ON THE MIKE
Idon’t see why people are criticising the new Halloween movie. Fair enough, it’s a bit formulaic. But there’s plenty of thrills and excitement, so why
change a formula if it’s successful? The only worry is if the franchise goes too far and we see Jamie Lee Curtis in 30 years’ time trying to dodge Michael Myers in her Zimmer frame. STEPHEN MCCARTHY, GLASGOW
Ithought the new Halloween was slick, stylish and a great homage to the original. But in your review you say “it’s not a classic”. This got me thinking, is anything a classic anymore? With all the content available on streaming services, do we go back and watch things over again in this day and age? Being a 37-year-old man, I’m used to re-watching ’70s, ’80s and possibly some ’90s stuff, but generally today’s Netflix and multiplex fare are immediately consumed and forgotten about. Gone are the days where something would become a classic for 40 or 50 years (aside from the ones that already are, obvs). Thoughts? DOMINIC SPEIGHT, BELFAST We may possibly have reached consumption saturation, but there are still those gems whose longevity we’re willing to bet on (especially if we don’t have to pay out for half a century). As for what makes a classic, that’s the big question – one that has damaged friendships (and the odd weaponised magazine binder) here at TF. We maintain that the new Halloween doesn’t fit the bill, but we’d queue to see Curtis mix it up with Myers even if we were on our deathbed (that’s got to fall under ‘concessions’, right?).
LIGHTING UP
The letter in TF278 about characters lighting fires with conveniently pocketed lighters reminded me of all the times in films when someone’s standing in total darkness… and with the flick of a Zippo is able to illuminate the room as if they had a friggin’ floodlight! OWEN HOLLIFIELD, BARGOED
The ‘lighters’ letter got me thinking about another movie/TV quirk: the quick pop-in. After travelling miles and possibly hours, characters seem content to walk into a friend/lover/ relative’s house, exchange a few heated words and storm out. I don’t care how angry I am, if I’ve taken three hours to get to your house, I’m having a cuppa and a Hobnob. Even while confronting
you about sleeping with my boss/sister/doctor. PHILIP DANIEL, VIA EMAIL
And there’s the whole thing where people on the phone never seem to say ‘hello’ or ‘good-’… hang on – are you saying your boss/sister/doc are the same person? If so, you need to see a therapist (non-family member) and/or sell your life story to the studios asap. Could the sister also be able to ‘hear’ the thoughts of angry cats? We need a sting for the trailer.
SPINAL TOP
So I was staring at my TF collection on a shelf in the downstairs loo (no reflection on your mag, more my wife’s preference) and for the first time ever I noticed the slices of film-related imagery at the top of the spine and how they’re completed with subsequent editions.
How did I ever miss this subtle little gem? DEAN TURVEY-BROWN, NORTHANTS
Well, that’s us all over – subtle, gemlike, modest. Would it be OK, though, if you moved us to the upstairs loo, please? Getting a bit chilly this time of year – and there’s that book on crap taxidermy you got from Cards Galore that we’re dying to read.
PERFORMANCE PIECES
Well done on your supplement, ‘The 150 Greatest Performances’ [TF278]. But where were Noomi Rapace (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo), Toni Collette (Hereditary) and Monica Bellucci (Irreversible), to name a few? I’m guessing they were just shy of the list. BEN BAXTER, VIA EMAIL
To my horror, I found the best performance ever – Gregory Peck in To Kill A Mockingbird – slotted in at a lowly number 70. Really? Peck’s turn is not only beautifully measured, but given the time of production, it could also be considered a brave role to take on. Remember that Atticus Finch was voted cinema’s greatest hero by the AFI, beating Han, Indy and Rocky to the punch. The perfect father. The perfect man. I understand it’s only an opinion, but I can’t see any reason why he wasn’t in your top five. Shame on whoever decided this. JOHN LYLE, CAMBRIDGE
Well, I thought you lot had completely lost it for a second there… doing what most blokes do, I skipped straight to the end of the ‘Performances’ list and worked my way backwards. After being chuffed to see Heath Ledger make it to number nine, I was then astonished to find Keanu Reeves’ Jonathan Harker included, especially when you described him as “wooden” and the “true horror” of the film. Then I saw Vinnie Jones and Sofia Coppola. And Arnie as Mr. Freeze! Fortunately, I then saw the ‘WTF!’ heading and realised I was the one who’d lost it! I’ll read from the start next time. RUSS TRIBE, FAREHAM Whenever we do a list, there are inevitable – and welcome – debates over the pecking (or indeed, Peck-ing) order. But we’d like to assure you that in compiling the ‘150 Performances’, we strove for Oscar-worthy truth and honesty at all times (despite that scamp WALL·E trying to buy a spot in the top 30 by offering to chisel whatever that grey stuff is off the TF microwave).