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What Lies Beneath

What Lies Beneath

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: What Lies Beneath
Review: I thought the film was terrific the effects where out of this world and i the bath and river scenes where great you had me going when you made everybody think the that the bloke next door had murdered his wife but Harrisons Fords chracter actually killed one of his students and she was the ghost everybody saw. It made me jump a few times and i would like to know if you are thinking of making a second one.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: An insult to moviegoers and a waste of 2 hours of my life.
Review: Harrison Ford's choices have been slipping more and more every year. "What Lies Beneath" hopefully is rock-bottom for Ford. The same can be said of director Robert Zemeckis, because if either of them can make a worse movie there should be some kind of criminal punishment.

So why is "What Lies Beneath" so atrociously bad? Well the movie spends over an hour on a red herring, bad "Rear Window" take-off that has absolutely nothing to do with the remaining, painfully stupid last hour. You see, after the movie's first hour exercise in wasteful moviemaking ends, we're treated to a trite, predictable and not the least bit creative or chilling ghost story that's got the depth of your average Scooby Doo episode.

We get a ghost who can turn on the computer and type, yet for no reason (beyond shoddy writing) fails to merely type a letter explaining who she is, why she's in the house and what she wants done to avenge her death. As if it's not obvious anyway! But of course the stupidity builds because the ghost always writes on mirrors, but rather than writing useful information the ghost scribbles cryptic gems such as "You Know". Oh, scary. Eek. Why not write: "So-and-so killed me; that person put my body here."?

Not to be outdone by the silly ghost story and bad "Rear Window" copycatting, we get ALL the dumb horror/thriller cliches. The characters never turn around until it's too late. The killer appears to be unconcious but isn't (wow, shocking!). People all seem to enjoy creeping up on loved ones and then just standing behind them...we know how much fun that is. But the absolute kicker would be the stupid plot devices, such as the chemical that paralyzes but doesn't kill...this sets up the most asinine tub sequence ever. Even more inane would be "the cell phone only works halfway across the bridge." Great gimmick and when the protagonist is running from the killer, naturally the cellphone only works halfway across the bridge. Even more predictably, the protagonist STOPS the car to make the cell phone call, thus giving the killer a chance for one more stupid jump up and scare the audience scene. Lame.

People who made this film need to apologize on national TV, beg forgiveness and finally pay restitution to all moviegoers for not only the ticket price, but also for wasting our time and brain cells.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The BEST Hitchcock wannabe EVER
Review: This isn't saying much (after all, this was the year of "Urban Legends- Final Cut") but it is the best scary movie of the year! I was surprised that they could make a scary movie that was (gasp!) intelligent! Michelle Pfiffer's performance is really great in this, and it's nice to see her in a movie good enough to deserve her ("The Story of Us", anyone?). The ending was the biggest shock since "The Sixth Sense" and the final bathtub scene was one of the best scary movie scenes ever. Zemekis is obvoiusly trying to bring back memories of Hitchcock, but that's not a bad thing. The beginning is kind of slow, but stick with it because the cheap thrills turn into genuinely scary stuff.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Disappointment, but still enjoyable.
Review: When I went into the cinema to see this film, I expected it to be excellent. It was at the top of the charts at the time, so I figured it couldn't be too bad. But unfortunately, this film turned out to be a pretty big disappointment. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed it, all I'm saying is that I really don't think it should have gotten a cinema release. Anyway, the main problem that I had with this film was that it didn't really have enough to it. The plot was too simple, and there wasn't enough events in the film. Oh, but then again, the ending was kind of a surprise.

Well, see this film if you want, but don't expect too much.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Awesome Jaw Dropper !!!
Review: First of all I want to say that this movie is wonderful.Its story is well writen as it has seen on movie.The relation between the Ford and Pfeiffer is well acted you can not imagine anything what was happenning in it.Also Its picture and effects are so perfect designed also the music is so well.Besides I want to mentioned that the last 30 minutes are so scary and bumping.It makes people jump 20 inches.Don't You Believe Me.See it with your own eyes and understand what I am talking about.Lastly everyone especially collectors should own one . Strictly Recommended !!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Awesome Horror Flick
Review: Wow when I came out of the theatre after this movie I was chilled because I have not seen a good INTELLIGENT horror mystery in years. Never did I prdeict [spoiler removed]...I felt like screaming in terror like Luke Skywalker did in ESB, but I contained myself. Harisson Ford can play any role and sell it well...! Buy this movie if you are into good horror movies.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Robert Zemeckis does it again
Review: I see every horror movie there is. The intelligent ones that have been coming out recently, I haven't found to be too intelligent. This one is awesome. It deals with ghosts, the unknown, a surprise twist at the end, and a brilliant cast and director. Listen to me when I say that it will scare the crap out of you. And I dont say this often. Check this movie out!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Better than you think...
Review: I went to see this movie at the theaters with a friend. I really like Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer as actors. I thought that I was in for a few cheap scares and a cheesy shot at a thriller. But as the movie went on, I realized that I had underestimated this movie. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire movie- now, I am not just saying this as a description of the suspense (well, i am) but I was LITERALLY on the edge of my seat. I had goosebumps even though it was mid-July. During one of the UNBELIEVEABLE suspense scenes, I touched my friend on the shoulder (because I was absolutely terrified) and she was so startled, she screamed! Tense, is definately one word that describes this experience! I am the biggest fan of horror and thriller movies, and during this one I found myself not being able to wait until the end of the movie because I was just so damn scared! THAT is one of the qualities that makes a good movie. I for one, will be first in line to be gain the privledge of owning this movie on DVD. I would reccommend you do the same!!!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Frightening! NOT recommended for the weak hearted!
Review: Ford surprised me this time. Indeed he changed his usual typecast upside down. I'd entered the cinema expecting to watch a thriller and enjoy the Pfeiffer -Ford performance ,as a couple, for the first time. What I found was a horror movie, maybe the scariest I've seen in years. During most of the film I was attached to the sit and to my girlfriend's arm both holding each other hands in terror.

It's a real adrenaline squeezer. While watching it ,did I understand why people are so enthralled with that kind of movies ; One can easily become addicted to the blast of adrenaline and to the feeling of absolute fear - while be completely safe at the same time . I'm not a weak hearted, but I tell you this - my heart was out of line! I've seen "The sixth sense" ,it doesn't begin to scratch the level of fright this film has reached.

I'd certainly won't try to describe the plot, I guess others have done it before. I can only say -watch out for the "eye" scene, one of the most frightening I've ever seen. At a glance, it's a well-built script, there isn't a dull moment, and taking in consideration all the above, with the repercussions needed, watching it might be quite an experience. As a DVD purchase, I'd advise to do so only if you enjoy this kind of movies .

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Sympathy For The Gargoyle
Review: It was never a question of if, but when this, sometimes superb, exercise in shock tactics would slip into mediocrity. The old aphorism of the suspense lying in those discomforting, but exciting seconds before the inevitable boom has never been truer. The best of horror films, the ones that rattle, have succeeded on dramatic level. The makers of those films realised that no plot revelation could ever measure up to the build up, and tactfully provided well drawn characters, so the audience awaits not just the events that happen, but the effect of those events on the protagonists. Those films form just about the shortest list in any film genre, the names that often come up are: The Exorcist, Jacob's Ladder, Seven, The Silence of The Lambs, The Sixth Sense and the original Dutch version of The Vanishing. What Lies Beneath is not on that list.

The professor (Harrison Ford) and his wife (Michelle Pheiffer) are affluent, seldom is horror film made about the poor. They live in big house, a pre-requisite that provides ample space for those "thought you were demon but turned out to be my fat dog" moments. The cliches abound, including but not exclusive to, the suspect neighbors, the aforementioned fat dog, the quite psychiatrist, the token best friend, the one way ticket to the afterlife bathtub and last, but certainly not least, the ubiquitous pallid faced, bare tendoned vengeful demon (or ghost). You've probably met this hard working member of the undead, his/her gargoyle face has graced an astonishing number of paranormal stories. Of the plot, I will say no more, suffice to say that the story is not the film's strong point.

What is interesting about the film is how efficiently the director, Robert Zemeckis, milks the tension of these familiar elements. There are four or five sequences in the film's first hour that are self-contained masterpieces of audience manipulation. Zemeckis's camera twists and turns around the actors, often in close-up with their surroundings deliberately obscured, the spare music builds, and whatever evil is lurking draws closer. Taking his time, to quicken heart beats and mobolise asses to the edge of their seats, Zemickis then jolts the audience with the violent appearance of the said lurker, who as predicted, turns out to be a harmless observer. Yes, this has been done before in similarly purposeless films, but never this acutely.

Indeed What Lies Beneath could be seen as a sort of one upsmanship contest between Zemickis and every other horror film ever made. Never original, the director takes all those well-worn scenes, and draws louder shrieks and longer gasps. Take for instance the scene with the psychiatrist (Joe Morton), as Phieffer feebly pretends to be sane. I've seen this a dozen times, but this time, the psychiatrist's office is in a basement of a building, Morton one side of the screen, Phieffer on the other, and in between them, just below the ceiling, you can see all the quickly moving legs of the crowd above. This, quietly, implies a disturbed state of mind, where you can see life, but can't communicate with it. Paralysis. Judging by the skinny girl sitting infront of me, who suspiciously had to tie her shoe laces every time Pheiffer came within the vicinity of the bath tub, I'd say Zemickis's done an effective job.

The jolts are too well done to get tiresome, but they do get predictable. Soon enough, you start to see Zemickis, desperately pulling his strings, trying to end this silly script. And the film sadly degenerates into a half- hearted stab at drama, elaborate and entirely predictable plot reversals, and disastrously, an absurd climax straight out of the "B-Movie guide book for easy, copout endings." Although, still worth seeing for some superb technical craftsmanship, What Lies Beneath is, in the end, a very good "BOO" movie. Complete with the villain taking up his valuable time to kindly explain his/her/its motive for villainy. No sooner is this villain dead, then, gasp does it turn out that he/she/it is actually still alive. I would honestly pay good money to watch a film where the villain is though to be dead, and then turns out to actually be dead. Now that would be shocking.


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