"Halloween" wasn't the first slasher movie, but it was the first to popularize the genre, featuring all of the plot points that have become a mainstay since. It tells the story of Michael Myers,
who killed his older sister on October 31, 1963, and after escaping a mental institution, returns to Haddonfield on the 15th anniversary of his sister's death to kill again. Dr. Sam Loomis, played by Donald Pleasance, works to stop his plan,
which intersects with babysitter Laurie Strode, played by Jamie Lee Curtis.
What might surprise contemporary audiences is the lack of gore in this movie. It's minimalist in every sense of the word, with a simple yet haunting piano soundtrack, a shoestring budget, and no motivation for the killer. It's this minimalism that makes
it so memorable - Laurie is a teenager missing out on Halloween fun, suddenly confined to her house when an evil she doesn't understand confronts her. Rather than concealing the identity of the killer, like in "Black Christmas", Michael Myers is shown following
our protagonist, creating a sense of slow-building anticipation. "Halloween" was a breakthrough for Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasance, and John Carpenter, expanding the concept of a holiday movie, with an unprecedented atmosphere. While some have criticized the film for pioneering
the phenomenon of murder after a sex scene, the reason it's so unsettling is because it plays on preconceived notions of sexuality. This movie knows what scares audiences, and has come to be the gold standard for horror cinema.
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Grade: A
Directly picking up where the original left off, "Halloween II" follows Michael Myers in his continued rampage on Halloween night, with Laurie Strode confined to a local hospital after surviving the events of the first film. When Sam Loomis continues his pursuit
of the killer, he is misdirected, causing disbelief from the police.
While Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasance again bring their iconic performances to their respective roles, Laurie Strode is injured for most of the movie, reducing her presence. The deaths are also more brutal this time around, as if the franchise was trying to compete with
"Friday the 13th". While "Halloween II" is not on par with the original, it at least feels like a proper continuation, something the series would later struggle with.
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Grade: B
This third entry in the series has nothing to do with the first two. John Carpenter thought "Halloween" would work well as an anthology series, where different aspects of fear were explored in spirit of the holiday.
This time, a company called Silver Shamrock makes popular monster masks, but something strange is happening within the company. Dr. Dan Challis is sent to investigate in a small town of Irish immigrants, which is structured like a pagan cult. They find
that the masks are made with a dangerous agenda for the children trick-or-treating.
The reveal of how the masks are dangerous is pretty far-fetched, but the movie deserves credit for trying something new, as well as pushing the envelope - a child character gets killed onscreen. Dan Challis is not particularly likeable as a character, falling for a much younger love interest, but Silver Shamrock's hypnotic TV special is legitimately creepy. While "Halloween III" had a negative reaction from both critics and audiences in 1982,
that was because they went in expecting another slasher. This is not that - it's a science fiction folk horror film. But it succeeds at what it tries to do, and it would have been interesting if the franchise went in the direction Carpenter intended.
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Grade: B-
Harry's second year at Hogwarts improves upon the CGI and acting of the first, but the pacing is just as slow, and this time, Hogwarts feels familiar. After ignoring Dobby, who warns him that Hogwarts is dangerous, Harry once again
escapes his nasty aunt and uncle, finding a message written in blood that the Chamber of Secrets has been opened. After Hogwarts students are mysteriously paralyzed, he explores the underbelly of the school, where he learns the backstory of
Lord Voldemort.
While there is more danger this time around, with flying cars, giant spiders, and a vicious Basilisk, this is one of the middling entries in the series. Aside from the improved CGI, the visual style is unchanged, and while much is learned about the characters,
the movie feels less like an event and more like a stopgap. Still, this is a technically superior film to "Sorcerer's Stone", with the very first hints that the series is going to grow up with the characters.
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Grade: B+
Harry's fourth year at Hogwarts is where the series reaches its breaking point, and the illusion of safety is shattered. Harry attends the Quidditch World Cup with his friends, where they witness a sudden attack by Death Eaters, who work for Lord Voldemort.
That year, the school is hosting the Triwizard Tournament, in which three wizards aged 17 or older are chosen from the Goblet of Fire. Mysteriously, a fourth name is drawn - Harry Potter, even though he is 14. He faces accusations that he wants attention, but someone else
put his name in.
The magic of the Goblet of Fire is binding, meaning that Harry is obligated to participate in three deadly competitions. These competitions make this entry in the series feel like an event, something missing from the previous two. The movie also feels like the series reaching adolescence.
There is teen drama, and Dumbledore has his hands tied, no longer able to protect Harry from the danger that is sweeping Hogwarts. This danger eventually culminates in the return of Lord Voldemort in physical form. Now might be a good time to mention that the film is the first in the series to
be rated PG-13, and as such, the action and creepy visuals don't stop there - they have lasting impact.
Of all the "Harry Potter" movies, this one is my favorite, because it forces Harry to see the cracks in the Wizarding World that bewildered him as a child. Loss of innocence is a central theme, something that universally resonates. But the movie somehow manages to be fun, with thrilling
action sequences that make you excited for the new Harry, rather than mourning the old one. "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" is an outstanding adventure.
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Grade: A
What is immediately strange about this installment is that it goes back to rated PG. Usually, when a franchise takes a darker turn, it doesn't go back. So what happened? I consider this "Harry Potter" installment to be the calm before the storm. Voldemort poses an escalating threat, but time is taken by the characters to enjoy their time at Hogwarts while they still can. Romances are formed, potions are won, and Quidditch is played.
Aside from that, Harry receives a used Potions textbook that was once property of the mysterious Half-Blood Prince, leading to key discoveries of what Voldemort is doing to tighten his grip on the Wizarding World. He learns of Horcruxes, soul fragments the dark lord can use to achieve immortality, while a team of Death Eaters is being assembled to close in on our heroes.
What bothered me about "Prisoner of Azkaban" was that Voldemort wasn't in it. He isn't directly shown in this one either, but at least he has bearing on the story. Although the movie pushes the PG rating as far as it can go, it has the distinction of balancing the bleak plot with more comedic elements, which is a good thing, since there isn't much action, and the lighter elements keep it from feeling generic. "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"
is another decent entry in the series, but feels like setup for something more exciting.
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Grade: B
While this is considered one of the weaker "Harry Potter" films, I really like the story behind it, even if a lot was cut out for an audience-friendly runtime. It follows Harry and his friends as the Ministry of Magic reacts to Voldemort's return by appointing
Dolores Umbridge to Hogwarts. She spreads misinformation about the murder that took place at the Triwizard Tournament, and forbids any magic that is useful against the dark lord. Harry reacts to this denial by forming Dumbledore's Army, an alliance committed to stopping the threat
that Hogwarts is forced to ignore.
What stands out about this entry is its theme of inconvenient truths being masked by those in positions of power. The action sequences are just as dark as in "Goblet of Fire", but now that we know Voldemort is back, the shock is gone. The CGI is also a step down from previous entries - when a Howler is sent to
Harry, it looks worse than in 2002's "Chamber of Secrets". Even so, I enjoy this installment, because it exposes the inner workings of the Wizarding World. "Order of the Phoenix" isn't the best of the series, but it effectively continues Harry's character arc.
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Grade: B+
Chis Columbus was replaced with Alfonso Cuaron for directing Harry's third year, bringing some notable changes. The pacing is tighter, and the visuals are more twisted and less colorful, in order to reflect that Harry's
journey is becoming more dangerous. So why is this my least favorite thus far?
It could be that it's based on a novel where Lord Voldemort poses no direct threat. While oozing with creepy Dementors, the lack of Voldemort, in physical or spiritual form, makes the story feel lower-stakes. Harry hears of
a murderer who has escaped Azkaban Prison, allegedly bearing a connection to the Dark Lord. But this "murderer" has a closer connection to Harry than he thinks.
While this movie foreshadows the presence of the Death Eaters, and introduces new forms of magic, such as a Time Turner, it feels like even more of a stopgap than the previous one. Still, the acting is on-point, and it's worth seeing this
one to get to the next.
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Grade: B-
While a huge success in 2001, the first "Harry Potter" adaptation has retrospectively been viewed as one of the weaker installments. While the complaints are valid, they don't change what was done really well.
Harry Potter lives with his mean extended family, until he receives a letter from Hogwarts, at which point he slowly learns that he is legendary in the Wizarding World for surviving an attack from Lord Voldemort.
His first year at Hogwarts is a time of wonder, but Lord Voldemort is rumored to still exist in spiritual form.
The novel was only 309 pages, but translated to over two and a half hours. While certainly slower-paced than the later entries, you really get to soak in the atmosphere of Hogwarts. The CGI effects haven't aged well,
but the set design, direction, and makeup effects easily compensate. The acting feels a bit stilted, but when you take into account that these are children with little to no experience, that argument loses its power.
"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" is a remarkably faithful adaptation, with almost everything left intact, and it has something the series could never recapture again, which is the discovery of magic. While not perfect,
its world-building started a global phenomenon.
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Grade: A-
"Highlander" is far from the best fantasy film, but with a bad-ass Queen soundtrack, Sean Connery playing an Egyptian, and sword fights in modern-day New York, it has plenty of cult appeal.
An immortal man who has lived through many ages prepares for the Gathering, which takes place in 1985. It is here that only one immortal man can stand, and the other must be killed in the only way possible -
by decapitation.
While Sean Connery and the villain bring memorable performances, the protagonist is a blank slate, largely because he drifts here and there, given no clear narrative structure. Still, this movie is worth watching
for its stylish action, and had impact on popular culture. There can be only one!
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Grade: B-
"Hudson Hawk" won the Worst Picture Razzie in 1992. While it's not a good movie, the worst movie of the year? I think not. It stars Bruce Willis as a recently released prisoner who goes back to cat burgulary.
After being blackmailed by an evil corporation, he and his buddy fight against their plot to steal Leonardo da Vinci's artwork to build a machine that turns lead into gold.
Because it stars Bruce Willis, fans were expecting another "Die Hard", and the marketing leaned into that expectation. That's not at all what this is. The action is more similar to "The Three Stooges", and Bing Crosby's
"Swingin' on a Star" is prominently featured. My main issue is that the corporation's henchmen have no contrast outside of being named after different candy bars. This makes the comedic elements feel dulled. Still, "Hudson Hawk"
is certainly better than the Razzies gave it credit for.
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Grade: C
Proving to be the biggest film adaptation since "Harry Potter", "The Hunger Games" takes place in a dystopian society, where one girl and one boy from each district, between the age of 12 and 18,
is drafted into a game show where the adolescents fight each other to the death. When 12-year-old Primrose Everdeen is selected, her older sister Katniss volunteers instead.
The fights take place in a simulated environment, where there are hazards such as genetically modified wasps. The contestants come up with many clever ways to avoid danger, such as mastering the art of makeup in order
to blend in with the foliage. But as the number of participants goes down, Katniss learns how to manipulate the system that the Capitol stacked against her and her fellow youth.
What is striking about this movie is the juxtaposition of media sensationalism and violence that doesn't need to happen, but that older authority figures are entertained by because it doesn't affect them. Much like in
"Harry Potter", there is immaculate world-building, but "The Hunger Games" stands on its own, taking inspiration from 70's dystopian movies, as well as contemporary action. The acting is excellent, and many memorable characters are introduced,
such as a booze-swigging advisor and a spokeswoman who seemingly pretends it's all just a game. The only flaw of the movie would have to be the use of shaky-cam in the action scenes. Done to make the bloody impact harder to see, it also makes everything else
harder to see. I know that a PG-13 rating is essential for attracting the target demographic, but "The Hunger Games" is stylized, and as such, it doesn't need the blood or the shaky-cam. While later entries would address this issue,
this one is still my favorite, because it feels the freshest. "The Hunger Games" is an inviting beginning to a franchise that would be milked to death.
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Grade: A-