Halloween on DVD

A whole new way to experience the evil of Michael Myers!!!!

 

 

DVD 1: Halloween

Information: Halloween has been fully restored under the supervision of Lucasfilm's THX Digital Mastering Services. This is not only the best Halloween film but the best DVD as well. It also comes in a collectors edition 2 CD set with the TV Version. The documentary is awesome because of the interviews, rare photographs and insights into this classic movie. I rate this one five ***** our of five stars!!!

Distributor: Anchor Bay.

Special Features:

  1. Widescreen or Full-Frame Presentation

  2. Original Theatrical Trailers

  3. Television Sports

  4. Radio Spots

  5. Talent Bios of the main cast members

  6. Still and poster gallery

  7. Behind the scenes still gallery

  8. Halloween Unmasked 2000 produced by Mark Cerulli with interviews with Debra Hill, Jamie Lee Curtis, Nick Castle, Moustapha Akkad, Irwin Yablans, P.J. Soles, Tommy Lee Wallace and John Carpenter.

  9. The ability to watch the movie with three different soundtracks including the original mono soundtrack.

DVD 2: Halloween II: The Nightmare Isn't Over

Information: Presented in its original widescreen format to preserve all the terror. Sadly this may be the worst Halloween DVD overall.  The picture quality is good but no special features at all.  The scene index is a neat touch.  Overall it is well worth the price but with the new DVD set to be released this one is going to be a bad memory.....hopefully!! I rate this on two ** our of five stars.

Distributor: Goodtimes Home Video.

Special Features:

  1. Three languages: English, French or Spanish.

  2. Dolby Digital sound.

  3. Dolby Surround sound.

  4. Captions in English, French and Spanish.

  5. Production Notes.

DVD 3: Halloween III: The Season of the Witch

Information: Presented in its original widescreen format to preserve all the stupidity. This film isn't all that bad. No special features, not even production notes make this the worst Halloween DVD.  But for the price you cannot beat it.  However I give it one * our of five stars.

Distributor: Goodtimes Home Video.

Special Features:

  1. Three languages: English, French or Spanish.

  2. Dolby Digital sound.

  3. Captions in English, French and Spanish.

DVD 4: Halloween IV The Return of Michael Myers

Information: The film is presented in Dolby Digital surround 5.1 sound. The picture is good but I wish it had more special features.  Reportedly Anchor Bay is releasing a new Halloween 4 DVD with a ton of special features. I like this DVD and since the new version is coming out you may consider this one because DVD retailers may lower the price to get rid of their extra copies. I give this one three *** our of five stars.

Distributor: Anchor Bay

Special Features:

  1. Widescreen presentation

  2. Theatrical trailers for Halloween IV and the original Halloween

DVD 5: Halloween V The Return of Michael Myers

Information: This is a great DVD buy for a so-so film. The picture quality rocks and the special features are a great touch.  Sadly, this isn't the greatest Halloween of them all but a required addition to your Halloween DVD library.  The documentary is about 20 minutes if I recall correctly and it is pretty cool to catch up with the films former stars including Donald Shanks. I give this one four **** out of five stars.

Distributor: Anchor Bay

Special Features:

  1. Widescreen and full-frame presentations.

  2. The original Theatrical Trailer.

  3. Film introduction by stars Danielle Harris and Ellie Cornell.

  4. Inside Halloween 5 documentary featuring behind the scenes information and cast interviews with Danielle Harris, Ellie Cornell, Don Shanks, Moustahpa Akkad and Rob Draper.

DVD 6: Halloween VI The Curse of Michael Myers

Information: True Terror never dies in the sixth installment in the Halloween Saga.  It is presented in widescreen format. The quality of the picture is excellent and worth the money even though the plot is disappointing. The chapter menu divides the film up pretty good too. I give this one three *** our of five stars.

Distributor: Dimension Home Video

Special Features:

  1. French Language Track

  2. Spanish Subtitles

  3. DVD Trailer for Halloween H20

  4. DVD Trailer for the Scream Boxed Set

DVD 7: Halloween: The TV Version

You can visit my Halloween TV cut page for more details.  However, the transfer is great, although it has none of the special features that you would want except the TV scenes.  I really enjoy these scenes cut into the movie because it adds to the story a little and makes things easier to understand.

  1. Widescreen Presentation

  2. Contains 11 minutes of extra footage (The TV Scenes)

DVD 8: Halloween II (The universal release)

And, believe it or not, 9/18/01 will see a new Halloween II special edition from Universal (personally, I'd have thought they would have licensed this one out to Anchor Bay, but go figure.) Featuring a new 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, the disc also includes a 2.0 surround track,  and the usual production notes, cast filmographies and trailer. Click here for the review

DVD 9: Halloween IV Collectors Edition DVD

Halloween IV is fully restored on this collectors tin version of the film.  When I heard that Anchor Bay was re-releasing the film I got really excited.  Anchor Bays previous releases of Halloween and Halloween V were excellent so I felt that the re-release of Halloween IV was going to be awesome.  However, just like the Universal release of Halloween II I was excited to get the DVD, I am pleased with the product but I was disappointed slightly.  First the collectors booklet is a joke, and it really seems to be a insert for a regular DVD with chapter titles and information about the film.  The footage is clearer, the sound smoother but the documentary isn't as good as the one on the Halloween V release.  Basically, if you want the documentary then get this DVD but other than that the new release is the same version as the original Anchor Bay release.  The documentary is informative but only lasts 15 minutes.  You do get to see George Wilber without his mask and like the Halloween V documentary you get some interesting insights from Akkad, Harris, Cornell and others.  I would rate this baby *** out of five stars!!!!

Distributor: Anchor Bay.

Special Features:

  1. Widescreen Presentation (1.85:1) enhanced for 16X9 televisions.

  2. Dolby Surround 5.1

  3. Theatrical Trailer (Same version from the original Anchor Bay release)

  4. Halloween IV "Final Cut" An all new 17 minute documentary produced and directed by Mark Cerulli.

DVD 10: Halloween: H20

Halloween 7 is a great DVD to have because it was the first Halloween film to be made in the DVD era.  Therefore the picture quality and sound are excellent.  The DVD does have Dolby Digital 5.1 audio for you fans with surround sound.  The Chapter search menu is excellent.  The DVD also contains a Unmasking the Horror featurete which includes segments of interviews with Jamie Lee Curtis and John Carpenter.  Carpenter talks about how he came up with the idea for Halloween II and his brief review of Halloween: H20. Curtis talks in detail about how she came up with idea for Halloween: H20.  It also has a music video from the band who recorded music for the film. I do not remember their name and I really don't care.  It also contains a trivia game about the Halloween series that asks a few questions. I'll give it four stars **** out of five *****.

Distributor: Dimension Films

Special Features:

  1. Presented in its original theatrical aspect ration 2.35:1.

  2. Dolby Surround 5.1

  3. Trivia Game

  4. Unmasking the Horror documentary with interview with Jamie Lee Curtis, John Carpenter, and other stars from Halloween: H20.  It includes clips from Scream and the original Halloween.

  5. Music video

DVD 11. Halloween Resurrection

• Available: 12/10/2002
• In English
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment

DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Anamorphic Widescreen - 2.35
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Additional Release Material:
6 Deleted Scenes w/Audio Commentary & 3 Alternate Endings
Production Interview - 1. Jamie Lee Curtis - Star
Audio Commentary - 1. Rick Rosenthal - Director, Robert A. 
Ferretti - Editor
Featurette - 1. Web Cam Special With Director Commentary
2. Head Cam Featurette
3. Tour Of Set With Production Designer Troy Hansen
Trailers of other Dimenstion releases: Scream box set, Gangs of New York, Halloween VI and Halloween H20.
Film-to-Storyboard Comparison
Interactive Features:
Scene Access
Interactive Menus 

Before rushing to judgment I watched this DVD, including the special features several times.  Let it be noted that several deleted scenes were not included and Rick Rosenthal's idea of having the fans watch the entire movie via the prospective of any of the characters did not happen.  However, I feel that the video/audio transfer is the best of the series and this DVD includes the second best features of any Halloween DVD.  The tour of the set featurette gave us a great view of the Myers house and how they built it.  The behind the scenes interviews with Jamie Lee, which includes several of the other characters was excellent.  It is always cool to have Halloween alumni return in a future film.  Sadly the DVD DOES not contain the Halloween 8 trailer which did upset me a bit. Come on people it is only 2 minutes more of footage!!! The deleted scenes can be viewed with or without commentary and although several are not included, the ones that are allow the view to see the film in a different light. This is the first Halloween DVD to contain deleted scenes so I guess I cannot complain too much. It also contains three alternate endings and the one with eh axe rocks the house!! This is the first Halloween DVD to contain alternate endings so it is cool. Also, this is the first Halloween DVD to contain Audio Commentary from the director and Rick Rosenthial does a pretty good job talking about the film, his background with several of the actors and some of the differences between filming Halloween 8 and Halloween 2.  It is really tough for me to rate this one because I was expecting a lot more.  It is like the DVD that was put out gives you a lot of stuff but not the stuff that you really, really wanted. The movie itself is average at best so why waste the time?? But I am a fan I don't care how bad it is I want to see behind the scenes footage of every pizza party, murder scene, etc.  However the footage, and some of the extras are great so I'll give it *** out of five stars.

DVD 12. Halloween 25th Aniverisary Edition

halloween25.jpg (19754 bytes)

• Available: 08/05/2003
• In English
• Anchor Bay

DVD Features:

Disc One:

Disc Two:

I purchased this DVD with my teeth grinding and my wallet asking me "WHY???" But after taking the item in question home and viewing/listening to it there is no doubt that this is a awesome DVD. The 80+ minute documentary on the film is almost as long as the movie itself. Secondly, it is a great to hear Debra Hill, Jamie Lee Curtis and John Carpenter talk about the film thanks to the audio commentary. Their insights are wonderful but the only drawback is that each person was recorded separately and since they were not all together in the same room I think it hurts the commentary a little bit.  The short "On Location" feature disappointed me the most. It shows all the major locations as they appear today but I felt it was a bit too short and it would have been cool to see more of the original Michael Myers house.  The DVD-Rom features are nice with a screenplay and two decent screensavers.  The trailer is the same that has appeared on other releases.  But overall I recommend this DVD. Unfortunately I really don't have anything else to say about it at the present time other than I am getting disappointed about Anchor Bay using Halloween as their cash cow and in a few years I'll have to go out and spend another $15.00++ just to get yet another edition with one or two newer features that try to make a new release look appealing.  Whats next???? Maybe the next documentary will be John Carpenter spending the night in the Michael Myers house!!!!!! Overall it was a good effort though and this DVD is great for beginner fans and old pros like me alike.  I give it **** out of five stars due to the long documentary and the historical audio commentary.

DVD 13. Halloween III: The Season of the Witch

• Available: 10/07/2003
• In English
• Universial

DVD Features:

Presented in its original widescreen format to preserve all the stupidity. This film isn't all that bad. No special features, not even production notes make this the worst Halloween DVD next to the original Halloween III Goodtimes version.  This new version is a bit cleaner in terms of color and picture via a brand new transfer by Universal.  The audio is a bit weaker. Universal has not upgraded the soundtrack, regurgitating the same 2.0 mono track as last time. It sounds fine, with adequate bass response and dynamic range. Dialogue is well-recorded, and the electro-Halloween music sounds fine. Another no-great-shakes audio mix of bland source material. .  However I give it one * our of five stars.

DVD 14. Halloween: 25 Years of Terror

• Available: 07/25/2006
• In English
• Anchor Bay Entertainment

DVD Features: 2 Disc Set:

Disc 1:                                                                                                                                                        Disc 2:

Halloween Documentary on the Series                                                                                                        Halloween, H2, H6 Panel Discussions

Horror's Hollowed Grounds-An exclusive tour of set locations from Halloween                                           Elle Cornell Panel Discussion

Halloween II and III Extended Interviews                                                                                                    Michael Myers Panel Discussion

Extended Celebrity Interviews                                                                                                                    Dean Cundy Panel Discussion

Halloween 5 On-Set Footage                                                                                                                    Halloween Producers Panel Discussion

Halloween Convention Montage                                                                                                                Halloween Location Stills Gallery

Fans of Halloween--Collections of Props & Memorabilia                                                                            Halloween Convention Behind-the-Scenes

                                                                                                                                                                Original Artwork Gallery

Fans of this series have waited for this DVD for several years now.  Personally I was unable to attend the Halloween convention but this DVD sure took me there.  Loaded with loads of interviews with John Carpenter, Jamie Lee Cutis, Tom Atkins, Moustapha Akkad, Danielle Harris, Nancy Loomis, Tommy Lee Wallace, Allan Howarth and many others involved in this awesome horror series.  The biggest draw on this DVD is the Documentary which is the first on the entire Halloween saga.  Of course you get the scores of interviews with the people involved and star P.J. Soles narrates.  That lasts 84 minutes.  Then you get several hours of extended interviews, panel discussions, artwork, montages, on site tours of the Halloween streets from the first film, etc., etc.  This DVD is a must have for you if you enjoy this stuff.  I give it one ***** out of Five stars

DVD 15: Halloween IV  Special Divimax Series Edition

• Available: 07/25/2006
• In English
• Anchor Bay Entertainment

I hate the DVD era.  They always release a "bare-bones" or small version of a DVD then years later re-release it when they see sales and prices drop.  However, this is a good release for Anchor Bay.  Halloween IV is fully restored on this Divimax of the film.  When I heard that Anchor Bay was re-releasing the film I got really excited.  The release is exactly like the one I talked about in DVD # 9 but included are two audio commentary tracks and a Halloween 4/5 Discussion Panel from the Halloween Convention in 2003.  The first commentary track should have been included in the original release because it has Elle Cornell and Danielle Harris narrating.  The second commentary has Halloween IV writer Alan B. McElroy talking about the film.  Basically, if you want the documentary then get this DVD but other than that the new release is the same version as the original Anchor Bay release.  The documentary is informative but only lasts 15 minutes.  You do get to see George Wilber without his mask and like the Halloween V documentary you get some interesting insights from Akkad, Harris, Cornell and others.  You also get the classic Halloween IV trailer.  The cover is also cool with that Halloween Orange look to it.  I would rate this baby higher than the previous releases.  I'll give it ****  out of five stars!!!!

Distributor: Anchor Bay.

Special Features:

  1. Widescreen Presentation (1.85:1) enhanced for 16X9 televisions.

  2. Dolby Surround 5.1 & Dolby Surround 2.0

  3. Theatrical Trailer (Same version from the original Anchor Bay release)

  4. Halloween IV "Final Cut" An all new 17 minute documentary produced and directed by Mark Cerulli.

  5. Audio Commentary with stars Danielle Harris and Elle Cornell

  6. Audio Commentary with H4 writer Alan B. McElroy

  7. Halloween 4/5 Discussion Panel

DVD 16: Halloween V  Special Divimax Series Edition

• Available: 07/25/2006
• In English
• Anchor Bay Entertainment

REVIEW COMING SOON

Distributor: Anchor Bay.

Special Features:

  1. Widescreen Presentation (1.85:1) enhanced for 16X9 televisions.

  2. Dolby Surround 5.1 & Dolby Surround 2.0

  3. Film introduction by stars Danielle Harris and Ellie Cornell.

  4. Inside Halloween 5 documentary featuring behind the scenes information and cast interviews with Danielle Harris, Ellie Cornell, Don Shanks, Moustahpa Akkad and Rob Draper.

  5. On the Set of Halloween 5" Footage

  6. Trailer

  7. Commentary by director Dominique Othenin-Girard and actors Danielle Harris and Jeffrey Landman

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