The_Noble_Cause wrote:verslibre wrote:The_Noble_Cause wrote:steveo777 wrote:Phantasm I and II work for me.

The first Phantasm is scary. The rest are pure cheese.
The second film is a very solid sequel.
Phantasm III totally sucked.
Phantasm IV nearly undid all the damage the third film did, and it was cool to see the return of Bill Thornbury (Jody).
I think Phantasm 1 is very much one of a kind. It follows a surreal nightmarish dream logic. The second one is a bad action/road movie, with none of the mystique of the first one. The third is balls-to-the-wall camp and slapstick. Say what you will, but at least it confidently commits to being goofy. The fourth is just a boring cheap clip show. Not even much of a movie. Sad really. Tarantino's bud, Roger Avary, wrote a cool script called Phatasm 1999 back in the day. I think Bruce Campbell was even attached. But Coscarelli could never secure financing. Hopefully, we'll get a part 5 at some point.
I agree with regard to the first movie as a standalone film save that Cosc wasn't done exploring (exploiting) the story he'd concocted.
For a movie that came a decade later, the first sequel is pretty solid and could've been a James Cameron-styled kitschy clusterfuck, but it evaded that. The new spheres were cool, too.
The third movie is a perfect example of a creator who doesn't know where his own story is going, or what to do with it. He introduces new characters and throws shit into the pot and gives it a quick stir. Reggie Bannister looks lost throughout the film.
Honestly, I'm glad
Phantasm 1999 never happened. It would've been a more horror-action type film than
Phantasm II. I can't believe
Evil Dead has gotten the reboot treatment. It was already a retooled production of a late '70s short film by Raimi. I bet the new version will be a predictable, CG FX-laden bore.
If Don wants to leave his concept alone, that's okay. I doubt he could even get a final film financed through Kickstarter at this point, and I don't want to see a
Phantasm movie with the budget and effects of a craptacular SyFy / Asylum joint feature.