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My lowdown: 7 out of 10
Pros: Exposition- Not just obtrusive exposition, but exposition that has some good acting, some shocking scenes and some visuals that are hard to forget. I think Sheri Moon proves her mettle as an actress with her role as Michael's mother. Capturing the totemic cultural fixation on the mask is also a plus.
Malcolm Mc Dowell- Not Donald Pleasence, but capable, flawed and even more out of his element than the original Loomis. Loomis is no action hero. He's a doctor who has bitten off more than he can chew, and this Loomis personifies that quite ably.
Better teenagers-In the original Jamie Lee looks like she could use a little Prozac in her coffee. She's a sad caricature who cadaverously shuffles through her day. Scout Taylor Compton plays a lively, intelligent, three dimensional young woman who elicits plenty of sympathy. Annie and Lynda also benefit from a little more filling out.
Good first and third acts with some bold choices made.
Cons: Overstimulation/amped up gore- It's Rob Zombie and he barely holds back the Zombie touch. It is a loud, gritty, nerve racking film. It could stand to be less so. Zombie tries to transgress where Carpenter tried to impress. This is made for the Red Bull generation and it shows. The original Halloween was a horror movie you could watch on basic cable with a child or younger sibling, but this lacks that potential. Zombie's lack of restraint challenges the movie's chance of being something iconic. Some of these kills just don't need to happen.
Michael's hugeness- Unless Hiroshima has just come your way, huge isn't scary. The decision to remove the mystique of the Shape and replace it with meer hulking size was not that smart of a decision. It marrs certain scenes, but doesn't always get in the way.
Remember that this movie comes as a reboot and a remake and replaced the prospect of a Halloween 9. Zombie didn't have to be better than Carpenter, just better than Halloween 9. And this was better than a Halloween 9 would have been.
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