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	Vol.7, No 35, October 28, 1999
	Video picks feature 'Halloween' Halloween weekend is here, and all around will be parties and trick-or-treaters and toliet paper wars. I don't expect too many to be watching movies this weekend, but for those who do, the quintessential movie of the season is John Carpenter's "Halloween."   Don Weberg It's hard to believe that "Halloween" was nearly a flop when it was first released for general audience previews.  Most of the comment cards came back with negative remarks about the fear factor. The trouble was fixed when Carpenter composed and installed the famous "Halloween" theme music. Carpenter released it a second time and the comment cards came back with remarks like, 'scariest I've ever seen.' While many consider the original to be the best, I disagree. "Halloween" had absolutely no problem scaring the hell out of virtually anyone, but "Halloween II" was even more sinister. Donald Pleasance and Jamie Lee Curtis team up once again in number two for the battle of their lives against the elusive and seemingly indestructible villain, Michael Myers. What makes the sequel better than the original, or any of the others save for the latest "Halloween H2O," is the fact that it was better written, acted and the set of a closed hospital was more intimidating. Hearts race while Curtis tries her best to get away from the escaped mental patient, but the question of success on her part rages on and on until the climactic end. Pleasance plays the good doctor and hero, as usual, helping Curtis the whole way through. While "Halloween II" holds the title of best of the "Halloween" series, "Halloween III: Season of the Witch" often goes totally unnoticed. Unfortunately referred to as 'the bastard child of the series,' number three has nothing to do with Myers. That's why it falls short. But really, it doesn't fall short. The movie is very scary despite the lack of Myers. Three is more of a science-fiction picture than a horror as it involves the take over of the world through the children by using Halloween masks.  See what I mean?  Even the plot sounds cheesy.  But, when the music sets in and the action starts and the hypnotic use of electronic media goes to work, it's the horror of the sci-fi pictures. Really though, it's hard to go wrong with any of the "Halloween" series.  The cast is always well done and the music is incredible.  In all of them, aside from number three, Pleasance does an incredible job and Curtis (only in four of the series) did so well she was typecast as 'the scream queen' in the '70s.  Ironically though, most of the "Halloween" movies were made in the 1980s. The answer for the trivia question from last week, how long did it take John Carpenter to write the original "Halloween," was two weeks. The answer to the bonus question: Who helped him write it, is Debra Hill. This week's question, the last of the horror movie questions. In 1984's "Return of the Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" saw the introduction of one of today's hottest, male TV stars: Who is it?		Volunteer service stressed at fair   Students bring life to 'Day of the Dead' on campus   Chemical alarms officials   CSULB science professors awarded research grant   Nursing department to take over O.C. clinic   CSULB mentors help create difference   L.B. teacher inspires students, wins award   Long Beach Airport to offer flights to Las Vegas Gray strikes out   Faculty unions help all employees   Deaf drivers should not lose privilege to drive Alumna creates old-style treats   Scary tales drift through campus   Video picks feature 'Halloween'   Movie pleases despite problems Volleyball team welcomes foes behind orange curtain   Runners hope to advance past conference finals   One coach's loss creates another's opportunity   Soccer team's last hurrah Fall 99 ISSUES DAILY 49ER HOMEPAGE
Forty-Niner Publications, Department of Journalism, California State University, Long Beach ©1999 All rights reserved.