Halloween H20: Twenty Years Later (1998)

[Boogeyman]

Halloween H20 Reveiw

In my opinion, this is the best sequel to the classic Halloween. I know it had hardly and suspence and the body count was low(which I had no problem with) but the overall story more than made up for it. The edning is by far the best in the series, sequel-wise. And, it also gave closure to the Michael Myers storyline. Don't get me wrong..I loved Resurrection (simply because it was another Halloween movies) but if I had a choice, I wouldve ended at H20. UNLESS the next Myers sequel can provide the same kind of closure H20 gave.

Suspence/ Scares
This had little suspence but it did have a few scares..even though they did over do it on the "fake" scares, I was satisfied.

Directing
Steve Miner does a good job and he sticks with the genre. He gave us some really cool shot.(When Michael is throwing the tables...thats priceless, and when Laurie and Michael see each other through the window). But like I said, it does lack suspence. But, again, I was satisfied.

Acting
H20 gave us a look at some really great acting. Jamie Lee Curtis as always, gives a great Laurie Strode performance. Josh Hartnett really does well playing the son of an alcoholic paranoid sister of a serial killer.(why does everyone hate Josh Hartnett?) Michelle Williams does well. Not bad at all. Jodi Lynn O'Keefe does an excellent job. I really actually felt sorry for her when she was running from Michael. Adam Arkin does well. As does Nancy Stephens . Too bad she didnt have more of a part...so we didnt see her to her full potential.
Again....satisfied.

Score
John Ottman does nice. He gives H20 a classical, creepy tone. I love this one and Halloween 6 really got off-base with the music. There were those "Scream" noises but I didnt pay attention to em.

Gore
Minimal. But I think it goes back to the feel of the original. I dont see why people demand gore in the Halloween series...its not supposed to be like that. But if there is...I got no complaints.

Sex
None. Thats what porn is for... ;)

Agree? Disagree? Its just my opinion.

later

[Wrath]

Your review was great, but I disagree with it. I don't think H2O provided the kind of closure that the Halloween series would end on. Evil with on two legs gets it's head chopped off? Plus I had a hard time buying a lot of things that led to the Laurie and Michael confrontation. I didn't hate H2O, but I wasn't exactly thrilled by it eitheir. 6/10

[jonknight16]

Halloween H20(hate that title!) was a disapointment.Reminded me of Scream too much and not enough gore!

[Inglorious]

No, Im with you. I think that H20 was VERY good. I do disagree that it was the best sequel to the Infamous, Halloween, but it was good. The 2nd movie was the best. It scared me half to death when I first saw it :) Which is a good thing.

[myersfan31]

H20 was for me the best sequel after the original. Laurie makes a great return, and Chris Durand played a good Shape.

[urbanlegend23]

I really enjoyed this movie. Lots of suspense, extremely scary and always fun to watch. It's a really good party movie.

[Cyclonus]

[Note: I wrote this last April, a few months before Resurrection came out.]


Halloween H2O (1998)

Director: Steve Miner

Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Adam Arkin, Josh Hartnett, Michelle Williams, LL Cool J

Screenwriters: Robert Zappia, Matt Greenberg

Producer: Paul Freeman

A Dimension Films release


http://posters.imdb.com/Covers/12/06/94.jpg


Well, it was inevitable. As we've all feared, the Halloween franchise has transformed into yet another "teeny-bopper" horror series. The seventh installment features hot young actors from the WB network, usually an indication of a “trendy” horror movie. Plus, it was made with the involvement of none other than Kevin Williamson, writer of Scream and executive producer of Dawson's Creek. All signs of an impending disaster. Well, not quite, at least not this time, but it's still a long cry from John Carpenter's treatment of the same material. Even Michael Myers himself isn't very scary anymore. It's a relatively minor point, but I was distracted by the fact that his eyes were visible. Sorry, but it's just not the same.

Yet, all is not lost. Jamie Lee Curtis, reprising the Laurie Strode character, is a terrific lead. She adds an air of credibility to a watered-down formula, at times even making it close to respectable. Her character, as portrayed, is probably an accurate representation of how Laurie would have changed in twenty years' worth. The young supporting cast does a decent job, given the circumstances. At least they're much more sympathetic than most of their counterparts in similar films. However, LL Cool J is burdened with the most thankless role, as a loudmouthed security guard. His miraculous recovery after an encounter with Michael is a major groaner, probably a medical impossibility.

At the very least, H2O provides a sense of closure, very rare in a horror series. However, yet another sequel is on the way. Based on what I've heard, I think we will have a disaster on our hands next time. At the very best, it will be an instantly forgettable, generic teen slasher. Curtis has reportedly expressed her unhappiness with it from the start, only appearing in it to fulfill her contract. And after wholeheartedly embracing H2O. Not good.

5/10.

[myersfan31]

I do not understand how this is "teenie bopper". Why because it has teens in it? Don't all slashers? Josh Hartnett was a no namer at the time, H20 started his career. Michelle Williams is the only real name in the movie for the teens. Charlie was only known as the little Robin Williams in Jumanji. Jody Lynn O'Keefe is not really a known actor, just everytime we see her we think "Where have I seen her...".

ALSO! Teens were not the only ones killed like in Scream or I Know...series. The opening alone just has 2 teens killed and an old lady. Not a Scream formula there. Also Will is killed whos is forty something. And of course the other two teens. It has a small body count which wasn't like the Screams of the 90's either. It didn't have much gore which followed closesly to the original. Also it had less scares and more suspense...like the original.

[mjg 15]

Originally posted by myersfan31
I do not understand how this is "teenie bopper". Why because it has teens in it? Don't all slashers? Josh Hartnett was a no namer at the time, H20 started his career. Michelle Williams is the only real name in the movie for the teens. Charlie was only known as the little Robin Williams in Jumanji. Jody Lynn O'Keefe is not really a known actor, just everytime we see her we think "Where have I seen her...".

Thank You! Almost every slasher out there has high school/college kids so doesn't that make them all "teenie bopper". After all they are just conforming to the trends of the decade they were made. Another thing is Dawson's Creek hadn't even debuted yet so even Michelle Williams was not THAT well known either and who ever said it was wrong to have well known actors in horror anyway?

PS - I agree it was the best sequel in the series and it should have ended here instead of dragging it out more even though I like Resurrection.

[urbanlegend23]

I totally agree with H20 being not a "teeny-movie". Halloween had teens in it and you all praise it like its God. What makes this one different?

[Antonio]

HALLOWEEN: H20 (1998) Directed by Steve Miner. Starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Adam Arkin, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Adam Hann-Byrd, Josh Hartnett, L.L. Cool J., Janet Leigh, Jodi Lyn O’Keefe, Nancy Stephens, Branden Williams and Michelle Williams. Curtis returns to her horror roots in "H20", easily the best of the HALLOWEEN sequels. Set 20 years after the original film, the fun begins again as Curtis's character Laurie Strode, the alcoholic headmistress of an exclusive coed boarding school in Northern California, once again faces off with her presumed dead psychopathic brother Michael Myers. The excellent supporting cast includes: Leigh (Curtis's real-life mother) as a maternal secretary; L.L. Cool J. as a security guard-turned aspiring novelist; Hartnett as Laurie's brooding teen son; Michelle Williams as Hartnett's girlfriend; Stephens, who reprises her role as Nurse Marion Chambers from the first two films; and Gordon-Levitt and Branden Williams as Stephens’ young neighbors. The Laurie vs. Michael finale is excellent. And no one cusses like JLC! The film's only flaws: the characters played by Arkin, O'Keefe and Hann-Byrd (his name matches his beak), who are set up as obvious victims; and the lack of explanation for Michael's whereabouts during the past 20 years. Also, this film totally ignores parts 4, 5 and 6. My grade: B+

[Nightmare_Dreaming]

GOOD THINGS
It seemed that Michael was dark again , GREAT ENDING (Should have ended the whole series if you ask me.) , Nice Acting , LL Cool J's phone scenes are funny as Hell

BAD THINGS
Low gore and low body count :(

I loved this movie , more good things than bad things :D

[Terror Australis]

Originally posted by urbanlegend23
I totally agree with H20 being not a "teeny-movie". Halloween had teens in it and you all praise it like its God. What makes this one different?


Amen to that. Anyways I liked this film as well. I enjoyed that's all it matters.

My rating:

Halloween: H20 - 4/5

[Andrew Tom]

I think it's a vast improvement from what Halloweens became after Halloween 4's great ending...Jamie Lee's back and there's at least some attempt at athmosphere. Yes, the teen cast irritates me too, but Steve Miner's direction is mostly on cue and Michael can still kick ass!

7/10

[Michael_myers]

this wasn't the best sequel, I only take 2 because it picked up where the original left off (damn friday the 13th copy-cats) and kept with the mood to the original story. This one didn't have much gore, unlike 2, but I was satisfied. They over did the gore in #2

[myersfan31]

Halloween II I sometimes don't consider a sequel, since it's basically an extension of the original.

[Michael_myers]

thats like saying 3 and 4 aren't frida the 13th sequels, they are just picking u right where jason left off, he walked from Paul camp thing, to harold's store, to Chris's Barn and than to two neighboring holiday homes. So Halloween 2 is a sequel. I consider friday 1-4 to be just some big 6 hour horror movie epic!

[Downfall]

I did not like any of them damn kids in this one and plus LL Cool J, IMO this is movie has one of the worst cast's of teens or so called teens and Michael wasn't evil enough.

But great review!

4/10

[myersfan31]

Michael_myers,

Well those movies take places between days, Halloween 2 takes place RIGHT after the movie, it just keeps going.


Michael wasn't evil enough

What didn't make him Evil enough?

[Michael_myers]

uh no, Friday the 13th 2 was the night and morning, there was no time difference. The all picked up on the heels of the previous chapters.

[XCoRyX]

I thought this was one of the worse sequels in the series,next to resurrection.It was teened up and had too many familiar famous actors in it,and the writing was too much for the new fans,it ignored parts 4-6,in which pissed me off,4 and 6 were my favorites....and had the start of the rapper era....LL Cool J wasnt too bad but doesnt belong in the halloween series.Alot of bad things in this one and i could be here all day explaining,4/10

[JohnnySwinger]

I thought H20 was great! Okay seriously (I know I will be bashed for this but here goes...) If they would've only done Halloween 1 & 2 and then 20 years later made H20 it would've made the series MUCH MORE significant. Now I know parts 4,5, and 6 were good. But I personally like the Laurie Strode storyline 10 times better. In short, H20 was great. And to be honest 'Gore' isnt what Halloween is all about. That's what Friday the 13th is for. Right?!
JSwinger

(I also think this would've been true with the 'Jaws' series. Honestly think about it: If they wouldn't of made 2 or 3 and went straight to 'Jaws: The Revenge' that would've rocked!)

[XCoRyX]

i think gore is a nice part of halloween,or atleast i would like to see some more often,as i didnt with this...i didnt enjoy the laurie strode storyline as much as i did the jaime lloyd and tommy doyle/thorn curse storylines.

[machette]

ok ..H20 was decent. I did enjoy the beginning where Michael slits her throat & slowly drives away from the crime scene. Also, I liked how they paid their homage to Halloween 1. Also, they had the car Jamie Lee Curtis's mom was buried in in the movie Psycho. that was great. but ...I did download the last half of Halloween 8 & I saw "busta rhymes" kick Michael Myers out of a window. WTF. no offense ..but the black rappers fuck every movie up. end of story. pz & ~machette~

[Bassgod]

Michel is supposed to be a superhero character! Can't u get that! He needs to kill his whole family to sva ethe wold and those otehr people just get in the way! He's not supposed to be dark!

[Guybrush-Threepwood]

Some things in this film just didn't sit right with me. The cast was all fine, and it was a cool horror movie, but it just did not feel like a Halloween film. It felt more like a slasher created to make money. I enjoyed all the Halloween films, but the last two are definately the weakest in the series. Alot of people say that they hated the thorn subplot. I personally like it alot. It adds depth to the series and made each new entry exciting. True they did sometimes fail *cough Halloween 5 cough* (which I still liked), but at least the heart was in the right place. I mean Halloween 7 and 8 are basically just slashers. I appreciate the return of Jamie Lee Curtis, but don't slap me across the face and say "this is what you want". It wasn't. I enjoyed all the movies up to 7 for their ability to create an interesting, albeit confusing, story and make me interested. 7 and 8 did not interest. They were just body count flicks made to make a little money. Just my opinion of course.

Halloween H2O = 4/10

[urbanlegend23]

Originally posted by machette
[font=tahoma]michael myers is supposed to be a superhero character[font]

Err..what???

[Bassgod]

Well if u think about the whole motivaton of MM, he's doing it all to save the world. That makes him a superhero and his family, his nemesis and all those random people, evil henchmen.

[CKY]

this was a good movie. i thought Josh hartnett did a brilliant job as laurie's son. he made the film scarier in my opinion . When he is first being chased by Myers, the fear on his face was realistic as hell, and i personally appreciated this. Plus he doesn't try to be a hero, havin a pop at Myers. he actually seems like a teenager, scared shitless by the situation.

This is certainlt not the best in the series, but it comes a close third / fourth in my opinion

[Gluttony]

I would have to say that this is not a bad sequel. But it isn't the best. That would have to go to Halloween 4: the Return of Michael Myers. It's still quite good and I found tons of stuff to like. But there is about as much bad as good. I especially hated the teens and LL Cool J's character. I don't know why but they all felt throw away and they were very hard to like.

5/10