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Halloween movies...
15 years ago
General
Someone gave a list of their favorite Halloween movies. Rather than try to give mine (which would be way too long...) I decided to make my own post. Keep in mind, these are going to be under the R-ceiling because I just don't watch much above the R-ceiling, and plus I'm not a gore-fanatic. :P So here goes.
In no particular order, my favorite 10
High Spirits. Call me goofy, but this is a classic Guttenburg! It's such a fun ride, so many strange ghosts and a little mystery, plus happy endings all around (though it's not fair that the living have to limit their celebrations to the day hours...) :P Not much for the furry fan as I remember, just a lot of fun.
Dreamscape. Dennis Quaid is so young in this... and the music and effects are corny. But I still think the basics for Inception is based on this movie. In this movie, we have some psychics who are convinced to work on research hopping into other people's dreams. While Dennis is a good guy working on kids nightmares and such (any scaly fans... snake-man is freaky but also just not believable, still it's a good try...) the badguy is figuring out how to kill people. It ends with a post apocalyptic, dream-warrior, showdown between who can control the dream world better than the other. For someone like me, who had very terrible nightmares, this movie just really helped with the idea that I could control my dreams (lucid dreaming) so with all the 80 corniness it will always have a place in my favorites list for Halloween. :)
Ghostbusters (I and II). Had to lump them together because they're best when watched right after the other. :) I know a lot of folks don't like II as much, but it's actually a bit more of my favorite for some reason, maybe because it's far more silly (like... Ms. Liberty walking down the street isn't going to break the street but will smush a cop-car... right...) There's something about seeing the Titanic arrive, and the possessed fox-fur coat (GO FOXIES!)
Nightmare Before Christmas. My daughter (2) has watched this 2-4 times a day for the last 3 weeks and I'm still not sick of it. It's got romance, great music, interesting animation, and a great message of embrace who you are.
The Watcher in the Woods. This movie creeped me out as a kid, and still creeps me out now. We found it for $8 at Costco this year and I just had to get it. "Help me..." says the reflection... Bette Davis is wonderful in it as the bereaved mother who's daughter disappeared 30 years ago... a daughter who is now appearing in mirrors to the children. The 70's outfits are a blast from the past too. But it just has a creepy atmosphere. You never see the 'bad guy', they couldn't get the puppet right and you can see the puppet on the DVD extras, but it's just better without in my opinion.
The Great Pumpkin. Charlie Brown and gang. :) What can I say, can't have Halloween without them.
Young Frankenstein. Mel Brooks. Black and White. Just... weird and odd and fun. :)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer. No. Not the serious one. The one with PeeWee Herman and Dylan duking it out (oh, I mean Luke Perry... I can't remember Pee Wee's real name.) It's so ridiculous and campy that it's great fun! I remember my mom took me to it and we both loved!
Canterville Ghost. It's so hard to find the one that I remember the best as a child, so I'm putting in my vote for the old black and white version. It's been so long since I've seen it, it's sort of a sad longing to see it now.
The Little Shop of Horrors. Great music, great over the top acting, and if you want the greatest horror don't look at Audrey II but look at the dentist. AHHHH!
Runners ups:
Black Cauldron
The Black Crystal (freaked me out as a child)
Labyrinth
Goonies
Serial Mom
Any Headless Horseman movie or cartoon, (but especially Wishbone as Ichabod Crane is a favorite of mine... What's the story Wishbone?)
Teen Wolf (and sometimes I just have to watch the second one just to groan)
Van Helsing (mmm.... werewolf... very cute... I bought it only for the werewolf, is that just sad or predictable?)
In no particular order, my favorite 10
High Spirits. Call me goofy, but this is a classic Guttenburg! It's such a fun ride, so many strange ghosts and a little mystery, plus happy endings all around (though it's not fair that the living have to limit their celebrations to the day hours...) :P Not much for the furry fan as I remember, just a lot of fun.
Dreamscape. Dennis Quaid is so young in this... and the music and effects are corny. But I still think the basics for Inception is based on this movie. In this movie, we have some psychics who are convinced to work on research hopping into other people's dreams. While Dennis is a good guy working on kids nightmares and such (any scaly fans... snake-man is freaky but also just not believable, still it's a good try...) the badguy is figuring out how to kill people. It ends with a post apocalyptic, dream-warrior, showdown between who can control the dream world better than the other. For someone like me, who had very terrible nightmares, this movie just really helped with the idea that I could control my dreams (lucid dreaming) so with all the 80 corniness it will always have a place in my favorites list for Halloween. :)
Ghostbusters (I and II). Had to lump them together because they're best when watched right after the other. :) I know a lot of folks don't like II as much, but it's actually a bit more of my favorite for some reason, maybe because it's far more silly (like... Ms. Liberty walking down the street isn't going to break the street but will smush a cop-car... right...) There's something about seeing the Titanic arrive, and the possessed fox-fur coat (GO FOXIES!)
Nightmare Before Christmas. My daughter (2) has watched this 2-4 times a day for the last 3 weeks and I'm still not sick of it. It's got romance, great music, interesting animation, and a great message of embrace who you are.
The Watcher in the Woods. This movie creeped me out as a kid, and still creeps me out now. We found it for $8 at Costco this year and I just had to get it. "Help me..." says the reflection... Bette Davis is wonderful in it as the bereaved mother who's daughter disappeared 30 years ago... a daughter who is now appearing in mirrors to the children. The 70's outfits are a blast from the past too. But it just has a creepy atmosphere. You never see the 'bad guy', they couldn't get the puppet right and you can see the puppet on the DVD extras, but it's just better without in my opinion.
The Great Pumpkin. Charlie Brown and gang. :) What can I say, can't have Halloween without them.
Young Frankenstein. Mel Brooks. Black and White. Just... weird and odd and fun. :)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer. No. Not the serious one. The one with PeeWee Herman and Dylan duking it out (oh, I mean Luke Perry... I can't remember Pee Wee's real name.) It's so ridiculous and campy that it's great fun! I remember my mom took me to it and we both loved!
Canterville Ghost. It's so hard to find the one that I remember the best as a child, so I'm putting in my vote for the old black and white version. It's been so long since I've seen it, it's sort of a sad longing to see it now.
The Little Shop of Horrors. Great music, great over the top acting, and if you want the greatest horror don't look at Audrey II but look at the dentist. AHHHH!
Runners ups:
Black Cauldron
The Black Crystal (freaked me out as a child)
Labyrinth
Goonies
Serial Mom
Any Headless Horseman movie or cartoon, (but especially Wishbone as Ichabod Crane is a favorite of mine... What's the story Wishbone?)
Teen Wolf (and sometimes I just have to watch the second one just to groan)
Van Helsing (mmm.... werewolf... very cute... I bought it only for the werewolf, is that just sad or predictable?)
