John Carpenter's Halloween

Happy Halloween!!! This is our final post for the month of October, and we are going out with a BANG as we review the most notorious Halloween film of all-time - John Carpenter's Halloween! When it comes to horror movies there are some that are memorable, some that are forgettable and some that reach the level known as timeless. When looking at the John Carpenter's 1978 classic known as "Halloween", there are few that can say this isn't a classic and a must-watch on Halloween night.

On Halloween night in 1963, in a small town called Haddonfield, IL, a small six year old boy named Michael Myers murders his older sister Judith, in an unprovoked attack. Michael puts on a clown mask (and through Michael's perspective) we get to see him go up the stairs and stab his sister with a butcher knife. Michael then heads outside at the exact moment his parents come home. Michael's father takes off Michael's mask and both parents stare in shock as they see their son standing there holding a bloody butcher knife. At this point we have no knowledge what triggered Michael to commit such a horrific act. We are left to wonder, what was the reason???


We move forward fifteen years to October 30th, 1978 where we see Dr. Sam Loomis (who would become the ultimate protagonist in the Halloween franchise) and a nurse driving to a mental hospital in the middle of the night. We are informed that Dr. Loomis is in the process of having Michael Myers brought to court to be committed for life and feels that Michael is pure evil. As they approach Smith's Grove mental hospital they see several patients wandering around the premise unwatched. Dr. Loomis tells the nurse to pull up to the front gate so he can find out what's going on. As he goes to the gate Michael jumps on the car and forces the nurse out. Michael then takes the opportunity to steal the car and escape the hospital.

The next day is Halloween and we are introduced to Laurie Strobe ( Jamie Lee Curtis) who is a high school girl making her way to school. She is approached by a young boy named Tommy Doyle, who we learn she is suppose to babysit that night. As Laurie talks to Tommy and makes her way to school she appears to be watched by Michael Myers from a voyeuristic perspective. This is the first clip of several that provide us with a unique perspective where we are seeing things through Michael Myers eyes. This gives the viewer a unique and rather suspicious feeling as we try to learn why Michael is watching Laurie.


From this point forward a chilling and suspenseful plot begins with Michael Myers watching and almost analyzing Laurie and her friends (Annie and Lynda) on Halloween night. No gore or blood, just simply a build up, but enough to keep you glued to the screen wondering what is going to happen. Dr. Loomis and the local Sheriff head to Michael Myers childhood house to watch for him while we learn more about Michael Myers. Dr Loomis informs the Sheriff that he feels Michael is pure evil and has no logic or feeling a normal person would, almost like a monster. The Sheriff is doubtful of Michael's arrival but also angry that Dr. Loomis let someone of Michael's mental status escape knowing what could happen.


Michael Myers slowly begins to attack Laurie's friends as the opportunity arises. Unlike standard horror movies, the rash of killings doesn't begin till a good 45 minutes into the movie. Annie is the first fatality and Lynda and her boyfriend are next to feel Michael's wrath.


In my opinion, one of the best scenes in Halloween is Halloween night when Laurie goes to check on her friends and sees the fate that has resulted due to Michael Myers. In her state of fear, Michael appears out of the darkness and attacks her. She is able to get away and run back to the house she is babysitting at but Michael starts to follow her. Laurie tries to survive the best she can, but Michael will not stop or stay down. Laurie tells the kids she is babysitting for to run to the neighbors and call the police. When the kids head out screaming Dr. Loomis hears them and heads to that house.



Michael begins to strangle Laurie, but Dr. Loomis fires several shots at Michael causing him to fall off the balcony. Dr. Loomis goes to look at Michael's body, but it's gone. The movie closes out with shots of all the key locations of the movie and hearing Michael's deep breathing, making us wonder where Michael could be as the movie fades out.



Halloween is a unique approach to horror movies. There is no bloodbath or forced back to back killing sprees, but rather the opportunity to learn who the characters are and seeing things from Michael Myers perspective. The movie is simple and does not have a lot of high budget value, but it provides an edge-of-your-seat horror flick that has become a staple every Halloween night on television. The series has had seven sequels, most of which have had mixed reviews, but the original Halloween has ranked as one of the top five best horror movies of all-time with reviews written by Fangoria, Wicked Magazine and other horror publications. Watch the trailer for this classic, influential horror film that no Halloween would be complete without!


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Raggedy Ann & Andy in the Pumpkin Who Couldn't Smile

One of my very favorite Halloween specials that I looked forward to watching every year as a child has pretty much fallen into obscurity. It's such a shame, because it is one of the sweetest, most charming little animated specials ever made and I still love it immensely. I am referring to Raggedy Ann & Andy In The Pumpkin Who Couldn't Smile, written, produced and directed by none other than Chuck Jones and released in 1979.


The special starts out on the evening of Halloween. We are immediately introduced to a glum pumpkin that no one has bought and time is quickly running out as the sun begins to set. He begins sobbing uncontrollably at the thought of missing out on the opportunity to make some child happy and fulfill his ultimate purpose.


Next we find Raggedy Ann (June Foray) and Andy (Daws Butler) looking out a window and talking about a sad boy next door named Ralph who lives with his stern Aunt Agatha (June Foray), that forbids him from partaking in any of the Halloween festivities. Raggedy Ann decides to give the aunt the benefit of the doubt, but begins to devise a plan to find a pumpkin to bring the boy a bit joy on the spooky holiday. It doesn't take long to figure out where this is going, but the journey of uniting these two misfits is the focus.


Enter Raggedy Arthur, a skateboard riding rag doll dog! He joins Raggedy Ann and Andy as they begin their journey into the unknown in search for the prized gourd! Time is running out and just as they begin to get hopeless they stumble upon the glum pumpkin, who is still having a pity party and doesn't see that his saviors have arrived.


It all seems to good to be true, as the dolls explain their predicament and how needed he is. He begins to cry tears of joy at the news - tears in the form of pumpkin seeds (awww)! They quickly grab a wooden beam to scoot him off the platform and onto the skateboard. Here begins a difficult trek back to town, wrought with a zany chain of events that stun a homeowner, jogger and police officer. It's quite a funny, clever classic Chuck Jones scene that still gets a laugh out of me!


They finally make it to Ralph's house and decide to use a rope and pulley to haul the pumpkin up to the boy's room on the 2nd floor. Ralph is in bed sleeping when we wakes up to see a beautifully glum looking jack-o-lantern facing him in the window. It's a very touching moment as he is overcome with joy at seeing the pumpkin! He brings him to the bed and wraps his arms around his new friend and all seems to be well, until they remember Aunt Agatha.


Raggedy Ann and Andy know that there is no chance Ralph will be able to keep the pumpkin unless something is done to soften Aunt Agatha's heart and help her remember what it is like to be child again. The two sneak into her bedroom, where she is fast asleep, and Ann begins whispering in her ear to conjure up her own fun Halloween memories from the past.


* * * SPOILER ALERT * * *
Just like Scrooge, Aunt Agatha suddenly wakes from her stupor and realizes the error of her ways. She instantly seeks to make things right with Ralph and whisks him off to enjoy the last bit of Halloween with some trick-or-treating. He dresses up like a pirate and she joins the fun by dressing up as a witch (just as she did as a little girl). Best of all, even the glum pumpkin comes along for the fun and it's a very happy ending for all!


This special is quite difficult to find, especially in any decent quality. Most copies were released by companies looking for a quick cash-in who did nothing to restore to the sound or picture. In fact, the sound is so bad on some copies that it makes it virtually impossible to watch. To my knowledge it has never been released on DVD at all. While I still have my VHS copy, which also includes the hard-to-find Christmas special, 'Raggedy Ann & Andy in the Great Santa Claus Caper', I was fortunate to get my hands on a decent digital transfer, but it's still a far cry from the restoration it deserves. In the meantime, you can watch the special in its entirety on YouTube. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do and make it part of your own yearly traditional Halloween viewing!


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Sleepy Hollow Premiere Review

On Monday night the first episode of the new series, Sleepy Hollow, aired on Fox. Sleepy Hollow is of course based on the classic story by Washington Irving, but is given a new modern twist. In this version of the story Ichabod Crane (Tom Mison) is a Revolutionary soldier who is the one responsible for the Headless Horseman losing his noggin in 1781. He suddenly wakes up in 2013 and is puzzled as to how he came to find himself in this future world.


Shortly after waking up he begins to explore and runs into a female lieutenant cop, named Abbie Mills (Nicole Beharie), who is terrified after watching her partner and mentor beheaded by the Headless Horseman with the mark of a crossbow on his hand. It appears it too has awoken in this new era. From this point the story only becomes more wild, making it difficult for the police captain (Orlando Jones) to believe the tall tale from Ichabod Crane. He considers him a suspect in the murder and orders him to be shipped to a local nut house. Abbie is intrigued by his story and believes he may have the key to who murdered her partner, so she goes to speak with him.


Abbie defies orders and takes Ichabod to the where he first awoke, to look for clues. While there he finds an old Bible that belonged to George Washington and was brought with him from the past. He quotes a marked passage, which seems to be pieced together from Revelation, chapter 6, "And there before me stood a white horse and his rider held a bow. And his name was death. And then a voice like thunder said, "come and see!", a reference to the four horses of the Apocalypse. A clue that this whole occurrence may be tied to the coming of the end times.


While Abbie is with Ichabod, a minister at a nearby church is beheaded by the Horseman, a man who also appears in Ichabod's flashbacks from the 1700s. The police captain is furious that Abbie has disobeyed orders and has Ichabod transported to the psychiatric hospital at once. Despite her skepticism, Abbie goes to see him and decides to give him the benefit of the doubt. While it is a kindness only she is willing to extend, her motive is partly based on the fact that she too experienced something very strange when she was a young girl and was not believed. She shares a story with Ichabod about an encounter she and her sister had while walking through the woods. They saw 4 stark white trees and a demonic looking entity. They both woke up a couple hours later on a curb. As a result her sister went insane.


SPOILER ALERT!!!
Scroll to Final Thoughts if you do not want to know the ending
After discussing the matter further, Abbie decides to go to the office of her former partner and look for answers. While looking at a framed picture of herself on a shelf, she notices a key attached to the back of the frame. She quickly looks for any locks the key might fit and comes to a large filing cabinet. An audio tape reveals that between 1712 and 1816 that 100 witches were burned at the stake in Sleepy Hollow. Town records indicate that two different covens integrated into the populace (one good and one evil). They appear to be tied to many unsolved cases of murder and disappearances throughout the east coast. This audio also indicates a connection between her own incident as a young girl and an identical incident with a farmer in 1882 in the same location. The farmer believed the four trees represented the four horses of the Apocalypse, tying in her own experience with Ichabod's. Abbie is now fully convinced that something significant is happening and takes a huge risk to break Ichabod out of the psych ward.


While in the hospital, Ichabod has a vision of his wife Katrina, who is trapped in an alternate universe by an evil power. She confesses to being a witch and claims responsibility for hiding him away all these years through a spell. She then tells him he must find the Headless Horseman's skull, which is hidden in her grave, because only by finding it will he become whole. Abbie arrives and they promptly go to the burial place to remove the skull to keep the Horseman from finding it. Meanwhile, the Horseman is informed of its location by one of Abbie's co-workers, who is clearly involved in some way.


The Headless Horseman show up at the graveyard and fights Abbie and Ichabod in effort to retrieve its skull. As daylight approaches, a slew of police officers show up and begin fighting the Headless Horseman as well. Things get a little wild when the usual axe-wielding Horseman grabs a gun and begins blasting away at the cops. After getting them to back down he rides off to fight another day. Abbie and Ichabod are vindicated as there have now been many witnesses, so this is the set up for next week's episode.


FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, I would have to say the production for the show was top-notch and that the effort is ambitious. This first episode was action packed and set a nice mood, despite the fact that it takes place in modern times. It's still in keeping with the dark gloomy atmosphere you would expect from this tale, though not quite to the level of Burton's film. The gore was minimal, which is good or bad depending on your preference. Personally, I didn't mind that is was more suggestive than graphic. As for the story, I'm not sure what I think of this direction they are taking it in. It seems like many aspects of the original story and characters has been altered to fit this Biblical Doomsday scenario, which frankly, is a bit of a stretch. The mixing of witchcraft and religion is a little unsettling, but if you accept it as total fantasy, you may be able suspend your disbelief and just enjoy it for what it is. Personally, I am still on the fence as to whether this is going to be something I tune into every week. It doesn't quite feel like the story of Sleepy Hollow I have known, but then again, the Tim Burton film took plenty of liberties as well and I love that movie, so it's not that I can't accept some changes. I will most likely need to see more episodes to form a true opinion, which I plan to do!


Sleepy Hollow airs Mondays on Fox at 9/8c. Visit the website to watch full episodes, video clips, photos & more (fox.com/sleepy-hollow)!

The Way Way Back

Currently playing in theaters is the wonderful indie film, The Way Way Back, Directed and Written by Nat Faxon (The Descendants). It's a funny, poignant coming of age story about an awkward 14 year old boy named Duncan (Liam James) who starts to come into his own over Summer vacation. He is traveling with his mother (Toni Collette), her overbearing boyfriend (Steve Carell) and his insufferable teenage daughter. It doesn't take long before Duncan begins to feel like the outcast of the bunch, as his mother's boyfriend picks on him relentlessly with his mother standing idly by. His father has apparently taken off to start a new life in California with his new wife, leaving Duncan without a true father figure to help him find his way into manhood.


While trying to avoid spending time with the family, Duncan makes a friend in angsty, but pretty, neighbor Susanna (AnnaSophia Robb). They share much in common, but not being used to dealing with girls, he clumsily struggles to keep up with conversation. It isn't until he meets Owen (Sam Rockwell) that he begins to find the confidence boost he needs. Owen is the juvenile, yet kindhearted, owner of a local waterpark who gives Duncan a job, while offering him the mentorship he is lacking. The experience brings about self discovery and a bit of happiness in the midst of chaos.

The thing I loved most about this movie was its focus on the importance of a good man in a boy's life. I think sometimes we overlook this necessity and forget the impact an absent father can have on a young man. How life-changing it can be when someone is willing to step up and be a mentor and friend in their absence. The teen years are a particularly tender age, but while female sensitivity is understood, we can forget that boys are sensitive in their own ways, though they may not be as vocal. Rather, they often become introverted.


Another notable theme to the movie is that people are not always who they appear to be. Sometimes those who seem to have it all together are a mess and sometimes the people who look like a mess are the ones who are more in tune with reality. Everyone has a story and it's best to examine all the facts before passing judgement.

Along with these wonderfully touching themes, this film is not without its humor and romance. There are many fun moments which make it the perfect summer film you will want to watch again and again. It is shaping up to be one of the best movies of the year, so if you love great writing and acting, be sure to catch this one in the theater while you can...because like the Summer, it may be gone before you know it!


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Yogi's First Christmas

I (Drew) also had the opportunity to write a second blog for the Christmas TV History website during their animation celebration in the month of July. For this blog I selected Yogi's First Christmas. I chose to focus on what a timeless classic this special is and how it has been a holiday favorite for me and my family each year. Enjoy!!!


Yogi’s First Christmas is a 1980 holiday themed television feature- length film that first aired on November 21, 1980. In this Hanna-Barbera Christmas special, the picnic-basket stealing Yogi Bear and his little friend Boo-Boo are supposed to be getting ready to hibernate for the winter but instead decide to experience their first Christmas season.


Yogi’s Christmas special never received a lot of air time on any major networks except on USA, however it is a charming holiday tale for any Christmas lover or Hanna-Barbera fan. Yogi spends his winter working different jobs at the Jellystone Park lodge ranging from a bellboy, a ski instructor and head of security--all of which provide enjoyable moments with Yogi and several classic Hanna-Barbera characters such as Huckleberry Hound, Snagglepuss, Augie Doggie and Doggie Daddie, Cindy Bear, and Herman the Hermit.


When a bratty kid visiting the lodge with his aunt teams up with Herman the Hermit to ruin the holiday fun for Yogi & crew, they realize that having Christmas spirit is not such a bad thing and are forgiven and invited to the Christmas celebration at the lodge. At the story’s end, a visit from Santa occurs at the Christmas party in which Santa brings Yogi a picnic basket full of food. Yogi, however, falls asleep, due to his natural instincts of hibernation. With that, the holiday revelers return Yogi & Boo Boo to their caves for the rest of their hibernation.


When watching Yogi’s First Christmas, it really brings back memories of what cartoons were like back in the 1980’s. The graphics are nothing like today’s cartoons, but every time I watch it, it’s like being 6 years old and eagerly awaiting Santa all over again. There is something unique about how simple this animated special is but yet provides a touching feel with some great songs and unique story to really make you feel the Christmas spirit the way it should be felt. This past Christmas my oldest son ( 5 years old) watched this more than any other holiday special. He also enjoyed the unique humor and ageless child-like feel this special provides. Yogi’s First Christmas has been on the Boomerang channel recently and even had a Christmas morning airing as well.


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Santa & The Three Bears

Here is another guest blog that I (Jakki) contributed to Christmas TV History's website for their Christmas In July Animation Celebration. This time for a childhood favorite, Santa & The Three Bears. Here I share my memory of the first time I ever saw the special and how I came to find it again after a long search! Feel free to read and comment over there if you have any memories of this under-rated classic.


Santa and the 3 Bears is a heartwarming animated tale about 2 precocious bear cubs experiencing Christmas for the very first time, with the help of a jolly park ranger. Mama Bear would rather be hibernating, but can't resist the cub's enthusiasm to know more about this exciting time of year and decides to make an exception if they agree to sleep the rest of the winter after Santa's visit. The film was released in 1970 and originally ran 76-minutes in theaters, but was eventually cut down to 45-minutes for TV airing. Though it has been mistakenly credited as a Hanna-Barbera production, there is in fact no official connection.




This simple little story has been a favorite of mine for years. I still recall the first time I ever saw it and how it stuck with me years before I knew it by name. It was a weekday afternoon during Christmas break in the late '80s and I came across it while flipping channels on television. I was excited to see something Christmas related airing at a time of day when all you would usually find is talk shows, soap operas and toddler programming. This was well before 24 hour cartoon networks and easy accessibility to movies through DVD and Netflix, so it had my full attention!


Santa & The Three Bears is not a frenzied, hysterical Christmas special, as commonly seen today, but instead has a understated, classic charm. It also lacks a villainous plot, choosing instead to focus on the discovery of Christmas and all it entails. As the ranger explains our human traditions to the cubs, even a child familiar with Christmas can't help but be drawn in. Christmas just has a profound effect on all who celebrate it, in a way that can't really be explained. This special captured the mystery of that miracle, but is also a snap shot of youthful innocence, where the magic of Santa's visit is all too real.


I often thought back to this special and wondered if I would ever know what it was, though I knew I would recognize it in an instant if fate was ever kind enough to cause me to stumble upon it once again. Then one extraordinary summer day, many years later, I was browsing used VHS tapes at a local thrift store. I suddenly came across the title, Santa and the Three Bears. While the cover art did not look quite like the animation in my memory, the title and description sounded exactly right. I took a chance, popped it in my VCR when I got home, and in an instant, was transported back to that winter afternoon in the late '80s with all the hope and wonder of a child.



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Feel free to also check out my previous post for Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town!

A Garfield Christmas

I (Drew) also had the honor of writing a guest blog for Christmas TV History's for their Christmas in July Animation Celebration. I chose to write about A Garfield Christmas. I shared in this blog about why i feel this special is an under-appreciated classic and why it should be ranked up there with the classic's aired each year. Please take a look and tell me what you think....


The orange cat Garfield, his owner Jon and the slobbering dog Odie head out to the country to spend Christmas with Jon’s family on the farm. Garfield is a Scrooge about the whole Christmas season until he bonds with Jon’s grandmother while coming across a heartfelt gift for her, a forgotten but special item from her past. This holiday season, the fat cat learns the true meaning of Christmas.


It may be the '80’s child in me but I am not sure how A Garfield Christmas has been overlooked as a holiday classic among the likes of A Charlie Brown Christmas and Frosty the Snowman. A Garfield Christmas Special was aired on CBS right after A Charlie Brown Christmas all through the late '80’s and early 1990’s and was just as highly anticipated as any holiday classic being aired. My holiday season is not complete without a viewing of A Garfield Christmas Special. It has become part of my holiday tradition just as much as hanging the stockings or decorating the tree.


Garfield’s Christmas special has such a wonderful message about learning the true spirit of Christmas. Garfield’s sly humor and bond with Jon’s grandmother add great moments to this cartoon. The heartwarming story also includes a terrific carol “Christmas is here,” a song Jon’s mother plays on the piano Christmas Eve night. This holiday special’s message is not about the giving or receiving of gifts but it’s about the love one person or cat can give to another.


A holiday special with a meaningful message such as this, A Garfield Christmas Special not only is a classic to share with family and children but deserves the right to stand with the classic holiday animated specials that are aired year after year. I loved this cartoon as a child and my two young boys look forward to watching this classic each holiday as well. Don’t ignore the opportunity to enjoy this holiday special with your family.


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