(A.K.A. Non-Original Rants)
–Co-opting good stuff from all over the ‘Net and maybe some original thoughts—ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Fear not, she said ironically, there will be a meme drop tomorrow. But just had to do a Halloween movie today.
And yes, today’s scary movie is Poltergeist. What brought this one to mind is the fact that my upstairs neighbor is going to bed with his TV on and his surround-sound system’s subwoofer using my bedroom as a speaker box. (Yes, it’s being taken care of).
After watching this movie as a kid, I always turn the TV off, even when taking a nap.
This was a truly good flick, well made, well paced – enough “scares” for the genre buffs but a solid movie as well. Spielberg could write and Tobe Hooper was a perfect choice as director.
LikeLike
For a short time in the mid 1990's, I had a Sony Trinitron console tv of the exact same model as the one in the movie, as was given to me by a family friend. Only realized it was the very same model after catching a rerun of the movie on that very TV one weekend. About 6 months later, it experienced a spectacular CRT failure right after powering it up late one night, resulting in lots of weird noises and random colors and lights on the screen until it shut off. That damn thing weighed 175 pounds easy, and I cussed having to get it out of the house for disposal. Anyway, Poltergeist was scary as hell when I was a kid. Think I found Amityville Horror more disturbing though, as it was ostensibly a true story, even with the cheese factory of that movie, (though since debunked). Besides, 70's horror was always grittier and darker than the 80's stuff.
LikeLike
Texas Dan–It definitely had all of the things to make a good flick. I was torn between this one and The Changling with George C Scott. Both are really good in very different ways.Big Ruckus D–Yeah–it would have had to go right out the door!! Amityville Horror was really dark but it was during the 'evil wins' Hollywood movie era.
LikeLike
Good flick. Been awhile since I have watched it.
LikeLike
Never build or buy a house on an old Indian graveyard. Still true today as it was then.
LikeLike
I just wanna know how the chair-stacking scene was done.
LikeLike
Eddie Murphy (from back when he was funny) did great skit about Poltergeist (plenty of bad language as expected): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azCCWPcjkJo
LikeLike
I have to think that the chairs were pre-arranged and fastened together, then carried quickly into the kitchen set (off camera) as a complete unit. If you watch that scene closely on DVD or Blu-ray, you can kind of see a reflection of the crew placing it while JoBeth Williams has her back to the kitchen, standing at the counter before turning around and being startled to see it. Was 1981, so practical effects were still king, and CGI was still expensive, bleeding edge stuff.
LikeLike
Craig–Old school special effects are best!Gerry–Agree wholeheartedly!rick–Agree and I think BRD has the truth of it. And I think it was more effective than any CGI would be.MrLiberty–My favorite old school skit was Richard Pryor doing a take-off on the Exorcist but that one is great as well!
LikeLike
This was a truly good flick, well made, well paced – enough “scares” for the genre buffs but a solid movie as well. Spielberg could write and Tobe Hooper was a perfect choice as director.
LikeLike
For a short time in the mid 1990's, I had a Sony Trinitron console tv of the exact same model as the one in the movie, as was given to me by a family friend. Only realized it was the very same model after catching a rerun of the movie on that very TV one weekend. About 6 months later, it experienced a spectacular CRT failure right after powering it up late one night, resulting in lots of weird noises and random colors and lights on the screen until it shut off. That damn thing weighed 175 pounds easy, and I cussed having to get it out of the house for disposal. Anyway, Poltergeist was scary as hell when I was a kid. Think I found Amityville Horror more disturbing though, as it was ostensibly a true story, even with the cheese factory of that movie, (though since debunked). Besides, 70's horror was always grittier and darker than the 80's stuff.
LikeLike
Texas Dan–It definitely had all of the things to make a good flick. I was torn between this one and The Changling with George C Scott. Both are really good in very different ways.Big Ruckus D–Yeah–it would have had to go right out the door!! Amityville Horror was really dark but it was during the 'evil wins' Hollywood movie era.
LikeLike
Good flick. Been awhile since I have watched it.
LikeLike
Never build or buy a house on an old Indian graveyard. Still true today as it was then.
LikeLike
I just wanna know how the chair-stacking scene was done.
LikeLike
Eddie Murphy (from back when he was funny) did great skit about Poltergeist (plenty of bad language as expected): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azCCWPcjkJo
LikeLike
I have to think that the chairs were pre-arranged and fastened together, then carried quickly into the kitchen set (off camera) as a complete unit. If you watch that scene closely on DVD or Blu-ray, you can kind of see a reflection of the crew placing it while JoBeth Williams has her back to the kitchen, standing at the counter before turning around and being startled to see it. Was 1981, so practical effects were still king, and CGI was still expensive, bleeding edge stuff.
LikeLike
Craig–Old school special effects are best!Gerry–Agree wholeheartedly!rick–Agree and I think BRD has the truth of it. And I think it was more effective than any CGI would be.MrLiberty–My favorite old school skit was Richard Pryor doing a take-off on the Exorcist but that one is great as well!
LikeLike
Midwest Chick's Place 
Leave a Reply to Anonymous Cancel reply