Halloween is as pure and undiluted as its title. In the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois, a teenage baby sitter tries to survive a Halloween night of relentless terror, during which a knife-wielding maniac goes after the town's hormonally charged youths. Director John Carpenter takes this simple situation and orchestrates a superbly mounted symphony of horrors. It's a movie much scarier for its dark spaces and ominous camera movements than for its explicit bloodletting (which is actually minimal). Composed by Carpenter himself, the movie's freaky music sets the tone; and his script (cowritten with Debra Hill) is laced with references to other horror pictures, especially
Psycho. The baby sitter is played by Jamie Lee Curtis, the real-life daughter of
Psycho victim Janet Leigh; and the obsessed policeman played by Donald Pleasence is named Sam Loomis, after John Gavin's character in
Psycho. In the end, though,
Halloween stands on its own as an uncannily frightening experience--it's one of those movies that had audiences literally jumping out of their seats and shouting at the screen. ("No! Don't drop that knife!") Produced on a low budget, the picture turned a monster profit, and spawned many sequels, none of which approached the 1978 original. Curtis returned for two more installments: 1981's dismal
Halloween II, which picked up the story the day after the unfortunate events, and 1998's occasionally gripping
Halloween H20, which proved the former baby sitter was still haunted after 20 years.
--Robert HortonCustomer Review: Classic Parts Are Much Better Than The Whole
In my eyes there are two categories of people when speaking of favorite holiday slasher films: those that like 1974's Black Christmas to those who rather prefer 1978's Halloween. Count me a part of the former's category, as Black Christmas is a forgotten perfected-diamond that not only chills the marrow, but is also intentionally hilarious in spots. Halloween, however, is a pretty good movie, damn near great in spots, in fact. Although it features scenes not only worthy of Psycho, and of which have found their rightful place inside classical cinema, yet the parts are indeed better than the whole. Halloween's approximate first 11 minutes and final 36 minutes (yup, I checked the runtime) are truly the reason the film is held in high proverb-- it's too bad that that only makes up a little over ½ of the film's total length. Halloween may in fact have a greater affinity for art-house horror fans like myself, than blood-and-guts fans, so I almost hate to say it, as Halloween I also remember fondly from my younger years, and it is one of those films that got me obsessed with horror, but nostalgia should never get in the way of being an honest and fair critic (or wannabe critic.) Halloween is a good movie, but damn that middle section sure is mightily flawed, and even seems cheesy in parts. Yet, the term arty can also be applied to the good parts of the film, as well. Yet, I hate to use that term "art-house horror movie", as that implies that horror is on the contrary, but I believe when viewing Halloween that it does in fact fit. This is due to the way John Carpenter directs the movie: stylish and relying on Hitchcockian-like suspense and a real sense of horror, rather than bodycount. I also must first point out that the dialogue throughout the film is actually one of the best components of the script. Often the everyday conversations about normal day things that Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and her school friends have does in fact seem natural, rather than boring. Though we don't necessarily "know" the characters all that well from a literary perspective, we do like them, as they seem like any real life type of girls that both you or I might know in high school. Yet, the overbearing dialogue exchanges between Dr. Loomis (Donald Pleasence) and the Sheriff (Charles Cyphers) seems necessary, it's also too bad it's not known until about that 55 minute mark. As the masterful opening scene, and its follow up "escape from the hospital scene" is long forgotten after about another 45 minutes of misstepping true scares. As although the mask-wearing Myers may be indeed a scary villain, not due so much to the ice-cold way he dispatches the characters, but much more due to the fact that he truly feels like evil incarnate. Yet, it also must be said that the way that Dr. Loomis perceives Myers in dialogue at first seems like it's overblown, lame, and not natural. What doctor really talks of a patient in high-strung, diabolical terms: "Death has come to your little town, sheriff." To the films credit, however, although it at first slips into this "only in Hollywood" jargon, yet that is later completely evaded and it even becomes justified when we do later in fact agree with him in that final act when this "bogeyman" character is finally put and secured into a menacing night backdrop. Because, as good as John Carpenter is as generating suspense and menace in the terror scenes, in the initial daylight stalking scenes sadly lack that blood luster. As framing a character that your film makes out to the "The Bogeyman" not just in daylight, but also (hilariously) standing outside a school window just next to laundry, honestly brings a roll of the eyes, and a bad smile to my lips. Then having this evil character possibly hide behind bushes and a bed sheet makes me cover my eyes with my hands, shaking my head. Call me cynical, but it truly feels like two different kinds of films throughout the acts: a masterful frightshow, then a cheesy B-movie, and then back to a white-knuckle terror ride. In conclusion, despite that I still like Halloween and even if its opening scenes and final act are amongst my favorites, I must admit that in parts I can't really take the bogeyman threat that serious. Sorry. Score: 8.0 / 10.0 (In 0.5 increments)
Customer Review: My Favorite Movie Of All Time!
I was only 2 when it was released in theaters but growing up in the 80's it became and instant classic to me. Thank You John Carpenter for making Awesome Movies! And Thank You Mom for letting me watch all those horror movies growing up.
As with airplane simulators, RC helicopter flight simulators have come a long way. From weak graphics, they have evolved into programs you can immerse yourself in.
The remote control simulator software for helicopters is very similar to the airplane software, and in most cases is sold as a single package. In other cases, the helicopter simulations are sold as add on programs to the main software. The RC helicopter, like its real counterpart, is quite a bit different in its handling and flight characteristics from an RC airplane. If you are planning on flying RC helicopters, it is important to make sure that your selection is designed for them and not just for airplanes.
The basic difference in helicopter flight and airplane flight is in the taking off and landing. The helicopter does not need a runway, and its ability to move straight up and down as well as hover requires much less space for flight. This is one of the things that have made RC helicopters increasingly popular in the RC hobby field.
The top rated simulators for airplanes are also the best for helicopters. An example is the Great Planes RealFlight B3.5 simulator. This top of the line software program comes with an assortment of airplane and helicopter types. It also features a great many add on to increase the number and variety of models. Each add on gives you something like fourteen different planes and four or five new helicopter models from which to chose.
Some RC simulators are available online as downloads. One of the highest rated of this type is the Clearview RC Flight Simulator. Although you have to pay to download the software, this is a very advanced simulator. It is especially attractive to helicopter fans because although the program is for both planes and helicopters, it talks of its helicopter models first as if they are most proud of their variety there. The Clearview RC Simulator is designed to use a variety of controls. It is possible to control it via your keyboard. For advanced users, a handheld transmitter is used and attached to the PC with a USB cable.
The ability to simulate all types of conditions and flying areas and control the program with a transmitter similar to the actual one is the true advantage of RC simulation programs. It is a way to learn to fly your RC model in safety. It is the place to learn without risking your expensive models. There is a certain amount of risk involved in RC flight, but the trained operate can minimize this greatly.
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kids halloween costumes
Royal Prince Child Halloween Costume includes: Shirt, pants and belt. Size 4-6 Small
