The New "Halloween"

As its own film, I liked Rob Zombie's "Halloween".

What's the same?
Michael Myers.
Killing.
Family.
Mental Institution.
Character names.
And the same basic storyline and structure.

What's different?
EVERYTHING ELSE.

On it's own, without taking into account the original, this is a well made film with a good story. Rob Zombie does an amazing job telling the story and has really good camera work with his DP.

Overall, I still love the original - and this is not as good of an overall film.

Will I own it? Sure.
Will I watch it again? Sure.
Is it freaky and generally scarier than the original? Yes.

Zombie's version attempts to justify the Michael Myers character. It's the one thing that I DO NOT like about this film. The original opens with Michael and him killing. It's a beautiful shot that doesn't cut (due to some good editing, a la "Rope"). This version spends the first 20 minutes of the film giving you the back story to Michael Myers and explains the circumstances that lead him to become the killer he is. I don't like this. It removes all of the mystery behind this character. And if the new Dr. Loomis was any good, he could connect the dots and realize he's a troubled kids from a screwed up family and life.

In the original, Michael parents arrive at home wearing a nice suit and a pretty dress. He came from a good family - and pure evil turned him into the killer he was. Instead, Zombie felt that he needed to justify the means that created Michael Myers. While it involves some good scenes, and amazing acting, it ruins the overall mystique of the character.

Aside from that fact, it is troublesome to watch the decline of this child. It's brutal and wicked how we watch him break down on screen.

This carries over into the adult Michael Myers. Zombie trades the long exposition of developing young Michael, by removing the majority of the character development between Laurie and her friends, and he almost completely removes the "stalker" aspect of the original film - which happened during the thirty minutes of character development. Once we see Laurie, it's not long before she's babysitting. And it's not long before people start to die - in many graphic ways.

While it follows the original jist, and even borrows some original dialogue, it's unique enough.

The flick is worth watching, but if you love the original as much as I do - it's going to be difficult for you to give this version proper credit. It is a poor remake, but it is not a bad film. It's very much more action packed and modern than the original. It's got some very suspenseful scenes. For what it was, I really enjoyed it.

Question for people after they've seen it: WHAT time period does this film take place?

We all decided that it was modern, but done up very retro - to the point that we almost believe it was in the past. Thoughts?