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Re: Rob Zombie's Halloween 2
Depends on the version.
Currently, three different cuts of the film are in existence. There's the infamous Zombie workprint, which was leaked online and prompted some reshoots (most notably, Michael's escape from the asylum and the final scene), the theatrical cut, and the unrated cut later released on DVD. The unrated cut re-inserts some scenes from the workprint (namely the controversial asylum scene), has some added nudity, as well as tinkers with the length of many dialogue scenes. A full comparison between the theatrical and unrated cuts can be found here.
There's also the initial screenplay, which was leaked online. If memory serves me right, the scrutiny it received caused Zombie to push back the start date and rewrite portions of it. Therefore, in case you're interested in delving through various versions or simply wish to see how the film turned out in a certain way, there's an abundance of material to draw from.
If you're simply looking for a solid version, I don't believe there is one. An amalgamated version between the three cuts, keeping the original ending, would likely be the most effective.
Re: Rob Zombie's Halloween 2
I'd personally go with the workprint, which, unfortunately, has never been officially released. While it has the obvious sore spots, it also has generally has more narrative coherence than the theatrical cut. If I had the time and inclination, I'd look into all cuts very carefully and edit out a version which wouldn't cause as much aversion as any of three do in varying amounts.
For instance, the mis en scene in the asylum escape is as typically low-brow, cheap-shock Zombie as Michael's childhood domestic life early into the film. The replacement sequence, while sanitized, makes less sense overall, which inevitably places it under a political, rather than artistic decision. And political decisions more often than not damage the whole of the film, as the integrity of the body of work isn't an issue at this point.
Then again, if you read the original script, you'll notice many things that have been jettisoned even prior to the workprint. However, the sequences generally maintain the same rhythm and events all the way from the script to the theatrical/unrated cut, only they're, in lack of a better word, neutered. This was the main problem with the production; Zombie was asked to deliver his own take on the Carpenter film, which he did (see: original script). After that, fanboy reactions caused studio executives to become antsy, and while not addressintg any thematic issues as opposed to the 1978 film, they just kept asking Zombie to backpedal the more superficial points in the narrative, including explicit violence and profanity (even though both remain in considerable quantities in all filmed versions).
Zombie got a lot of things wrong very early into the game; mainly fleshing up the character of Michael up to the point when The Shape got turned into a puffy, goose-stepping parody of himself. While Tyler Mane had some good moves to himself, he felt the way Michael in Halloween 4 looked. At the same time, any and all 'human' characters lack the human element within them; there's simply not much to relate to other than Michael himself, because even decent and seasoned shlock movie vets like Malcolm McDowell, Brad Dourif and Ken Foree are gleefully wasted by allowing them to churn any scenery remaining from the huffing and puffing has-been of a Fear Itself.
Shame, really.
Re: Rob Zombie's Halloween 2
Copper is right. I'm firmly in the camp of "Unrated Director's Cut EXCEPT for the Smith's Grove Escape scene - theatrical".
If someone could make a cut that just re-inserts the Theatrical Cut's escape scene, into the Director's Cut, i'd be fine. It doesn't make or break the film, i'd just prefer it that way.
The problem with the Workprint & D-cut's escape scene, Zombie's "vision", is that it's unneccessary. It just smacks of gratuitous, unbelieveable, redneck non-sense found in his other films that, A) Are just "too much", and B) usually don't work. This one gets both.
The workprint/D-cut one is just too much for the film. I don't think it angered me (some fans were furious), but I just thought it didn't work. It was just one step too far from the context of the film. The T-cut's is better, but also is so predictable that it's like... why put him in that position in the first place? He could've just crawled out a window, and it would've been less predictable.
Re: Rob Zombie's Halloween 2
The biggest problem I had with Halloween is that he showed the kids (Michael) face and let him talk, trying to show him as a "real" person. It would have been totally frightening if he was always seen wearing the paper plate mask and never utterd a word.
Re: Rob Zombie's Halloween 2
Depends on price. I heard it was just going to be the Director's Cut, and nothing more.
In this day and age, a Blu Ray purchase REQUIRES multiple versions of the film in one package, as to not double dip.
If it's the T-cut & D-cut, and cheap... go for it. If it's just the D-cut, and cheap... it's up to you. If it's just the D-cut, and like $20 bucks... hell no.
The biggest problem I had with Halloween is that he showed the kids (Michael) face and let him talk, trying to show him as a "real" person. It would have been totally frightening if he was always seen wearing the paper plate mask and never utterd a word.
Totally agree. I remember being in the theater with my friend and saying the exact same thing when it was released.
Re: Rob Zombie's Halloween 2
Halloween II-2009 drops in a couple days, and by drop, I mean mango-sized, and steaming...
Anyways, just fyi, instead of posting a bunch of reviews here, the reviews that are slowly starting to come out from screenings n' such, pretty much echo that review on the previous page.
None of them are higher than 5/10, with most in the 2-3/10 range, several basically just slam Zombie for the exact reasons on the previous page.
I haven't seen the film, and still don't know if I plan to. Final Destination 4 looks lame as hell too, with most saying "worse than 3".
I'll give Zombie credit, he does do his own thing with this one, and tries to totally reinvent it. Problem is, it's looking to be a shitastic film on it's own accord, having no reason with the title - "Halloween".
