Nice burn on Gav Raney. It's a team photo of a hockey player. There is a great video about it in the hockey thread. Long story. I wanted to take the time to say that your review of Phantasm II was poetry. You hit the nail on the head. It really is unbeatable. As for the sequels though, while I have never seen part 3 (can never find it used or to rent and I am too cheap to buy it) I must disagree with you concerning part IV. I loved it. True, it is no original or Part II, but what could be? Aside from that, the effects were pretty high quality, it has all of the original cast members, and they work in the old scenes as part of the story. I thought that part of it was awesome. The original Phantasm DVD has deleted scenes but did not include those, so I was shocked to see them in part IV. I highly recommend that you give part IV another shot. How can you go wrong with the Tall Man, druids, and Reggie?
And seriously, Phantasm II not being on DVD is a crime against humanity.
Couldn't have said it better myself. Phantasm II is my co-favorite horror movie of all time with The Shining (not The Shinin', since we don't mind being sued!). While the original Phatasm is an awesome movie with a pretty original story and some pretty good special effects. What it doesn't lack is a ****in scary villain and, as mentioned, a badass ponytailed ice cream truck drivin hero, Reggie. Granted, the kid in the movie is a little bitch, as evident in the scenes where he's riding his dirtbike through the cemetary (who does something like that? Was that acceptable practice in the 70's?). However, Reggie transcends.
The sequel, Phantasm II, is clearly better than the original. But, like Rad, it has never been released on dvd for some crazy and ****-stained reason. (Sidenote: I got a copy of Rad on dvd, and even though its a copy off of a VHS, its pretty good, plus, I have a copy of Rad on dvd and you dont. So suck me beautiful!) This movie is truly a gem! As Pocaroba has already described, this movie is the official unveiling of the ass kickin machine known as Reggie's 4-barrelled shotgun. Also, Mike has a pretty sweet suped-up flame thrower that even an early 90's Tim Allen would be proud of (more power!). The special effects are significantly better as the metal balls really come into their own causing massive devastation to those who enter the masoleum. Also, the druids have a more prominent role and the overall quality of the camera work is superior to the original. I highly highly highly recommend this film. Plus, you really can even skip watching the first one and go right to Phantasm II. Although, you'll just want to watch it after anyway as you find yourself completely blown away by part 2.
Phantasm III was a step down from the second installment. Truthfully, its been quite awhile since I saw this one, but I remember it being a disappointment as compared to its predecessor. Phantasm IV isn't even worth watching. It's really stupid and is riddled with clips from the other movies. It is clear at this point, that the Phantasm titty has stopped lactating and we should all move on to other franchises.
By the way, Pocaroba, is that a mugshot of Gav Raney you're reppin? Kinda looks like him...
If you have never seen "Phantasm" and "Phantasm II" then you are missing out on awesome-ness. There is no better villain than The Tall Man and these films rise above the standard horror movie plots and cliches. The first, made in the late 70s, finds a young boy stumbling upon strange thing happening at a funeral home. The second, made 10 years later, continues the boy's journey to defeat The Tall Man. The feel of the films is somewhat different, as there seems to be no definitive timeline. Things are rarely explained, which is a rarity in horror films. What really holds this series (there are 4) together is not necessarily the The Tall Man or the boy, but the greatest horror hero of them all, Reggie. Drainberg will feel me on this one. Reggie used to be an ice cream man. He is bald. He has a ponytail. Now he has a 4-barreled shotgun and spends his life in search of The Tall Man and his two friends. Witness Reggie at his finest in arguably one of the greatest horror films of all time, the yet to be released on DVD "Phantasm II."
