I just saw all four Phantasm movies back-to-back

I only saw the first before my marathon. My reviews...

Phantasm I: 4 stars

Classic horror movie. This is the forth time I have seen it. Every time right to the end, I am not sure what is going on. I am glad I saw it originally when I was 12.

Phantasm II: 3.5 stars

Surprisingly good. It moves the plot forward, and it was a lot of fun. It was obviously influenced by Evil Dead 2. I had to double-check the release dates, and it was released the year after Evil Dead 2. Highly recommended double feature with the first movie.

Phantasm III: 2.5 stars

Some bad things in this one. A few good scenes, but plenty of ones that made my eyes roll. The flying spheres are sort-of-explained. Film looks cheap compared to the first two. Some ridiculous new characters. A big step down from the first two.

Phantasm IV: 1.5 stars

Just bad. Not much to like. Cheap sets. The movie was low-budget. Some new twists to the story arc. Old twists never explained.

Phantasm V: ??

Coming out next year. I am refusing to look at the trailer. I am glad they are able to wrap up the series.

 

Not a big fan of this series, though I can enjoy the original somewhat because it has something of an Italian Giallo look to it. And I can take Part 2 okay... but they got worse as they went along.

PANTASM IV: OBLIVION holds the dishonors for me of being one of the worst film I have ever seen, literally (and I've seen a lot of films). I recall it being a muddled, confusing mess.

 

A favorite series of mine. Love them all. Can't wait for V.

 

Boyyyyyy!
3 is my favorite.

 

No Blu-ray of I ? !

 

Any news of Blu-ray of I ?

 

I had no idea they made more than two!

 

http://www.blu-ray.com/

Go here and sign up. If there is a film that's not out on blu ray, you can put in your email address for that title and you will be alerted via email when there's a release date.

 

Bumping this thread...

Fans here probably know that JJ Abrams/Bad Robot created 4K Restoration and this is being shown at SXSW this week.

I'm sure a nice Bluray will come soon from all this, just gotta wait.

But I'm gonna be watching the series again tonight. I just finished another listening of the Mondo reissue soundtrack, and if anyone is still looking for a copy, the rarest at 199 made are still available over at the phactory

 

I love this franchise as a horror fan. It's been underrated for years.

 

It`s only a dream!....NO it`s not.

 

My dream car...

 

That is such a nice car...and I'm not even a car guy.

 

..and you survived!

 

One of my first studios after leaving Dawnbreaker did the soundtrack for the first Phantasm. Unfortunately for me, that meant I was subjected to watching it and I had a very hard time watching that flying machine that latched on to people's heads and drilled into them as their blood drained out. I never could watch horror movies. Kind of sad in a way because one of my friends is a well known horror film director and I can't watch his movies.

For those that are interested, the soundtrack was recorded on an old UREI tube console, which I was hired to remove and replace with a more modern board. I urged against installing the new board as I knew it wouldn't sound very good. None the less, he had me install it, and before you know it he discovered all the weakness in that board for himself.

It was an expensive exercise but as a result I had gained his ultimate trust. A few months later I had convinced him to buy an Amek M3000 which was an excellent sounding console. We flew to England to check it out before purchasing it and that was an awesome experience. He ended up with world class gear and his sound output improved considerably, which after all was our goal.

Btw, I sold his UREI tube board to Neil Sinclair who would later form Theta Corporation. I have no idea what he did with it.

Also I believe Phantasm was his first soundtrack. He did some record production before becoming a very successful soundtrack producer with hundreds of credits.

 

Boy!!!!!

 

Doug, I was told years ago that the soundtrack had some great bottom end effects. Am I misremembering this?

 

I can't remember much of what it sounded like. That tube console didn't sound bad at all, but it sure did heat up the small control room.

Paul was a pretty clever producer so it surely could have sounded like that.

 

Love the soundtrack, wish it would get a reissue on vinyl.

 

It did

 

Yep...Mondo has a few various colored pressings out.

Phantasm Blood-Stained Yellow Vinyl Album »

This link has the one limited to 199, the least I've seen.

 

I worked at the house the first one was filmed many years ago one summer

 

Interesting article on the restoration and some of the changes made.

SXSW: Director Don Coscarelli Discusses J.J. Abrams’ PHANTASM Restoration | Nerdist »

 

What happened to the original Phantasm 'Cuda?

the PHANTASM ARCHIVES!: Mystery of the Vanished Phantasm Cuda SOLVED!!! »