Original Vs. Remake: Halloween H20
I’m a big fan of Catie Rhodes and Tiffany White’s Original Vs. Remake blog series! Every month they review a classic film and its modern remake. Since they both know how much I LOOOOOOOVE Halloween, they let me play along!
I may have reacted like this…
Anyway…
Tiffany kicked us off reviewing the original, John Carpenter’s Halloween, and Catie will be reviewing the Rob Zombie remake.
So, what am I talking about?
Halloween H20: Twenty Years Later (1998)
Assuming a fake identity, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) is now headmistress at a private boarding school, still haunted by her nightmarish past. When her psychopathic brother, Michael, escapes the asylum, Laurie’s greatest fears become reality once more. And this time, her son’s in danger too.
Reprising her role as the “Scream Queen,” Jamie Lee Curtis comes back as the female lead, Laurie Strode. Other recognizable faces include her mother, Janet Leigh (Psycho), Josh Hartnett (Pearl Harbor, Lucky Number Slevin), LL Cool J (Deep Blue Sea, NCIS: Los Angeles), Michelle Williams (Dawson’s Creek, My Week With Marilyn), Jodi Lyn O’Keefe (Nash Bridges, She’s All That), Adam Hann-Byrd (Jumanji) and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (3rd Rock From the Sun, 50/50).
The storyline of H20 takes place as if all the sequels after Halloween II, never happened. It picks up from the second one. I gotta admit, I felt really sorry for Laurie Strode. Twenty years after her brother murdered her sister and came after her, she’s still suffering from insomnia, nightmares, living under a pseudonym, working in a gated private school, and raising her son as a single mother.
Does Laurie EVER get a happy ending???
The film is what I would describe as 80% camp-factor, meaning it’s pretty cheesy and all could’ve been well had a nurse not kept her patient files in her HOME and had Laurie Strode hired a security guard who didn’t spend all his time on the phone reading his romance novel to his girlfriend.
Yep.
Seriously, LL. It’s time to get off the phone now.
Fun Facts:
- Several of the original cast and team were set to come on board, but low budget and tentative timelines caused many to drop out. John Carpenter, the original director, was one of them.
- There’s a seen with Janet Leigh where she stands in front of her car from the movie Psycho. The music from Psycho also plays here.
- Sound editors added in music from several of the Scream movies as well as the original Halloween.
- In the scene where the girls are watching a movie, it’s Scream 2, however that was edited in post-production. Originally, the girls were watching So I Married an Axe Murderer – the joke being the fact that inside the Michael Myers movie, was a Mike Myers movie.
- The original’s line “Everyone is entitled to one good scare” makes a reappearance in this film.
- Michael Myers can be seen wearing two different masks. Too far into production, the director changed his mind on the mask and they had to CGI edit it in production.
- The teenagers in the beginning are watching Plan 9 From Outer Space – voted worst movie ever made so many times, it’s no longer allowed in the running. (P.S. I’ve watched it. It’s pretty bad.)
- Chris Durand, the actor who played Michael Myers, was a stunt double in Scream 2, Jurassic Park: The Lost World, and Armegeddon.
So Laurie is living out her life in fear. Her son grew up with that and is desperate to hang out with friends like a normal teenager. Against his mother’s wishes, he and his pals sneak out for a Halloween party. Meanwhile, Michael is on the loose. He’s watching Laurie at the school, at her home, and he knows where her son is too.
Cuh-reeeeepy!
Run for your lives!
Halloween H20 has its moments, but it doesn’t compare to the original. Nothing beats the original Halloween!
What do you think? What’s your favorite Halloween movie? Have you seen this one? What life would you have given Laurie 20 years after that fateful Halloween night?
Happy Halloween!
Hi ya’ll! Happy Halloween! Today’s post is brought to you by Dolly Parton! And I’m just thrilled to be celebratin’ with ya’ll on All Hallow’s Eve. Don’t you get to spookified, I’m here to guide ya and keep the ghosts away!
Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. And since it falls on a monday, I had a whole weekend to celebrate. For starters, I went to work for Jess on Saturday. I was a big hit with her team. They made the credit goal we needed so I agreed to sing for them. Popular requests were 9 to 5 and Jolene. Two of my favorites!
Saturday night was the typical celebrity party. You know, attend a live concert, well, at least I think they were…
The usual music celebrities were there. Michael Jackson, Prince, Amy Winehouse, Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, and my particular fave, ABBA.
Mamma Mia! It's Halloween again!
After a full night of autograph signing, I was ready for a lazy day at home on the couch. The line-up included: Halloween, The Addams Family, Practical Magic, and The Walking Dead.
To end the night, some great reads that say Halloween!
Tiffany A White’s Ooooh Factor gave an eerie review for The Boo Factor of the scream favorite film Halloween.
Sara Grambusch made a Halloween monster mash-up that talked craft projects, party foods, and even wine and candy pairing in My Magical Halloween Puree.
Albert Berg gave away his book The Mulch Pile for FREE in honor of Neil Gaiman’s All Hallows Read. Be sure to get your copy of this spooky tale!
The Good Greatsby shared halloween stories from his creative children, The Fonz and Optimus Prime. Fonz has got a secret and he thinks you’d like to know what it is in Saturday Hallowiener.
Little Miss Vix shares her Top 10 Supernatural Favorites including books, film, and TV series. See if yours made the list or add to it!
If history is your thing, check out El Muerto: The Texas Headless Horseman by Catie Rhodes.
If you missed the final edition of Haunted Hawleyville by Pam Hawley, check out her last post about camping in the woods with her family, Visits from Jason and Freddy.
That’s all for this Halloween, folks! How did you celebrate this weekend? Hope you all have a fabulous All Hallows Eve!
Luv,
Dolly
xox
Blog Awards and Life List News
Get ready for a fly-by week on The Happiness Project! Today I want to say thank you to the writers who bestowed me with some great blogging awards and tell you about this Friday’s upcoming Milestone Party!
First, a big BIG thank you to Amanda Rudd and Gene Lempp who both nominated me for a Versatile Blog Award. Amanda and Gene are such awesome writers, readers, and friends that I am very honored to share this award with them. Amanda is, like me, an example of persistence, and a very encouraging and charming woman. Gene is irritatingly smart about how to set goals and I credit him for getting my nose to the grindstone.
Thank you immensely to all my readers, I wouldn’t be doing this without you! Well, I might, but it wouldn’t be nearly as fun or filled with potential learning opportunities. I’m so humbled to share my day with you and get to know so many of you through your writing, your projects, and of course YOUR COMMENTS-my fave!
Another BIG thank you to Marcia Richards for naming me a recipient of the Liebster Blog Award. Liebster is a german word for Friend, and coming from my Life List Club co-founder, I can definitely say Marcia is a great friend. She’s got the creativity and energy of a toddler chewing espresso beans and at the same time comes off as the wise fairy godmother of all things chocolate and life lessons. Marcia, thank you for being my sound board. I love bouncing ideas around with you!
Part of receiving such honorary awards is presenting them to others you feel deserve them. The Versatile Blogger Award is for bloggers that are able to write about a broad range of topics with talent and enthusiasm. I must recognize the writing works of Catie Rhodes, who is a woman after my own heart with her posts that range from the paranormal to films from the 80’s-90’s. For starting her own blog not too long ago, Catie has it figured out!
I also award the Versatile Blogger Award to Ellie Ann Soderstrom, another new blogger who regales her readers with fascinating tales of mythological creatures and fairtytales as well as stories about why her husband is so annoying. And if you comment, she may make up a story for you with the character name of your choice. Ellie Ann is pure fun!
The Liebster Award is for bloggers I consider a true friend. There are two people that stick out in my mind who have come to my writer’s rescue and shared their own stories with the world which I always think is a brave and self-aware act. I present this award to Mark Petruska and Renee Schuls-Jacobson.
Mark is my guy, he keeps me in the know on what’s happening in Portland, Oregon, a city I visited 2 years ago and fell in love with. Lately, Mark’s been on some trips of his own and really grown in the past year. He recently fell in love! *communal Awwww* And with this year of change, Mark’s been sharing more about his life with us, and I couldn’t be happier for all he’s accomplished, including his decision to self-publish!
Renee wrote a post called When Writers Meltdown where she was so honest about how we all judge ourselves and think we’re never doing enough. I was SO in that moment then, and Renee not only reached out to me via comments, but did so with e-mail and twitter too. She wanted me to know I was not alone, and that she knew exactly how I felt. What better definition of friend is there than that?
There’s more fun to be had this Friday with the Life List Club‘s Milestone Party! Be sure to come back and comment this weekend while each of us shares an update of our goals and YOU can win a shot at several LLC giveaways! Share your own successes and learning moments with us. We’ll all be offering goodies to win and cyber treats and playing our kind of party music. I’m thinking…CeCe Peniston. You?
Monday Morning Mash-Up
It’s monday morning and I hope you all get a chance to settle into your favorite chair and sip your coffee/tea of choice. My morning is starting with a banana bar my dad made! Mmmm. I’ve been trying to get to more blogs this week and see what everyone’s been up to. Here’s my favorite reads from the past week, take your time and enjoy these great writers! Happy monday!
Writers and Readers:
Pam Hawley blogged about writing letters to herself to overcome writer’s block in this past week’s Life List Club guest post. She shows blankness who’s boss with humor and inspiration.
Marcia Richards interviews Jody Hedlund about her new book The Doctor’s Lady and what historical character from the Oregon Trail inspired her to write this book!
Renee Schuls-Jacobson blogs about learning from mistakes in The Day I Got It All Wrong. Go on, laugh WITH her, and share your own learning opportunities if you feel comfortable. Gotta tell you, Renee rocks! You’ll be in a safe space! As long as she’s not throwing things.
Sara Grambusch blogs about How to Pay (almost) Nothing for Books. Her energy and enthusiasm for the reading process and writer connections will draw you in!
A MUST-READ for writers, Kristen Lamb blogs the 7 Deadly Sins of Writing. She graciously shares her own learning experience and tips to beat these writing dead ends.
Paranormal/Mythology:
Gene Lempp’s creature features are superb in his Designing from Bones series. His post on Zoo Arcane: Pterodactyl, Luck Owl, Elder Phoenix was really fascinating to read and imagine encountering these animals.
Catie Rhodes dug up some fascinating spooky history in Ouija Board: Toy or Tool? Read at your own risk!
Pure Fun:
Piper Bayard and her partner Holmes take on your Labors of Love. Do you have a question for Dr. Piper and Dr. Holmes? Join in the fun as they solve all love’s conundrums, from True Blood love triangles to using nookie to entice your hubby to talk to you! It’s rollicking Cupid-filled fun!
A fun new blogger I’ve met, Little Miss Vix, asks readers who their favorite Disney character is, and shares with us why she LOVES Beauty and Beast.
Katie Ganshert shares her real life romance story with us, and asks you to share your own. What kind of couple are you? If you’re still looking, who do you imagine you’ll be?
Did I miss anything? Share your favorite post links in the comments below and I promise to check them out! I may even share my banana bar with you. 🙂
Monday Mash Up: Best of the Ghoulie Awards
Hey All, it’s been awhile since I’ve done a mash-up, but lately I’ve been satisfied by such awesome ghost and mystery blogs, that I had to do a mash up for those of you interested in the strange just like me.
First one comes from the amazing Catie Rhodes, over at Full-Tilt Backwoods Boogie. If you haven’t checked out Catie’s blog yet, you’re missing out! She posts on 80’s cult classics, historical southern serial killers and big time murders, all things Bonnie and Clyde!, and forces invites her husband along on many cave/creepy jaunts. Her post, The Ghosts of Longhorn Cavern, was full of interviews and film footage, and the duo’s own personal ghost catch on camera. What are you waiting for?
Full of Fabooolousness, Tiffany White writes about things that make you go Oooo. Her post on The Kiss and Kill Murder was a fascinating murder story, but it also comes to her from her mom’s hometown school days. Take a walk through High School, if you dare, and learn the story of Mack Herring and Betty Williams.
One of my favorite new bloggers is Ellie Ann who started up Spirit Saturday. Every saturday she writes about a new possible spirit or legend. I had fun reading her post on The Weretiger, a story told by a missionary about a shaman in Thailand. Go get your say in on whether it really happened like he said!
Mindi Anders is a religious cult survivor. Intrigued? If you’re unfamiliar with her work in progress, Playing God, you can hop over to her sight by clicking the link to check out the synopsis. She recently did an interview with writer, Matt Shields at his blog explaining why writing about her experience leaving a cult is more therapeutic than therapy. Check out Buffy the Cult Slayer.
In some sort of world where you get the opportunity of a lifetime and you’re invited to go on a ghost hunt with a paranormal investigative team, you’d be my friend, Mark Petruska. Mark just got that opportunity and wrote about the ghosties he encountered, some of which weren’t nice, in Just Another Night in the Ghost Hunting Business. If you believe in ghosts you’ll be freaked out, if not, maybe Mark will change your mind.
That’s the Best of the Ghoulie Awards this week. Any others I missed? Leave a link to them below, I love ghost stories and mystery!
Jess Witkins' Happiness Project 