, eight to be exact, although I doubt many will actually make it through the entire series.  Joining me tonight will be Crystal, Jason Kuntz, Jessica Jorgenson, Sammi Graening, Donnie Graening, Shelly Graening and Michael Guyton.  Our mission is to complete all 10 Halloween movies in a row.

I have purchased the first nine and we will be watching them at our house on DVD.  The newest installment, Halloween 2, is being played throughout the day at the Century 10 Theater in Fargo.  If all goes according to plan, we will be attending the 5:00 showing, although that is a goal that can only be met with a strict schedule.  If we blow past that time, we will hit up the 7:20 showing.

Keep checking back for more updates throughout the night/day to see how much progress we have made and some thoughts on the films.  Feel free to stop over to watch movies with us or you can meet us at the theater for Halloween 2.  

It is now 12:16, time to put in Halloween and get this thing rolling.

Halloween (Finished 1:47 AM)
We finished watching the movie a little before 2 AM, with Donnie and Shelly leaving early on and Sammi leaving to go drive someone home.  Sammi should be back shortly.

As for the movie, all I can say is that it all begins here.  Halloween starts out with Michael Myers at the age of six and killing his own sister on Halloween night.  Fast forward 15 years later and Michael is out on the loose again causing havoc in his hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois, thus providing a beginning to the iconic horror franchise. 

Halloween is great in many aspects as it has everything that one would expect from a horror movie.  Great suspense, great lighting, great music and features, and may have actually created, many of the horror clichés that are prevalent in many of today’s horror films.  Plus, who can go wrong with a Halloween mask that is based off of William Shatner?

One thing that sets Halloween apart, though, is that Michael Myers is an actual living human.  Unlike other horror film icons, such as Jason Voorhees and Freddy Kruger, Myers is susceptible to being killed.  That doesn’t mean he will be killed, however, as he did take a total of six bullets to the chest, a clothes hanger to the eye and a knitting needle to the neck, and still walked away in the end.

Great film to start the series.

Random observations: There should be no cause for alarm when kids steal Halloween masks, rope and knives from the hardware store.  Michael Myers killed his sister in 1963.  Haddonfield, IL, much like Shermer, IL, from all of the John Hughes films, does not exist.  The movie ‘The Thing’ was being watched during the film, which John Carpenter went on to remake a few years later.

Kuntz’s Take: Off and running.  PBR in hand.  Sour Dough Bread, a banana.  Things are going well.  We checked Mr. Skin to see when Jamie Lee Curtis is shown naked, but remembered that she survives in this one, indicating she probably is never shown naked in the film.  Some candy has made an appearance: pb cups and snickers, butterfinger and Hershey's cookies 'n cream.  Also chips and salsa.  Crystal is displeased with the jack-o-lantern Lorie made with the kids.  Lorie's job is to protect the children from the boogie man.  The light work is great in this.  I love when Michael moves in and out of the light as he is pursuing Lorie and she's watching him from across the street.  It's a great shot.  Another great shot is right at the end when Michael comes up behind Lorie.  The music is really good as well.  It's so minimal but suspenseful.  I guess in regard to the Halloween story, this movie sets the foundational point of evil having its way and being difficult to stop.  The dialog between the psychiatrist and the cop in the yard is key.  It's pretty well written, too.  Much is summed when the good doctor says, "Death has come to your town."  That's all for now.  More to come, here comes Halloween II.

Halloween II (Finished 3:47 AM)
Sammi rejoined the group before the start of the second film and we lost Crystal midway through the movie, so there are still five of us remaining.  Six if you count Mr. Peepers.

In most cases, sequels to movies never live up to the original offering.   Halloween II is a different story, however, and tends to exceed the original in leaps and bounds.  The introductions are over for Michael Myers and now he’s off to do what he does best – strike fear in the minds of people and methodically stalking and killing his victims.

Much like the twist in The Empire Strikes Back, in Halloween II we learn that Laurie Stroad is actually Myers’ younger sister, which adds in an extra element to the whole story and brings it full circle.  Plus, we get to witness firsthand on how much of an unstoppable monster Myers is.  Again, he is shot multiple times, seven to be exact, and he still walks away.  Even being set ablaze doesn’t stop him from walking away. 

One thing that really stood out to me in this film was the uniqueness of the killings this time around.  The killing in the first film was your run of the mill murders with knives.  In this film, Myers is more creative in his methods by using items such as needles, a hammer, scolding hot water and draining a victim’s blood from their body.  It took some time in Friday the 13th before deaths got creative.  It was a surprise to see it happen so fast in the Halloween series.

Random observations: In the first film, the credits mentioned that Myers was 23 years old.  In this movie, however, it is said that he is 21.  More movies were being watched during this film.  This time around it was the zombie classic, ‘Night of the Living Dead.’

Kuntz's Take: I put the popcorn chicken in the cooker, cracked a Monster Java and finished my PBR.  "Don't let 'em put me to sleep."  I like this one better than number one.  The acting is picked up a notch, there is more action, more fear. even more madness.  More intensity.  Jamie Lee in the hospital gown is damn sexy.  There's just plain more craft in this one.  I am grateful.  "We're all afraid of the darkness inside ourselves."  A second foundational piece is placed: it is revealed that Lorie is Michael's sister.  Michael waits for his moment.  He only comes out when he comes out.  He only kills when he kills.  No one can predict.  The music is amped up in this one, too.  It's got more intensity to it.  It's great.  The way it plays out in the basement scene where Lorie is making for the elevator and Michael is progressing slowly is really great.  Lorie is developing a strength in this part we did not see in part I.  She is more ready to face the adversary.  She has tinkered with insanity.  She has suffered.  She's like a Sarah Connor or some shit.  Man oh man, did I enjoy this one.  I would parallel it to Part IV of the Friday the Thirteenth series, in terms of quality, though I have to say this one is more cohesive.  It is also like Friday IV in terms of sensuality (i.e. the hot tub scene, the hospital gown).  I better stop on that note.  Well, ok, I will conclude by saying part II fired me up, and I have more hope than before that some of the rest of these movies will satisfy.

Halloween III: Season of the Witch (Finished 5:47AM)
Michael decided it was best to nap during this movie as he already knew what he was getting in to.  The rest of us decided to stick it out and sit through what is called Halloween III.

The last words of this movie are screamed “stop it!” which is the exact same thing that was going through my mind at the time.  This movie is Halloween by name only.  Aside from that, it features a lame story, no real horror or suspense, and generally just sucks.  It also has an annoying jingle that is played non-stop and will stick in your head for the rest of your life.

If you have not yet seen this movie, avoid it at all costs.

Random observations: Keeping with the tradition of the first two Halloween films, Halloween III also features a classic horror film being played on television.  That movie is ‘Halloween.’  That is as close to the original storyline that installment came to. 

Kuntz's Take: New direction.  The sexy scenes are like soft pornography.  I'm not sure we need to take that step with these movies.  After teasing with the aforementioned genre of movies, by the end it seems they are teasing with the Action genre.  This step also I feel is not necessary.  If they left the good doctor strapped to the chair to forcibly watch terror unfold on the TV screen just before his own mask kicks in and brings a terrible death, that would have made sense.  It's the same error made with the movie Hostel (and several others, to be sure).  But I'm not saying this has been a bad movie.  Honestly I've enjoyed this one more than the worst of the Friday the 13th series, despite the bad reputation Season of the Witch has gotten.  So, I feel like I should try to defend this movie.  I realize it strays from the Myers story line.  If one can get past that fact, which it really isn't fair to expect a fan of the franchise to do, I don't find it to be a horrible movie.  I liked the drama.  The doctor yelling "Stop!  Stop!" at the end, and we don't know if the kid's head will get fried or not.  The way the doctor's wife won't listen to him.  The whole Stone Henge connection.  It moved along well enough to hold my interest.  Maybe this would lead someone to believe I have poor taste in movies.  I would argue otherwise.  Well, if you caught me on the right day.  I love those masks, man. 

Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (Finished 8:20AM)
Michael had to leave since he has to work in the morning.  After a brief layover, we resumed the marathon with Halloween 4.

Halloween returns to its normal form 10 years down the road.  Michael Myers and Dr. Loomis both apparently survived the explosion in the hospital and Myers once again breaks out of captivity to head after another family member, this time his niece.  Myers is met by an unwelcome home party as it seems everyone is out to get him, although nobody has learned that he can be killed.

This was the first time I have ever seen this movie and it was a pleasant surprise.  I figured the series would start going downhill by this point, and while this entry wasn’t nearly as good as the first two, it was a solid effort.  Especially with the little twist at the end of the film.  Since I haven’t seen any of the Halloween movies from this point on, sans the Rob Zombie remake, I will have to wait and see how they follow up with this one.

Kuntz's Take: Two cans of PBR.  Some slow mo.  A nice touch.  Michael is after Lorie's daughter.  Oh, and Dr. Loomis, who is mere mortal, somehow survived the fire at the end of Part II.  Kind of a slow mover, not to complain about the slow motion scenes.  I am enjoying those.  So, then this group of Redneck vigilantes blast the shit out of a local man who was minding his own business.  They seen him in them bushes and thought he may have been that mean old Michael Myers.  The Beer Belly Brigade is a great element to this one, there's just no getting around it.  Is it really Michael's style to climb to the roof peak in pursuit of his victims?  I'm not convinced.  Now they think they got him, sent him to hell even, by shooting him with guns.  Hm.  Though said method failed to work in the first two movies, why should we assume it would work now?  Oh, I see... because he passed the evil onto his niece.  Well played, Halloween franchise.  Well played.  I am a mite too tired to say much else at this point.  I am confident, however, Jason G will provide.  Take care, everyone.  Onto number 5.

Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (Finished 10:13 AM)
A single tear drop from Michael Myers gave him a human element and then he went on to kill eight policemen in a shootout at the Haddonfield Police Station.  After a solid ending with a delightful twist in part four, the Halloween series takes a huge step backwards in Halloween 5.

Gone are the days of Michael Myers instilling fear and stalking his prey.  Instead we get to see a series of cheap scares and comic relief with very little going on in the first hour of the film.  The film picks up in the end, however, by that time the movie is all but lost. 

This is easily to worst offering yet in the Halloween franchise that features Myers.

Random observations: Seeing as this story takes place a year after the first one, Michael Myers would be a ripe age of 32 during this film.  Guns and fire do not kill Michael Myers.  Reasoning and tranquil darts also had little effect.

Kuntz's Take: Okay, okay.  Old Michael escapes the dynamite blowout in the mine shaft (not that he would need to anyway) by sliding into the river.  All right.  Yeah, sure, okay.  I did not realize Madness was such an integral theme in these movies.  Daddy likey.  It's the Fonz.  Tina is dating the Fonz.  Yeah all right.  Fonzerelli got a fork through the head.  Maybe the little girl Jamie is a metaphor for Tina's innocence or purity.  She is weeping, begging Tina not to leave.  Okay, okay, now Tina's friend has a little orange kitten.  Uh huh, all right.  So the thread is showing itself.  I get it, I get it.  Okay.  And she was dressed like a devil - the one with the kitten.  And now everyone has found another kitten.  The child inside, people.  The child inside.  Tina is "coming to get" her, the kitten.  But it's too late for that, isn't it, Tina.  "I hear you, but I don't see you."  Exactly.  Now she's got the kitten, but she is very afraid, like a little girl.  Is this the price?  "What am I doing? I hate cats!" she says.  And more kittens.  The girl dressed like a devil stayed behind to play with them.  Man this one is a slow mover.  Mutherf**k.  Now the kittens are no where around and the devil girl is making out with her man in the barn.  I think I got this one pegged, guys.  I really think I unlocked it.  So, Myers stabs the boy through the back with a pitch fork, then he's leaning over the devil girl bleeding.  Oh and there's blood on the kitten now.  See.  You see.  Let's put old Michael in a flash car, how about.  He can try to kill them with that instead of with his hands as usual.  Now Loomis is delivering the synopsis speech, which we must say he's got spot-on in the past.  
But this time it don't make sense, doctor.  Michael is killing because he's mad?  No he's not.  Wrong nonstop killing machine.  Now Dr. Loomis is John McClane... for a moment.  "The little girl can stop the rage inside."  Come on, now.  We're really losing our bearings aren't we.  Too much themes in this one, guys.  Too message-heavy.  These franchises/series succeed when they reach back and tell the same story.  When they come back is when they get it right.  You can't change why Myers is a killer.  You can't.  When you do that you change the whole story; the central thread (or try to anyway).  Where are we then, people?  Out in the water.  My God, it's 10:00 in the morning.  "Please don't let him get me.  Please, God."  Now Michael is contemplative and has a cowboy friend.  All right.  Cool.  The loss of innocence, people.  The little girl staring into Michael's revealed face, saying, "You're just like me."  

Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (Finished 11:53 AM)
In this series, parts one and two go together, while parts four and five are also paired together.  We all know about the travesty that is part three, but the sixth offering is also another odd movie in the franchise. 

The movie seems to start without any real explanation of what is going on.  We are introduced to a host of new characters, such as a whole new Strode family, and a whole lot of others while the story tries to give some background as to why Michael Myers is the way he is.  It could be due to a lack of sleep, but the background dealing with rune symbols and a cult seemed unnecessary at this point in the series.

Random observations: Seeing as this story takes place six years after the last one, Michael Myers is still going at it strong at the age of 38.  Speaking of age, time seems to heal wounds as the scars on Dr. Loomis’ face from the fire have all but healed in this movie.

Kuntz's Take: "You can't control evil."  Off to a good start.  This one is making me mad.  I'm trying to believe, have hope, but...  egh.  Too many new characters, new weird elements to the story.  "What is going on," as a good friend of mine would say.  It's exploiting, or rather making an effort to exploit, the foundational elements.  Two fake baby tricks.  Two of 'em. 

Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (Finished 1:33 PM)
Since the end of part two, we have endured a few twists and turns in the story as it pertains to Michael Myers.  We have seen Dr. Loomis set a personal vendetta against Michael and tried to stop him at every turn.  We have seen Michael set his sights on Myers offspring.  At the heart of his story, though, it was all about a sibling rivalry of sorts with Michael setting out to kill his younger sister just as he had done with his older sister.

In all honesty, parts three through six of this series may have well as never existed when it comes to H20.  This is the end of sorts, as it has finally come down to a battle between brother and sister.  A battle that put good against evil after being put on hold for 20 years.  In the end, good prevails as Laurie Strode got her revenge and finally put an end to her brother after chopping off his head.

I still have yet to see Halloween: Resurrection, however, I will go out on a limb and say that the Halloween series could have easily been done as a trilogy that only consisted of parts one, two and seven.  H20 was a lot better than I expected and rejuvenated me to finish out the rest of this marathon.

Kuntz's Take: Redemption.  I love the Frankenstein parallel.  Laurie has to face her monster, summon the strength, and she does.  Love it.  She chops his head off, which is new.  A fresh effort.  She knows her enemy, man.  And she uses this knowledge to face him.  It's just great.  Much better than I had expected, and it gives me hope.  Hoorah.

Halloween: Resurrection (Finished 3:28 PM)
I lost all interest in this movie once I saw they pulled the bait and switch and changed the ending to H20.  The only redeeming factor of this movie is seeing Busta Rhymes talk ghetto while wearing a Michael Myers mask and clothing.

Kuntz's Take: I liked some of the shots. 

Halloween (Finished 5:23 PM)
I'm not usually a fan of remakes, but Rob Zombie's retelling of Halloween is probably one of the best ones out there.  I wouldn't classify it so much as a remake as he puts in a ton of his own trademark elements (like putting his wife in the movie as a main character) and adds a lot of depth to the Halloween story.

In the original series, not much is said about Michael Myers' childhood or past except for that he killed his older sister at a young age and broke out of a mental institution 15 years later.  Because of that fact, the others who kept the series going for as long as it did got to add in crap about runes and cults.  Zombie did away with all of that and added a new level to Michael's character that was missing throughout the series.

Half of this version of Halloween dealt with Michael's childhood and the things that turned him into an insane murderer.  The other half focused on his rampage put upon Haddonfield and his younger sister.  Throughout both halves, Zombie borrows bits and pieces from other films and molds together a masterpiece as only he can.

Kuntz's Take: Outstanding.  I love this movie.  But I all ready knew that going in.  Just wonderful.  Brilliant.  Rob Zombie is a master.  Take the twist he throws in of having Michael as a boy put the trademark mask on.  It's too big for him, but as he stabs his sister, we see the same blank stare from behind it.  Except it's a child, it's not the Myers we're used to.  Every character in Zombie's movies is an asshole.  It's a big part of why I love the man's work.  Zombie brings the monster to the child.  The child is a monster and that is scary.  The people in his life don't want to believe it.  But it's true.  His mother sits next to him while he eats jello in the Mental Hospital and she loves him as her son.  But he is a monster.  "Cause no one sees me."  About the only thing movie six got right was "You can't control evil."  The Myers that Rob Zombie brings to us is Evil completely out of control.  Unable to be controlled.  Not only is this message consistent with the central story thread of the entire franchise, it is also probably the most important point to take from these movies.  Zombie leaves little room for us to believe otherwise.  Michael Myers takes his time with his victims, too.  He's on his own watch in this one.  But he gets the job done.  Screaming children running in costumes.  To quote the person who said this, "Nobody does it better."  Zombie hones in on (i.e. does not exploit) the central points to this franchise.  They are as follows: 1. Evil is uncontrollable.  2. Laurie is Michael's baby sister.  3. Madness or Chaos.  In so doing, the real depth behind these points and behind the story, behind the franchise, is revealed, and so pointedly.  I LOVE ROB ZOMBIE

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