PHANTASM II SUPERIOR IN MANY WAYS TO THE ORIGINAL?

[spacemonkey]

I just saw this last night (twice!) and I gotta say and I know Im gonna get shit for this but i gots to say it is a much better film in many ways, the acting was better, the weapons were cooler ( how cool was that double sawed off shot gun? ), the special fx were superior and much much better executed, the spheres were much more convincing and elaborate on this one ( how cool were those three spheres that pop out of that cool little coffin? classic stuff! ) and the make up fx were certenly better (thanks in a great part to mister shostrom, whom we know and love from his work on a little film called evil dead II ). Now I know that the first one is a classic and a great film in its own right (I own that little gem on dvd) but the truth is the truth, in my own humble opinion.
In many cases it felt like a remake to me in many cases it didnt. Its a lot like evil dead ii wich feels like a remake but really isnt. One cool scene that was obviously ripped off from evil dead ii was when the sphere broke through the doors as it was following the kids, just like that evil spirit who follows Ash through the house. All in all Phantasm II is a really cool flick, and like I said in my opinion better than the first. What you think?
PS Anyone seen that actor who plays Mike on phantasm II in any other other films? I find him to be strangely familiar bu tcant quite place where ive seen him before..

[AlienClown]

I think you'll find that most will agree with you in this. Phantasm II simply has more action, a faster pace, and more/better gore which makes it a more entertaining movie than the more slowly paced original.

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by spacemonkey:
Anyone seen that actor who plays Mike on phantasm II in any other other films? I find him to be strangely familiar bu tcant quite place where ive seen him before.. </font>
The actor, James LeGros has been in a lot of movies, like Point Break, the Psycho remake, Enemy Of The State, Near Dark, and even the Ally McBeal show to name a few places you might have seen him in.

[This message has been edited by AlienClown (edited 03-11-2002).]

[Elgyn]

The sequel was pretty cool, but I`ll always like the original more because of it`s eerie, dream-like atmosphere (which Part II lacked).

[countchocula]

SPOILER FOR PHANTASM

Phantasm II is my favorite in the series. While I appreciate the original's surreal, morbid ambience, there were too many lulls in the flow of things. It dragged lifelessly through the last half hour, wrapping things up rather clumsily. I was never a big fan of the "it was all a dream" ending either. The film deserved a sharper, more effective conclusion. However, the vibe was delicious. To quote Arrow's review, "The film feels like death...it feels good." The sequel contained the ingredients necessary to keep me engrossed in a Phantasm flick. More of everything--action, gore, T&A, kickass weaponry, The Tall Man with mutant dwarves by his side, and lethal spheres aplenty! After the explosive intro, it takes awhile to get rolling, but once it does, you'll have a malevolent grin glued to your face.

My rating-4/5


[This message has been edited by countchocula (edited 03-11-2002).]

[The Prowler]

Sorry guys but i have to disagree with you. Initially i thought 2 was good but i watched it recently and was let down. The whole telekenis thing between michael and that girl was totally stupid. In my oppinion the series went down hill from each one. Part2 wasn't bad but it lacked the atmosphere of the first one and it seemed too Hollywood for me. I'll take the original anyday. Plus the music in the first one was awesome.

[APzombie]

I would have to comapre 1 & 2 to Alien & Aliens. Part 2 is very fun, while the first is creepy. I also had probloms with the telekenetic powers, i thought it did'nt fit in at all.

[robk]

I liked that Mike was given a love interest in Phantasm II.
But, NOOOO!, she had to pointlessly die in Phantasm III(a la Newt & Hicks's pointless deaths in Alien 3).

[spacemonkey]

They are many things in the Phantasm films that are downright dumb, for example Regies ice cream shop, I mean how dumb is that? http://www.joblo.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif Yet some can accept this and not accept the fact that Mike and the girl have telekenetic powers? Whats that all about? And the second one has the cool music too, only slightly more elaborated.

[Elgyn]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by The Prowler:

In my oppinion the series went down hill from each one. </font>


I agree.

[Elgyn]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by spacemonkey:

They are many things in the Phantasm films that are downright dumb, for example Regies ice cream shop, I mean how dumb is that? http://www.joblo.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif Yet some can accept this and not accept the fact that Mike and the girl have telekenetic powers
</font>

The guy owns an ice-cream shop. They DO exist, you know! What`s so weird about that?

[spacemonkey]

I just think that it didnt go with the character. Just look at the way that whole ice cream theme was dumped right after the first film, it isnt even mentioned in the 2nd one. It was just seems out of character after you see the other films and see the kind of character he turns into. Plus if you see a deleted scene that takes place in the ice cream shop that you can see in the dvd, youll see just how dumb and stupid an ice cream shop can get.

[countchocula]

I thought that deleted scene was pretty funny. For those who haven't seen it, Mike annd Jody get highly intoxicated and the evening culminates in an ice cream fight at Reggie's shop. I'm glad they decided not to use it, though. It wouldn't have flowed well with the rest of the film.

[spacemonkey]

i guess that scene shows what a happy life they were living before the tall man showed up. But I guess in retrospective what I really meant to say when I said that the movie had some dumb elements was that the characters at times seem very innocent and naive and because of this end up saying and doing some really "dumb" things.

[HalloweenShape31]

A month or two ago, I borrowed the Phantasm DVD from a friend and saw the horror classic for the very first time. I absolutely loved everything about it! The action, the story, the atmosphere, the music! I LOVED it! Then, I went crazy when I found out my friend got a copy of Phantasm II! I borrowed it and thought it was a fantastic follow-up to the original. I loved everything about it! It had great action, fun, lovable characters, great laughs (C'mon u Mutha!!), and the Tall Man is still too cool! Just yesterday I sent away my money orders for copies of Phantasm 2-4 that I bought on eBay, dying to see 3 and 4, though many say they're bad. I cant wait for the next Phantasm film! I think the first is the best, but that great sequel is close. TALL MAN!! (Oh, and u can bet ur ass i got the DVD to the original now!)

[HalloweenShape31]

Also, I like especially the beginning of the sequel, when we meet Liz, I'm still infatuated with her, man is she a doll! And, I love how they show us what happened after the surprise ending of the first film. Notice how in the original Phantasm when Mike is pulled into the closet, the Tall Man's hair is short for some reason (or at least appears to be short) yet in the beginning of Phantasm II it is long? But who cares!? I still love this series!

[malaria]

In order of preference
1
2
4
3

I loved the dreamy flashback end of the fourth one.
Hated the 3rd one.
1 and 2 were really great but I couldn't warm to the new mike in the second one.
The first one had you begging for more sentinel-spheres and boy did the second one give it to you!!! When the chest opened and the 3 spheres came out I cheered! They were what MADE that film.
But the first one just seems better. Better atmosphere, more creepy and more classic feel.

[spacemonkey]

Hey halloweenshape his got shorter hair before because as Angus Scrimm mentions on th e dvd he got a haircut before they filmed that last scene. Check out the audio commentary on that scene and they mention it.

The first one does have a more classic feel to it of course, but the second one has a slicker feel, obviously due to the larger budget and director Don coscareli beeing a more accomplished filmaker. He went on ahead an made The Beastmaster.

Phantasm II has some really funny lines agry.
Like that scene where Reggie wants to give that living dead girl a ride and he says that he wants to do it bacause "it gets hard on the road you know?" ha! Great stuff! But unnoticeable to the naked eye. http://www.joblo.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[Elgyn]

malaria - yeah the last scene in 4 is really cool. Reminded me a lot of the feel of the first movie.
"It`s just the wind...."

[malaria]

Yeah Elgyn. It was a real treat watching that scene. "It's just the wind". For some reason I really love that line. Was anyone else expecting The Tall Man to jump out from behind them and say "NO... IT'S NOT!!!!!" heh heh.

[spacemonkey]

But, NOOOO!, she had to pointlessly die in Phantasm III(a la Newt & Hicks's pointless
deaths in Alien 3).

It seems that most of you dislike part three from all the others, is this because the film was sort of turned into a Home Alone on acid type of thing? (You know with that little kid setting booby traps all over the house.)Or was it something else? Was it the change of actors? I thought it was different but not that bad at all. We get to see some cool cgi spheres, and really cool sphere deaths. Anyone got a comment on this?

[countchocula]

Spacemonkey, I've seen most of Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead, and from what I saw, it seemed like it was too comedic and goofy. Reggie making sexual advances toward a black dyke by the name of Rocky (a horrible character) was a bit much. This film just sticks out like a sore thumb. It deviates greatly from the Phantasm mood we're all used to and tries to take an over-the-top camp route instead, which doesn't work.

[This message has been edited by countchocula (edited 03-25-2002).]

[evildeadizgod]

I never even saw Phantasm 2. I want to now though

[Elgyn]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by countchocula:

This film just sticks out like a sore thumb. It deviates greatly from the Phantasm mood we're all used to and tries to take an over-the-top camp route instead, which doesn't work.

</font>

That`s like exactly how I feel about Part 3. I mean it`s not TERRIBLE, but some things in this movie were just TOO MUCH, like the "Home Alone" scene, and the goofy zombie guys (what the HELL was Coscarelli thinking?).



[This message has been edited by Elgyn (edited 03-26-2002).]

[spacemonkey]

I know, I know, its not the best, but hey 3 out of 4 aint that bad right? Lets hope he redeems himself with part 5. I really hope this one kicks ass if it ever comes off the seventh level of development hell. http://www.joblo.com/ubb/smile.gif

[MisterTwister]

Even though i prefer the creepier First movie, Phantasm 2 still is one cool ride. Gore, action, Tits and kick ass weapons make this one fun sequel.

Phantasm 3 is not all that bad-Sure the new charcthers suck and the childish side was dumb-But it still intersated me with its gore and back storys(all about the spheres!!) and fun finale.

[Cronos]

Phantasm 2 is a lot better than the original IMO, theres more action, better acting....everything is better and its a lot of fun

and i also liked 3, it wasnt as bad as it is said to be but i havent yet seen Oblivion

[!MorganOnyx!]

PHANTASM 2 is a very cool film but too Hollywood for me. I dug everything about the original. The low budget quality, the atmosphere, the enthusiastic performances, the scares, the way the plot unfolded not knowing what to expect, the dream like quality. It can do no wrong in my eyes. Highly original.

And besides I HATE it when original characters don't appear in the sequels of movies you feel are more character based. The first movie was the story of a young lad coming to terms with his parents death in his own way. Having somebody different play his role in the sequel did not make me happy. And why was there no appearance from Jody?! It makes me think there was no point in a way. :(

[HalloweenShape31]

I love Phantasm and Phantasm II to death. I remember when I first saw the second one, I was blown away. I couldn't believe how fun, entertaining, and cool it was. The main thing I loved about it, was its continuation of the end of the original. I loved it. ANd while the telekinetic thang might've bothered some of you, lemme just quote wut the Reg man said to me when I asked him how he got the quad-barrelled in Part 3 after throwin it aside in 2: "It's PHANTASM man!" I loved the movie dearly. The ravaged towns, the pileged graveyards, the many deja-vu moments, ANGUS SCRIMM!, the chainsaw duel, the gold sphere chase, etc. One hell of a good movie. I'll agree that this is just like Aliens. I love the original, but the sequel is just as good, only in a different way. FOr creepy thrills, watch the first film. For fun thrills, watch the second. If you need to puke up ur bad-tasting dinner, watch 3. If you want a beautiful subtle film, or for some just a way to battle their insomnia, watch the fourth. I personally like them all, but 3. Now, lets just get this goddamn awesome movie on DVD! C'mon Universal! You got your Dawn remake out, ur Universal Monster movies! Now give us PHANTASM II!!!!

"C'mon you MUTHA!"

**Begins to daydream as he stares at his giant Phantasm II one-sheet that hangs on his wall over his bed next to his HALLOWEEN 4 one-sheet**