January 18, 2015:
Halloween II (Rick Rosenthal, 1981) - +
[REWATCH]

Decent slasher but really can't touch the original in any way. I mean, look, I can watch just about any slasher, especially those from the 80's, and have a good time. Doesn't make a lot of them great cinema. Some of them are, and those are some of my favorite movies of all-time, but Halloween II is a perfect example of an entirely watchable, entertaining turd. It has a lot of problems, but it's not too bad. I realize I've been rating things incredibly high, just been watching a lot of my faves, but is my rating for 'decent', so that's what I give Halloween II. Also, they ruined the mythology with that damn sister revelation.
It does have some good stuff. I love the use of "Mr. Sandman" and the ending is pretty great. I like the concept of having it follow the same night and the fallout of what happens in the first film. It's just, unfortunately, the execution is incredibly underwhelming compared to the masterwork of the first film.
But, in the end, I'd watch this movie over a lot of stuff, maybe even something I'd give a slightly higher rating.
[REWATCH]

Decent slasher but really can't touch the original in any way. I mean, look, I can watch just about any slasher, especially those from the 80's, and have a good time. Doesn't make a lot of them great cinema. Some of them are, and those are some of my favorite movies of all-time, but Halloween II is a perfect example of an entirely watchable, entertaining turd. It has a lot of problems, but it's not too bad. I realize I've been rating things incredibly high, just been watching a lot of my faves, but is my rating for 'decent', so that's what I give Halloween II. Also, they ruined the mythology with that damn sister revelation.
It does have some good stuff. I love the use of "Mr. Sandman" and the ending is pretty great. I like the concept of having it follow the same night and the fallout of what happens in the first film. It's just, unfortunately, the execution is incredibly underwhelming compared to the masterwork of the first film.
But, in the end, I'd watch this movie over a lot of stuff, maybe even something I'd give a slightly higher rating.