Ok firs things first. Most people are saying Why Halloween 9? What is going on? Michael is dead! Well not so fast. At the end of H20 Laurie decapitated a cop and not Michael so now the troubled Laurie has been sat in a Sanitarium for 3 years waiting for Michaels inevitable return.
Jamie Lee is great in the opening scene. Her dialogue is cool (Exactly what she wanted her character to say) so she gets to go out with a little bi of style. Many were upset about Lauries demise however but lets face it her storyline was dry and needed to move on if the franchise is to salvage a fresh story and stay interesting. Great now Michael will go after her son (his nephew) John Tate! OH NO! Somehow that doesnt appear to be the case so Michael goes returns home to off a group of paper-thin teens who have invaded his house. WHERE IS THE CONTINUING STORY and ironically ORIGINALITY HERE?! Bring back the Thorn storyline if anyting!..Oh well, maybe the next movie! I expected a lot more from the Director of one of the better sequels Halloween 2s Rick Rosenthal. Oh well proof of the problems that the movie went through in filming and post-production.
Ok moving on. Where this movie also falls is the script which is mediocre to say the least. Too much corny, samey, crappy dialogue. However it has to be said that I enjoyed some of the humour.
The actors with the credible roles go to the more talented in my opinion Bianca Kajlich and Sean Patrick Thomas. Kajlich runs with what she has and makes it work. Sean Patrick Thomas gave us a normal, down to Earth friendly guy which I appreciated. Good job. Overall these were the only two characters I gave a shit about.
The award for biggest overacting in Halloween history goes to Busta Rhymes. However I didnt find his acting really awful, just really funny! Freddie Harris constantly brought a smile to my face. The scene in which he is wearing the Myers costume is one of the cool highlights. Never has the word Motherf*cker been so hilarious.
I have to say a big thankyou to Brad Loree! I dont know if any of you fans out there agree with me but WOW! Thanks for making Michael scary again. I missed this in H20. Also at certain points the mask looks darn creepy, especially in those underground scenes. The shadowing is near perfection! Brad Loree should be welcome to more sequels. The dude is well up to par! Its all in the eyes baby!
I was pleased at the surprises thrown our way in the movie and Bills death was a nice shock as Michael smashes through the mirror when you expect to see his reflection. It was good to see Rudy (Thomas) put up a fight the way he did, one of the reasons I enjoyed his character. His death was decent with shades of the original coming into play. The beheading scene!? Lets just say 'Mike no like'.
Ok one of the best aspects of the film has to be how damn atmospheric it can be. The setting is cool and it brings across the dark, moody, gothic aura that it should. The lighting is bang on. Patches of light and patches of darkness give a very claustrophobic feel and a very obscure sense of time and place. The movie does try to stay to stay true to the original and in a very slight way tries to mimic it but it falls down on characterisation. What I think Rosenthal tries to do is just this, however the original was about character development and implying rather than seeing which worked immensely well but Resurrection just doesnt cut it (No pun intended). I think to make a good sequel you have to stay true to the original. Resurrection is too much about taking the franchise in yet another direction adding the whole web-cam idea which is interesting but not revolutionary. The original wasnt about focusing on Michael although Resurrection moves down this road. The supporting cast are the tour guides, not Michael! Keep it that way people!
I think the score is the best reworking of John 'Were not worthy' Carpenters theme. Once again it sent shivers down my spine.
The end of the film produces a surprisingly tense chase sequence. I liked the communication between Sara and Deckard. Nice touch. But overall the ending feels a little been there-done that leaving a standard 'open for a sequel' ending. I will however give credit where it is due. I dont know how I managed to jump out of my seat in the movie theatre during the last frame. As I said. Its all in the eyes baby, all in the eyes.
Flawed by script and storyline.
6/10
EXTRAS
Still Gallery
Not much to write home about here but if you dig scrolling through on set photos go nuts! 4/5
Feature commentary with Director Rick Rosenthal
Rick gives us some insight into the film and its production but for me it was a little boring. Not the best commentary ive ever listened too! 3/5
Deleted Scenes
Nothing here that I thought was better off in the movie but interesting none the less.
2/5
Alternate Endings
This was cool. We get three different endings here:
Sara and Deckard
This ending was a little bit too soft for me and didnt work as Sara and Deckards relationship was never explored. NO NO.
The Manhole
This ending was the best of the three where Michael grabs the woman through the manhole. A neat little shock. YES YES.
Sara and Freddie
This ending was awful. Freddies dialogue here is piss. Im very happy that this was never used! Also the axe in the head was a slap in the face for me. If your going to make sure hes dead at least cut his head off! NO NO.
Web-cam Special
A pretty cool feature. 3/5
Tour of set with Production Designer
This is a decent extra. We follow Resurrections production designer around the set of the house and he gives great insight into how parts of the set were built and also the reconstruction of the Myers house. 4/5
On the set with Jamie Lee curtis
Much like the tour of the set feature. Here the feature focuses on Jamie Lee talking about her character and reviving her role as the haunted laurie Strode. Nice behind the scenes footage of the filming. 4/5
Headcam featurette
I didnt know what to expect from this feature and I was surprised when I found out. Basically it takes us through nearly the entire film but from the point of view of the headcams. Like watching the movie through the actors eyes which was extremely cool but it tends to drag a little bit. I found it interesting that you could watch the deaths from the characters own headcam. Lots of extra shooting must have taken place for this but overall it works and is extremely eerie. 4/5
Storyboad Comparisons
Rarther dull feature that was probably added to bulk out the extras some more. Watch Bills death cut together with some storyboard drawings. Wow! 2/5
