Happy Birthday to Me
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Movie Reviews of Happy Birthday to Me
Movie Review: DON'T PASS UP THIS INVITATION!
Summary: 5 Stars
I had the incredible fortune of buying HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME five days before its release date at FYE in Dover Mall. And this movie is one of the best slasher movies ever made! J. Lee Thompson, best known for directing war movies like THE GUNS OF NAVARONE and MISSING IN ACTION and by far the best PLANET OF THE APES sequel (CONQUEST OF...), proves suprisingly adept in staging suspensful set-pieces and shocking murder sequences like the shishkabob murder spotlighted in the original poster (replicated for the insert).
The best thing about HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME is that this is the closest to the slasher genre's Italian ancestor, the giallo, that a slasher movie has ever come. The psychological thriller angle is executed brilliantly and gives the film an edge over all other entries in the slasher sweepstakes of 1980. Plus, the story actually provides character development in between the murder and mayhem, which is always appreciated. Melissa Sue Anderson of LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE fame is excellent as the put-upon heroine who must endure returning memories of the traumatic car accident that killed her mother and the circumstances that lead to that tragedy, as well as the murders of her friends. And despite being percieved as a major nadir in an illustrious career, Glenn Ford adds a touch of class as the doctor who tries to help our heroine. And let's not forget future YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS star Tracy Bergman's debut performance as Anderson's best friend, or the last 10 minutes of this movie.
In short, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME is more in league with Brian De Palma's DRESSED TO KILL than FRIDAY THE 13TH. The 1.85:1 hi-def anamorphic widescreen transfer of this movie alone is worth the price of the DVD; it makes the film look like it was made in 2000, not 1980! There's trailers for I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER, IDENTITY, and RESIDENT EVIL: APOCALYPSE accompanying the disc. If you're a fan of slasher movies, then it's inconcievable for you not to own this movie.
Movie Review: Great DVD, horrible soundtrack
Summary: 5 Stars
Not as well known or as popular until the past few years given its cult status, Happy Birthday To Me is a fabulous mystery/horror film. The films of today are too slick, these old school horrors have that "look" that makes them special. Sure, HBTM is an obvious "Halloween" & "F13" clone, but one of the best, so don't overlook it! It stars Melissa Sue "Little House On The Prarie" Anderson as Ginny, a young girl who survives a freak accident that leaves her with brain surgery and a very bad memory. This freak accident happened on her birthday four years ago, and now, her intended guests for the party that never occurred are disappearing one by one in mysterious and violent ways. All poor Ginny wants is a party. Lush photography and above average acting set this '80s slashfest apart from its well received counterparts. The key to enjoying this film is remembering that nothing is what it appears to be so watch and listen closely to the twist ending. It comes out of nowhere. Well, surprise...you saw the same plot used again in Wes Craven's "Scream." This one is scary fun so blow out the candles and make a wish.
Also, it's so awesome to see so many people that are fans of this film on many websites! I'd love to get a petition going to to whoever will listen to find out what is the deal with that hideous DVD soundtrack. I have heard this was the original version before the film was re-scored. Columbia/Tri-Star Home Video just picked it up for processing I'm sure and didn't note that there is a HUGE cult following of this film out there. You people here on this board and the hundreds out there bashing it on every DVD site I find proves it!
If you are interested, please send your name, email and message for the DVD powers that be (polite and intelligent please) You never know what will happen.
Thanks!
"Hey that nimrod owes me 20 bucks!"
Movie Review: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME: MUSIC SCORE GONE!!!!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
OKAY, SO TODAY WAS THE BIG DAY FOR 'HBTM' TO COME OUT ON DVD!!!
I RAN TO GET IT TODAY AND RUSHED HOME TO SEE THE GREAT HIGH DEFINITION TRANSFER.... AND TO MY THE FREAKING CLASSIC ORCHESTRATED MUSIC SCORE THAT MADE THIS MOVIE CREEPY IS FREAKING GONE!!!!!!!
HOW CAN THEY TAKE AWAY THE ORIGINAL MUSIC SCORE AND ADD IN THE SILLY, STUPID, 'KEYSTONE CAPER, MOOONLIGHTING, CHIPS' SILLY MUSIC!!!!???? PLEASE, ANYONE OUT THERE, PLEASE CONTACT ME, WE MUST GET THIS MOVIE TO IT'S ORIGINAL SELF.
**** LOOKING FOR 'RETRO SATX' DUDE! CAN YOU MAKE ME A COPY FROM YOUR LASER DISC???? I WILL PAY YOU BUD!! PLEASE CONTACT ME.
DID ANY OTHER FANS OUT THERE EVEN REALIZE HOW THEY MESSED UP THE MUSIC IN THE NEW DVD RELEASE? THIS IS ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVE HORROR MOVIES. I SEEN THIS IN THE THEATER IN 1980 AND HAVE THE VHS AT HOME. I WATCH THIS MOVIE ALL THE TIME, I LOVE IT!!! THE ORIGINAL MUSIC IN THIS MOVIE IS CLASSIC!!!!! HOW CAN THEY GET RID OF IT???
I JUST WROTE A LETTER TO 'COLUMBIA/TRISTAR' ASKING THEM WHAT THE HELL WERE THEY THINKING???? CLEARLY, IT IS VERY WELL WRITTEN AND PROFESSIONALLY DONE! HAHA
IM JUST SO BUMMED THAT I CAN'T WATCH THIS MOVIE NOW ON DVD DUE TO THE SILLY NEW MUSIC SCORE THEY ADDED. IT MAKES NO SENSE WHATSOEVER NOW. I KNOW THE ORIGINAL MOVIE SCORE BY HEART FOR EVERY SCENE AND TO WATCH IT IN CRYSTAL CLEARITY AND TO HEAR THE NEW MUSIC, JUST SUCKS!!!!!
I AM AN AVID HORROR FAN IF ANYONE WANTS TO CHAT ME UP ABOUT THIS MOVIE OR ANY OTHERS PAST/PRESENT/FUTURE.
FlaMiataGlenn@aol.com im wondering if any of you realized the new music score in HBTM? RETRO SATX, PLEASE EMAIL ME IF U CAN.
I NEED TO CHAT WITH YOU BUD. THANKS ALL, GLENN / SOUTH FLORIDA
CIAO
Movie Review: Best of the Best
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is awesome! I've been periodically checking Amazon for years waiting for "Happy Birthday to Me" to be released onto DVD and FINALLY it's available!
I saw this movie in the theater during my mid-teen years and loved it. Being a person who truly appreciates the finest in horror flicks, this is one of the best. I'm very surprised at how unfamiliar people are with this movie... In my opinion, it rates right up there with the classic "Friday the 13th" and "Halloween" originals. And, by the way, if you haven't seen "Burnt Offerings", it's another must see classic!
The murders in "Happy Birthday to Me" are top-notch and very creative. The plot is decent for this type of film and then of course, there's the amazing final scene.
This film has the classic 80's horror film feel not to be missed by only those select few who know what I'm talking about. This is a DVD that you will want to own and pull out every Halloween - or for your friends who have never seen it. It's WELL worth the purchase price and then some!
Movie Review: FINALLY! A once-thought discontinued classic returns!
Summary: 5 Stars
I am so excited this movie gets to come to us on DVD. You may be complaining that there are no extra features, but to me just having the movie on high quality DVD to replace the terrible, worn copy I dubbed onto VHS is a dream come true. Well worth it. This movie is a sorely overlooked classic. One of the few horror movies of the 1980's that actually has a plot, and good acting to boot. The story is dark and brooding, the camera angles and cinematography are clever, and the music is over the top, but works well with this movie, which features appearances by Melissa Sue Anderson (Little House good girl no more!)and Tracy Bregman from The Young and the Restless. The film is a classic whodunnit with a surprise ending that has never been attempted again, and is a classic moment in movie history. Others call it ridiculous and contrived but I think it was genius. Get this movie because it is a classic that we should be thankful they decided to bring to us on DVD.