Kopfüber in die Geisterstunde

This is one of the greatest movies I have ever seen and I recommend it to anyone of any age who likes Halloween. It is an awesome story of friendship, discovery, and mystery. Ray Bradbury wrote a masterpiece and it was made into a fantastic film. I have watched it since I was very young and still watch it over and over every year. I think that anyone of any age will enjoy this movie. It does not follow what some call the "Halloween plot" of children going trick or treating the entire night. It is different but prodigious. The children save their friend while learning the history of Halloween. The ending is one of the best parts, but I hate to see that part of the movie because it is the end. I seriously recommend this movie to watch on Halloween, or even any part of the year. I love it.

A film was made from a superior book. Those who enjoy the Hallowe'en holiday often not have much of an idea of its roots, and Ray Bradbury turns a sympathetic eye towards various Hallowe'en traditions.

That the film is an animated one suggests rather strongly that it was aimed squarely at the younger set, but the cartoon medium allows a certain chaotic underpinning that facilitates transitions in time and space.

Children going out to Trick Or Treat, less one member of the gang, known as Pipkin. A house they visit looks very spooky, and has in its yard a tree festooned with Jack O'Lanterns. The person whom they meet is the mysterious Mr. Moundshroud. The strange grownup introduces them to various Hallowe'en traditions, taking them on trips through time and space. This is magical, but not spooky in the scary sense.

The fate of Pipkin is bound up in this, as the children learn. They also get a thorough grounding on many aspects of Hallowe'en, as do the viewers.

A good film for the season.

Ray Bradbury's cartoon adaptation of his own celebrated book is exquisite, and makes an excellent Halloween treat for kids & adults alike. The are many changes from the book, most notably in the creation of the strong female character of Jenny,(In Bradbury's original work there were many more children characters and they were all boys, boys who for the most part hated girls.) but when you watch the film all of these enhancements and modern additions not only fit but make it include a much larger audience. None of the changes feel forced. And with Ray Bradbury not only writing but narrating, this is a treasure not to pass up. It's value, as an educational tool for cultural diversity, can't be denied. The imagery is thrilling and beautiful as you travel around the world learning how Halloween came to be and how this very popular holiday was and is celebrated. Leonard Nimoy gives an outstanding performance as the spooky, and eccentric tour guide, Moundshroud. But most importantly this movie is fun. The story and animation are rich and lush and it's easy to see why this scary delight is a seasonal favorite and a must have in many households. Mine included.

Halloween has always been one of my most favorite times of year, ever since I was a kid. Now I'm 30, but I still love the holiday. You're never too old for Halloween... AND you're never too old for Halloween cartoons. Every year, I celebrate the holiday with watching "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown," "Garfield's Halloween Adventure," "Halloween is Grinch Night," several Simpsons "Treehouse of Horror" specials, "Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School," "Doug's Halloween Adventure," "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "The Halloween Tree." When I first decided to check it out, I thought it was going to be lame. Hanna-Barbera had really lost their touch by this time, and their cartoons would never be the same (the studio would have been dead by the end of 1994 if it weren't for their admittedly cool and creative "What a Cartoon" shorts from 1995-1997!) Now I'm glad I watched it. It has become a Halloween tradition of mine! True, it doesn't resemble your usual Hanna-Barbera cartoon in any way. Instead it feels more like Nelvana or Film Roman made it. (From what I read, Ray Bradbury wanted his animator friend Chuck Jones to bring it to life. I think a Chuck Jones version would have been even better!) But regardless, it's still fun. It helped me understand several Halloween origins and customs, and can be a bit creepy at times. Perfect! Leonard Nimoy does a great job voicing Mr. Moundshround, and Ray Bradbury does an equally great job narrating his story. The animation, like I said, isn't the usual Hanna-Barbera style you would expect. It's not totally perfect, but is still pretty good for a 1990s animated TV special, at times up to par with Walt Disney Television Animation's stuff of the time (then again, bad animation became increasingly rare in the 1990s, with a few exceptions like H-B's poorly-animated "Arabian Nights" TV movie from 1994!) John Debney's music is also really good, especially the haunting opening theme, though it does get a bit Disney-esque at times (there were times in the 1990s when H-B felt they needed to mimic Disney!) I'm watching it as I type this review, and it's helping put me in the Halloween mood more. "Oh my gosh!" look at the time. "Ready, set, go!"

The most Insightful and Delightful Halloween Movie I have EVER seen! As always, Ray BradBury Rocks! This movie takes Halloween to the next level by explaining the true origins of the Holiday throughout notable parts of the world. Narrarated by one of my favorite actors, Leonard Nimoy, (Mr. Spock) A delight for Children and Adults Alike! Grab your popcorn, and your family for this awesome depiction of Halloween History, Folks!!! May I suggest reading the original Book? It also Rocks! Other book suggestions by Ray Bradbury regarding this Topic: "The October Country" and "Something Wicked This Way Comes" Enjoy The Undiscovered Country of Halloween Everyone! Fabian Trahan - GhostCams Experiment Portal