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From Amazon.co.uk
It’s been a long time coming, but at last the digitally remastered version of the original 1982 horror movie has arrived. Tobe Hooper, the director of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, teamed up with family-oriented producer Steven Spielberg to make Poltergeist, about a haunted suburban home in a development very much like the Arizona one in which Spielberg was raised. (Because it came out the same summer as Spielberg's E.T., it was tempting to see both movies as representing Spielberg's ambivalent feelings about childhood in suburbia. One was a fantasy, the other a nightmare.) Spielberg also co-wrote the screenplay, which taps into primal, childlike fears of monsters under the bed, monsters in the closet, sinister clown faces, and all manner of things that go bump in the night. At first, some of the odd happenings in the house are kind of funny and amusing, but they grow gradually creepier until the film climaxes in a terrifying special-effects extravaganza when five-year-old Carole Anne (Heather O'Rourke) is kidnapped by the spooks and held hostage in another dimension. Though not nearly as frightening as Hooper's magnum opus, or the original A Nightmare on Elm Street, which came along two years later, Poltergeist is one of the smartest and most entertaining horror pictures of its time. --Jim Emerson
Product Description
Suburbanites Steve (Nelson) and Diane (Williams) suddenly experience paranormal activity in their home. What begins as minor excitement quickly turns into nasty ghostly encounters. The disappearance of their daughter Carol Anne (O’Rourke) forces the Freelings to bring in parapsychologists and a professional exorcist to exorcise their home.
Special features
Two-part documentary "They Are Here: The Real World of Poltergeists Revealed"
Part I: Science of the Spirits
Part II: Communing with the Dead
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
A couple of you guys enquired about the glaring jump cut at the scene where Diane Freeling is describing the sensation of being pulled to the scene at the neighbour's front door. Well this isn't a flaw in the disc. That is in fact a deliberate edit. I have both the original vhs and dvd and it appears there too. The vhs is from 1983 when it was released. I've often wondered why it was cut this way myself but in a strange kinda way it works. Hope this helped.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Apart from the special effects disaster that is "the mirror scene," Poltergeist delivers one of the most effective, engrossing, and eerie presentations in movie history. Who can ever get the ill-fated Heather O'Rourke's "They're here" line or the fantastic performance of the diminutive Zelda Rubenstein as the psychic house "cleaner" Tangina? JoBeth Williams, for her part, turns in a fantastic performance, cementing her position as the emotional center of the story. Heck, everyone involved did a great job with this movie, including the dog. I'm often critical of Tobe Hooper's directing, but there is no doubt that Poltergeist represents his finest directorial work (although rumor has it that producer/co-writer Steven Spielberg did more than his share of the directing job).
I'm not sure why they called this film Poltergeist because the goings-on in the Freeling house go way, way beyond typical poltergeist activity. Things start out small (chair stacking, objects moving on their own, utensils bending on their own), but it doesn't take long for things to get completely out of hand. Initially, though, the stage is set with the typical fears most all of us experienced as children - fear of the dark, the closet, something under the bed, thunder storms, stuffed toys that suddenly become creepy when the lights are out. Fortunately for most of us, those fears are just childish fancies. The same cannot be said for the Freeling children. Unable to go to the police with their story (yes, officer, we think our lost daughter is somewhere in the house and we can still communicate with her through the television from time to time), the Freelings call upon local paranormal researchers for help.... Read more ›
I'm not sure why they called this film Poltergeist because the goings-on in the Freeling house go way, way beyond typical poltergeist activity. Things start out small (chair stacking, objects moving on their own, utensils bending on their own), but it doesn't take long for things to get completely out of hand. Initially, though, the stage is set with the typical fears most all of us experienced as children - fear of the dark, the closet, something under the bed, thunder storms, stuffed toys that suddenly become creepy when the lights are out. Fortunately for most of us, those fears are just childish fancies. The same cannot be said for the Freeling children. Unable to go to the police with their story (yes, officer, we think our lost daughter is somewhere in the house and we can still communicate with her through the television from time to time), the Freelings call upon local paranormal researchers for help.... Read more ›
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Sharky
Format:DVD
Bought this as not seen it for years, and it was every bit as
good as I remembered it, still made me jump in places ;o)
The little actress who plays Carol-Anne is fantastic for someone
so young, if you did'nt see it 1st time round or not old enough
to know it you should definately watch it, I'm sure you wont be
disapointed.
good as I remembered it, still made me jump in places ;o)
The little actress who plays Carol-Anne is fantastic for someone
so young, if you did'nt see it 1st time round or not old enough
to know it you should definately watch it, I'm sure you wont be
disapointed.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is one of the best Bluray transfers i have seen the picture and sound quality are out of this world,i have a copy of the old VHS format video tape. the difference is unbelievable if you like your films in high quality This is a must have Bluray film for your collection. buy it you will not be disappointed
Colin A Buck
Colin A Buck
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
Audio:
I'm not so much a "sound-guy", with a monster amp and large 21:1 booming speakers, so you'll have to go elsewhere if you want to know more about that.
Picture:
As a long-time fan of the movie (and only owning the movie on a region 1 DVD) I had no reservations purchasing this, regardless of the quality. I expected it to be better than the DVD, but I lost my heart, when I saw the picture quality. I was so happy to see, how much care had been taken to present this oldie. This is, BY FAR, my most revered blu ray movie. The movie's effects may have dated, but it was like watching this classic anew... PHENOMENAL picture quality! I can only recommend you buy it.
I'm not so much a "sound-guy", with a monster amp and large 21:1 booming speakers, so you'll have to go elsewhere if you want to know more about that.
Picture:
As a long-time fan of the movie (and only owning the movie on a region 1 DVD) I had no reservations purchasing this, regardless of the quality. I expected it to be better than the DVD, but I lost my heart, when I saw the picture quality. I was so happy to see, how much care had been taken to present this oldie. This is, BY FAR, my most revered blu ray movie. The movie's effects may have dated, but it was like watching this classic anew... PHENOMENAL picture quality! I can only recommend you buy it.
54 of 65 people found the following review helpful
By Wayne
Format:DVD
Whilst Poltergeist is probably one of my favourite films ever, I am rating this as a "Special Edition" DVD.
I looked forward to this, and what do we get for a 25th Anniversary edition. A documentary. Thats it. No extras about the film. No commentary. No cast interviews. No trailers, nothing. 25 years they've had to come up with this DVD. And all we get is a documentary about Poltergeists. There's one of these shown every day on Sky!
I think they are pushing it a bit far to call this a special edition.
If you want it for the film alone, then I cannot name a better thriller/horror than this. Fantasic film. 5 out of 5. But this package. A total and utter letdown.
I looked forward to this, and what do we get for a 25th Anniversary edition. A documentary. Thats it. No extras about the film. No commentary. No cast interviews. No trailers, nothing. 25 years they've had to come up with this DVD. And all we get is a documentary about Poltergeists. There's one of these shown every day on Sky!
I think they are pushing it a bit far to call this a special edition.
If you want it for the film alone, then I cannot name a better thriller/horror than this. Fantasic film. 5 out of 5. But this package. A total and utter letdown.
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Poltergeist is a fantastic film, I didn't know anyone who disliked this film so I thought I would buy it and I must say that everyone was right, this film is amazing.
The film focuses on the Freeling family, who's youngest daughter Carol Anne (Heather O'Rourke) is transported through a spectral void by a angry poltergeist. The family calls 3 supernatural investigators to see if they can pinpoint where Carol Anne is. When the investigators come up with nothing, things take a really eeire turn.
Poltergeist has great special effects for an early 80's film and they look surprisingly realistic and several moments made me jump out of my skin, that clown scared the hell out of me!
This is a 25th anniversary edition so I was expecting some extras about the film but there is only a 2 part documentary but this didn't bother me as I get DVD's for the film only but if you like lots of extras, then you may want to get a different version but the film is fantastic and when a film is this good, extras don't matter.
If you're looking for a film that has an eerie feel to it and keeps you guessing whats going to happen, get Poltergeist.
The film focuses on the Freeling family, who's youngest daughter Carol Anne (Heather O'Rourke) is transported through a spectral void by a angry poltergeist. The family calls 3 supernatural investigators to see if they can pinpoint where Carol Anne is. When the investigators come up with nothing, things take a really eeire turn.
Poltergeist has great special effects for an early 80's film and they look surprisingly realistic and several moments made me jump out of my skin, that clown scared the hell out of me!
This is a 25th anniversary edition so I was expecting some extras about the film but there is only a 2 part documentary but this didn't bother me as I get DVD's for the film only but if you like lots of extras, then you may want to get a different version but the film is fantastic and when a film is this good, extras don't matter.
If you're looking for a film that has an eerie feel to it and keeps you guessing whats going to happen, get Poltergeist.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Poltergeist
I have given this product 5 stars because it is the first and the best of the classic 'Poltergeist' movie trilogy. If you haven't seen it you should! Need I say more! Thank you.
Published 28 days ago by Dream Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars
A Spielberg movie by any other name..
Steven Spielberg directed two films in 1982 - E.T. was one, this was the other. A controversial statement, given that Spielberg officially only produced the film - Tobe Hooper, of... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Anorakus
4.0 out of 5 stars
ITS OK
I REOMEND IF BYING THIS TO BY THEM ALL AN D PUT TO GETHER HAS BOXSET WITH OTHERS CIRATED ALL OF THEES FILMS OK
Published 1 month ago by shayne
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Film
I am a fan of ghost films and had wanted to buy this film for a long time.
I like the film and have nothing bad to say about it so I can't give anything to dislike about... Read more
I like the film and have nothing bad to say about it so I can't give anything to dislike about... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Andrew Berry
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Classic Supernatural Horror!!
This is a classic scary movie about a little girl getting sucked into a television screen and the family hiring a psychic to help get her back!!! Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mr. Joel S. Greenhalgh
5.0 out of 5 stars
top film!
the number 1 top 10 of horror/ eage of your seat films that was ever made! iave seen this now about 12 times and sill love it!
Published 2 months ago by john oakes
3.0 out of 5 stars
We know it as the beast.
The Freeling family are happy and functioning perfectly well until one night their youngest daughter announces that thru the TV, the supernatural are here! Read more
Published 2 months ago by Spike Owen
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Horror Classic, That Involves All Characters- Just Imagine
Poltergeist can now be regarded as a genuine horror classic. It's ingrained not just in horror cinema but in cinema itself. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Colonel Decker
5.0 out of 5 stars
a great gift
bought this for a friend as its not my kind of thing and was glad i did,im still being told what a great gift it was months later.
Published 3 months ago by fleur brandrick
4.0 out of 5 stars
Dated but so is good wine.
Spielberg's Poltergeist is still entertaining although a little bit dated now. The raspberry special effects at one point are almost comical but you are on the side of the story so... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Ian Johnson
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