Which is definitely revamped and up-scaled for Halloween. But, it was pretty fun on a non-Halloween season day as well. Not very scary, but a great sight to be seen nonetheless. Plenty of movie posters and props decorated throughout. There’s a wall showcasing facecasts or molds of many famous horror icons. There were lots of other great props I should have taken pics of as well, next time.

Then I headed over to the T2 ride which for being about fifteen years old is still one of the best rides/shows around. Although, there’s plenty of bad 90′s humor scattered throughout.

Sadly, the Back to the Future ride has been retired (replaced by The Simpsons ride which is okay, but not the same). I did get to ride it years ago as a child at least although those memories have faded.

So that was my visit to Universal Studios Hollywood. Next stop, Universal Studios Orlando.

UPDATE
So, I was planning my trip to Universal Studios Orlando when I found out they closed the JAWS ride just a few months ago. Buuummer. And to add insult to injury apparently it’s to make way for a Harry Potter ride? Are you fucking kidding me? Supposedly, there is to be something done to memorialize the JAWS ride. I’ll send an email off to the Orlando site and see if I can get any insight.

And if nothing else you can try and get a feel for what the ride was like, here’s just one of many YouTube videos covering the ride (some ride hosts are clearly better than others and some are just downright annoying so I’m guessing that was always hit or miss, but the ride itself is the exact same every time)…

UPDATE
I actually got really quick, friendly and even one quite personal response back from Universal regarding the closed rides.

#Issue 1: Back to the Future Ride
- There are no current plans for this ride to return in any fashion
- There’s of course a ride featurette on the BluRay trilogy

#Issue 2: JAWS Ride
- It was apparently under great deliberation whether to retire the ride or not
- I’ve been told there are no official plans (or at least that’s private) for what’s to be the replacement ride
- I also actually received a very personal, seemingly unofficial (to my delight) phone message from a Universal employee (who’s name I will respectfully keep private). This is roughly transcribed from their phone message:

“Hi, this is NAME REMOVED from Universal Orlando calling for NAME REMOVED, NAME REMOVED I am a, sorry… that a, we don’t really have… any idea what they’re doing with a lot of the a set pieces from JAWS, and a, and Amity. I can tell you that I, I do think that they, they have a great deal of reference for that area of the park and there are many many of us in the park that feel the way you do. A, there have been no announcements with what they’re going to do with that area of the park. You may be right. I don’t know, we don’t have any, we don’t have any um, official information about what’s going to be happening in that area and when we do…

I can assure you it will probably be at UniversalOrlando.com on our website and again I do want to a, apologize for a, upsetting you like this and and we do take it very seriously because I can tell you that many of the a team members at work here feel the same way you do and and you know. And and started… started their careers here because of, you know wanting to be a skipper. And again, I regret any disappointment and and please be sure that we do share your feedback with the management teams for their review. Thank you so much for contacting us. And and I really do hope that you’ll give us a try again. Bye bye.”

That was quite heart felt and it is indeed sad. And a classic example of the suits thinking they know best even though the thrill seekers and employees themselves disagree. Off to see if I can get a hold of Steven Spielberg (who actually was involved in some of the production of the rides) to see what he thinks about the retirement of the rides and maybe even see what he thinks about a brand new JAWS ride, wouldn’t that be amazing?

UPDATE
As you can imagine, it’s pretty tough for anyone, let alone a nobody to get a hold of Steven Spielberg. I tried contacting his publicist Marvin Levy. After researching for about an hour I couldn’t find any official place online to contact so my best bet would be to give good old fashioned snail mail a try:

Steven Spielberg
Amblin Entertainment, Inc.
100 Universal City Plaza
Building 477
Universal City, CA 91608

I’ll give this service a try. Here’s the letter I’ll send:

“I’m writing an article (halloweenlove.com/universal-studios) on some of the Universal Studios rides closing, E.T., Back to the Future and most importantly JAWS.

I’m actually pretty sad to see the JAWS ride of Universal Orlando being shut down as I’ve never got to ride it.

I’m wondering if I could get Mr. Spielberg’s thoughts on the rides closing and if at all what he thinks about the possibilities of a completely new state-of-the-art JAWS ride or salvaging some of the ride props at least for display?

And while I’m at it I wonder if I could get Mr. Spielberg’s thoughts on a new JAWS film?

Thanks“

$25 off* at BuyCostumes.com. If you’re like me, everyday is Halloween and you’ll still be buying something Halloween themed. For everyone else you’re certainly welcome to use the discount for Christmas/New Year’s stuff.

How to Enter

To enter is simple, Like on Facebook, Follow on Twitter and Subscribe on YouTube to Halloween Love Blog and then comment (no need to put your email directly in the comment itself) below.

You must do ALL of the following:
Like | Follow | Subscribe

I’ll pick a winner randomly on Friday, December 30th, 2011.

*Use Gift Code: [EMAILED TO WINNER] for $25 off orders. Merchandise total must exceed $25 not including shipping, handling, taxes or duty charges. Entire $25 amount must be redeemed at time of purchase. Gift Code is valid only once. Gift Code is good through December 31, 2011 11:59 PM CST. Gift Code will be reflected as a $25.00 discount on the checkout page. Gift Code can’t be used in conjunction with any other coupon codes. Coupon is non-negotiable. Not valid for prior purchases. We reserve the right to cancel any order due to unauthorized, altered, or ineligible use of a discount.

I leave you with my most favorite quote of all time:

“Sleep, those little slices of death, how I loathe them.“

The Shirt

I’ve custom designed a great, vintage looking Halloween t-shirt just in time for Halloween.

There are also tons of other products you can get with this design; hoodies, hats, mugs, buttons, keychains, cell phone cases and much more all with sizes, colors, even adding your own wording all customizable. See the full store here.

Show your Halloween spirit or get a gift for friends and family.

Monique Rizzo

Coupon code already sent. If you don’t receive it please make sure to add blackorange@halloweenlove.com to your contacts list.

Contest Now Closed

This time for US readers (find the UK contest here).

The prize is a $50 discount off your order over at BuyCostumes.com (excellent Halloween shop and selection).

To enter, simply comment below (make sure to use a valid email address, otherwise how will I be able to contact you?).

Additional Ways to Enter

(please note that only the first time for each entry type counts – for example by all means comment as many times as you like on this article (and others), but only the first counts towards an entry)

- Mandatory Entry: Comment Below (Counts as 1 Entry – you must provide a valid email address or you won’t be able to receive your prize)
- Comment on Another Article (Counts as 1 Entry)
- Facebook Like to the Right Under “Community” (Counts as 1 Entry)
- RSS Subscribe http://halloweenlove.com/feed/ (Counts as 1 Entry)
- Email Subscribe http://halloweenlove.com/subscribe/ (Counts as 1 Entry)
- Register for Site/Forum (one in the same) http://halloweenlove.com/login/?action=register (Counts as 1 Entry)
- Submit a New Article (anything Halloween related; experiences, film, music, costume design, recipes etc) http://halloweenlove.com/wp-admin/post-new.php (Counts as 2 Entries – If Accepted and Published 10 Entries!)
- Start an Engaging Forum Topic http://halloweenlove.com/forum/ (Counts as 2 Entries)
- Comment on Someone Else’ Forum Topic http://halloweenlove.com/forum/ (Counts as 1 Entry)
- Share a Backlink to http://halloweenlove.com/ OR Share Any Article on Twitter, Facebook etc OR +1 (bottom left button) the Homepage (Counts as 1 Entry – Whether you do them all or just one it’s only worth 1 Entry)

It’s possible to enter a total of 20 times! Show your Halloween love!

Please try and use the same email address/username across all areas so I can easily track your entries. Also, I invite you to add up all your entries once you’ve completed them and comment with your total entries (in just one comment and please be honest – good karma people). This is just for easy reference (I will be verifying the best I can).

The fine print.
Use Gift Code: [WILL BE AWARDED ON THE 24TH] for $50 off order. Merchandise total must exceed $50 not including shipping, handling, taxes or duty charges. Entire $50 amount must be redeemed at time of purchase. Gift Code is valid only once. Gift Code is good through October 31, 2011 11:59 PM CST. Gift Code will be reflected as a $50.00 discount on the checkout page. Gift Code can’t be used in conjunction with any other coupon codes. Coupon is non-negotiable. Not valid for prior purchases. We reserve the right to cancel any order due to unauthorized, altered, or ineligible use of a discount.

Enjoy. Have Fun. Good Luck!

Also, keep a lookout for a new contest coming soon…

Hi Everyone,

Just added some new Halloween emoticons courtesy of Icons-Land, who was generous and nice enough to donate a copy of them to Halloween Love Blog.

Thanks, they look wonderful.

I honestly searched until I had a headache and I couldn’t find any better quality Halloween emoticons anywhere.

Here’s how to use them throughout the blog:

Let me know if you think they could be setup better.

Download your own free Halloween emoticon pack here. And if you want to get the full set of all sizes and formats, it’s only $10 for the premium pack here.

Enjoy.

Michelle Rayner

More info already sent. If you don’t receive it please make sure to add blackorange@halloweenlove.com to your contacts list.

Contest Now Closed

It is getting close to that time of year again to celebrate Halloween. I’ll be running a giveaway in conjunction with All Fancy Dress. The giveaway will be open to all Halloween fans in the UK and Europe (find the US contest here) and you will have a chance of winning a £50 costume voucher which will be redeemable on any orders with All Fancy Dress.

All you have to do is comment below and you will be entered into the prize draw (make sure to fill out the email field with a valid email, this will be kept private). To enter a second time (for a better chance of winning) Facebook Like my blog to the right under “Community”. The competition will be run until October 24th (12am Pacific will be the cut-off – some would consider that midnight of the 23rd) when the winner will be randomly chosen. Again, the competition is limited to entrants in the UK and Europe.

If you want to check out some of the costumes you could win then please visit allfancydress.com and have a look around. Also if you are in the mood for getting some Jason Voorhees outfits this Halloween then have a look through their Friday the 13th costumes.

More Ways to Enter

This contest is turning out more enthusiastic than I expected . So, I thought I’d add even more ways that you can enter additional times for more chances to win, here are all the ways to enter (some are just recaps):

(please note that only the first time for each entry type counts – for example by all means comment as many times as you like on this article (and others), but only the first counts towards an entry)

- Mandatory Entry: Comment Below (Counts as 1 Entry – you must provide a valid email address or you won’t be able to receive your prize)
- Comment on Another Article (Counts as 1 Entry)
- Facebook Like to the Right Under “Community” (Counts as 1 Entry)
- RSS Subscribe http://halloweenlove.com/feed/ (Counts as 1 Entry)
- Email Subscribe http://halloweenlove.com/subscribe/ (Counts as 1 Entry)
- Register for Site/Forum (one in the same) http://halloweenlove.com/login/?action=register (Counts as 1 Entry)
- Submit a New Article (anything Halloween related; experiences, film, music, costume design, recipes etc) http://halloweenlove.com/wp-admin/post-new.php (Counts as 2 Entries – If Accepted and Published 10 Entries!)
- Start an Engaging Forum Topic http://halloweenlove.com/forum/ (Counts as 2 Entries)
- Comment on Someone Else’ Forum Topic http://halloweenlove.com/forum/ (Counts as 1 Entry)
- Share a Backlink to http://halloweenlove.com/ OR Share Any Article on Twitter, Facebook etc OR +1 (bottom left button) the Homepage (Counts as 1 Entry – Whether you do them all or just one it’s only worth 1 Entry)

It’s possible to enter a total of 20 times! Show your Halloween love!

Please try and use the same email address/username across all areas so I can easily track your entries. Also, I invite you to add up all your entries once you’ve completed them and comment with your total entries (in just one comment and please be honest – good karma people). This is just for easy reference (I will be verifying the best I can).

I’ve seen similar articles, lists and so on and have always been disappointed. Perhaps sadness is extremely subjective, perhaps some don’t know what true sadness is?

I think true sadness has no face, no description and no one to describe the phenomenon to us. Similar to death, since no one has come back to tell us what it’s like we couldn’t imagine true sorrow, true sadness. We can understand suffering on a physical level, those that have survived torture, the holocaust or rescued POWs for example.

But, true and complete sorrow and sadness could only come from a place that’s hidden to us. The reason is simply the saddest human experience would likely be complete isolation and loneliness until death. So the true sound would be nothingness, or perhaps the sounds of yourself going mad?

The very fact that I’m writing this article and you’re reading it means we’re sitting in a building with internet and freely able to interact with others and express ourselves. In other words we couldn’t possibly understand the true horrors and pain in this world to the fullest, we’re already too far beyond privileged.

However, it is also true that you only experience your own life so you’re perspective is absent of other extremes, the saddest thing you’ve experienced is indeed the saddest thing in your world or reality to you very specifically.

To me the saddest music in the world are songs that encapsulate a deep feeling of being alone and feeling empathy for the unknown horror and sorrow that awaits. Onto the music…

I think my first selection will easily put to shame any current attempt online to share the saddest song in the world. First just listen and don’t read any further until you’ve finished:

Download audio file (Black.mp3)

Continue to Page 2

Has no one in Hollywood been told yet that;

A. 3D is a horrible technology that has hardly advanced for 30 years.

B. No one actually even likes 3D. I’ve only heard it’s obnoxious, annoying and even gives people headaches.

C. It’s demeaning to a film and alienates it’s lore and fans. Anyone with half a brain will tell you that it distracts from any hopes of a film having substance when it’s in 3D. I’ve heard the filmmakers admit it themselves; when they make a 3D film it takes more time and focus to think about the technology and the shots/angles than to concern themselves about the story or dialogue, pace or anything else. Not only that, it’s gimmicky.

For anyone that can think for themselves they should know when a movie “goes 3D” it’s to try and sale tickets. In other words the movie can’t stand on it’s own, it needs the extra gimmick. Do you think The Dark Knight Rises is going to be in 3D? No, it won’t… not that no one has suggested it, but a smart man like Nolan would never allow it.

The Halloween franchise is very important to me as well as many others. For us fans we like the dark story and drama and mystique/legend that many of the Halloween films lived up to (Halloween 3, 8 and 2 [remake] aside). This whole Halloween 3D is a slap in the face to us fans, what a joke.

I dreamt last night I met the most beautiful woman. I seemed to be helping her out of some place (we were driving out of a canyon on a nice day).

The car broke down and we had a long walk ahead of us. Eventually she could no longer walk and I carried her upon my shoulders. We spent the entire day talking and laughing and by the time we reached a town we were comfortable enough to be holding hands.

Before we reached town we had both discovered something about her. Through this sadness she carried with her and deduction of dates and places she described and through looking back at moments where people seemed to have ignored her we had in fact realized she had died and was a ghost.

As you could imagine this was devastating to her, she thought of course there was no longer any way for us to be close to one another, people would think I was mad. As we walked into town the looks and judgment I received from onlookers as I interacted with this lovely woman was quite accurate to our foresight, but I reassured her it didn’t matter because I didn’t care.

I woke up with feelings of immense love.

I then realized something I’ve always known (but sometimes need reminding of), that it truly doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks of you and your place in the world and your right to happiness.

You define your own happiness and you can’t let anyone take it away or infect it with their ideas.

I hope to see that lovely ghost girl again and perhaps learn her name.

http://www.callofduty.com/blackops/dlc4/rezurrection-behind-the-scenes-video

Screenshots

Moon

http://www.callofduty.com/blackops/dlc4/moon-screenshots

Night (Nacht der Üntoten)

http://www.callofduty.com/blackops/dlc4/nacht-der-untoten-screenshots

Asylum (Verrückt)

http://www.callofduty.com/blackops/dlc4/verruckt-screenshots

Swamp (Shi No Numa)

http://www.callofduty.com/blackops/dlc4/shi-no-numa-screenshots

Factory (Der Riese)

http://www.callofduty.com/blackops/dlc4/der-riese-screenshots

I’m definitely excited that this map pack is coming, however it is a little bitter sweet that it took so long and happened this way. The pack includes 4 maps that were originally released when Black Ops first came out and 1 new map. Those maps were remakes of the original 4 maps from World at War. The only way to get them was to have bought either the Prestige or Hardened limited editions of the game.

Problem is they really were limited and it became tough to find them anywhere. However, people on eBay (as it tends to be used for) were exploiting the rare nature of this and were selling only the Classic Zombie Maps DLC codes at $90 a pop! Because I’m a hardcore Zombie killing fan I had to lay the $90 down. Only to find out that because Treyarch never released the maps publicly there was no one on to play with! Well, it looks like that’s finally going to change and the maps might even get another polishing.

I would have just been bitter, but it looks like Treyarch is covering us hardcore fans with some good old fashioned loyalty. It looks like if you currently own the classic maps this new release is on the house (completely free) with some extra goodies thrown in. I guess good things come to those who wait after all, too bad I am not a patient person or this would of, could of been sweet all around. But, I’m happy in the end.

Checkout the most current details:

I’m a bit disappointed they decided to go with the 2010 Freddy look instead of the classic, although the audio tracks and fatalities are that of classic Freddy. Also, Robert Englund just made an appearance for Zombies so I’m sure he would have been game to lay down some original tracks for the game.

My best guess is they went with that version of Freddy considering WB published Mortal Kombat and owns the rights to the 2010 Nightmare reboot.

HalloweenBlog

http://halloweenlove.com/forum/

Discuss anything from Halloween stories and memories to horror film and video game news.