Rating: 
Summary: Maybe If I Hadn't Read the Book...
Review: I might have enjoyed this movie. But I doubt it! This flick was terrible! I had hoped that with all the special effects, this re-make would be able to intensify the creepiness of the 1963 film, or even the original novel by Shirley Jackson. I've read a lot of horror novels, and "The Haunting of Hill House" is one of the few books to give me that delicious "frisson" in the middle of the night. The Robert Wise film managed to capture this feeling and make the hair on the back of my arms stand at attention. Sadly, this version did not, largely because, once again, Big Hollywood felt the need to step in and improve the story. The worst line in the film hast to be "It was always about family." Sorry Eleanor, but it was NEVER about family -- it was about a creepy house with a mind of its own. The house was supposed to be the antagonist, not Hugh Crain.In addition to the story flaws, there were some problems with the acting. I usually love Lili Taylor, and I thought she'd be a perfect Eleanor, but her performance falls a little flat. The same goes for Liam Neeson,from whom I also expected a better performance. Either both of them were having a really rough period, or the fault lies with the script. (And I've already harped on that!) Catherine Zeta-Jones's performance didn't really bother me, but maybe that's because she played the same type of character she always seems to play (I had this response to her performance in "High Fidelity" as well). As for Owen Wilson...well, his nose bothered me. But that's really more of a personal thing. I am assured by some friends of mine that this is a perfectly enjoyable film if you haven't read the novel, or seen the original film. That is, it's enjoyable until the ending, which seems to be oversimplified.
Rating:
Summary: Don't bother.
Review: Boring. Predicable. Dull. All words that can be used to describe this rather budget-looking movie. Somewhat confusing plot, disjointed, average SFX, and shoddy acting all around give a genuine must-miss review for this movie.
Rating: 
Summary: A waste of valuable money!
Review: I saw a commercial for this movie. The special effects looked great. I was expecting to see a great action-packed movie. A friend and I anxiously stepped into the theater. The movie started with a little action, but then it was gone. Nothing. That was it. I actually fell asleep during it, something I never did before! This was one of the STUPIDEST movies I have ever seen in my life. It doesn't even deserve one star, but I've got to give it something. If you think that this looks like a good deal, think again. Your money is worth something much better for the same price.
Rating: 
Summary: Take a Second Look
Review: I didn't see this movie until I bought the DVD, and after the first watching I thought it would be my last, but a few days later I watched it again. And it was actually better the second time around, I think I got more out of the storyline that time, such as it was. I got past the flaws in the movie, and picked out the parts I liked which do outweigh the parts I didn't. I usually like the more suspenseful horror films where you're left guessing is this a supernatural act or someONE's doing? This movie started off that way, but quickly went into the CGI stuff which took the guess work out it. But if you accept the ghost plot the movie can be enjoyable. The graphics are pretty good, and you can actually feel for the lead character, Nell. The rest of 'em.....eh. The best part of all is the eeriness and beauty of the house, which I guess could be considered the lead character, it's worth checking out the film just to see the house! One thing I did notice though is that after a couple of viewings even though the house on the outside seems to go on forever, you get familiar with the sets for the inside of the house and notice the movie takes place in only about 6 different rooms that they just keep showing over and over again. Wish we could have seen more! Anyway, if you have a bit of extra cash to burn check this out, and remember second time might the charm!
Rating:
Summary: If I could suggest another film...
Review: This film gets a point for looks (and, no, I'm not talking about Catherine Zeta-Jones), but that's about as generous as I can get. Who scripted this snore-fest? Not the least bit scary, and after a very short while you start to wonder why you should care about any of the characters (or any of the dead children infesting the story's house). And is it just me, or does anybody else hate ghost stories where one of the living starts to empathize with the ghosts in a positive way, wanting to help them? If I want to see that, I'll go looking for reruns of "Sightings" on TV. Run, you jerks! Get scared! Or better yet, go see "House On Haunted Hill" (1999). It came out at about the same time as "The Haunting", if I recall correctly, and in any case was completely overshadowed by it in the media. I'm not saying that film wasn't hokey, too, but it was sure as heck a far sight better (and spookier) than this.
Rating: 
Summary: Awesome Movie!
Review: I went to a sneak preview of this movie when itcame out last July and I loved it! I read the book before I went to have a background of what to expect, but the book and the movie are not really that similiar. I loved this movie because I love haunting movies, scary stuff that makes the audience scream. This one does it, though at the end it is a little far fetched I have to admit, but overall I thouroughly enjoyed this movie. The acting leaves something to be desired on many occasions, however, but a movie like this you don't go to see because of the acting. Four Out Of Five.
Rating:
Summary: Suspenseful rather than scary
Review: The Haunting is the latest version of The Haunting of Hill House, and as far as basic films go, it's not too bad. With Liam Neeson and Catherine Zeta Jones, plus every special effect possible, should be difficult to go wrong. However, the Haunting is lacking a certain - something. There are occasions where it hovers between being an out and out gore fest and a psychological thriller, never giving itself to either of the two. The characters are not brilliantly developed, leaving the viewer relying on rather cliched first impressions. The character of Eleanor, particularly, is left to languish when there is much more we could know about her, notably her links to Hill House. One of the main characters gets killed off apparently as an afterthought (coming to a decidedly sticky end in the fireplace) when Neeson and Zeta Jones who had the same level of importance were staggering out at the end. The story may be a bit confusing, but the effects are very good, taking full advantage of ornate and intricate decorations to threaten and foreshadow (who didn't wonder, seeing the long decorative spikes above Eleanor's bed, what they would be doing later on?) However effects don't make a film (I may be wrong, look at the Matrix) and this could have benefitted from a more thought out script. Otherwise, not a bad hour or so.
Rating:
Summary: Tell me a story
Review: This film suffers greatly from having nothing at all to say. The set was grand, but the script was lacking and the actors had nothing to do but make it through to their paychecks. Don't waste your time.
Rating:
Summary: Mediocre horror movie
Review: I guess the special effects were OK.... Frankly, however, this was kinda a big disappointment - with fine actors like Neeson and Zeta-Jones you'd expect more. Rather give this one a skip and go watch the 'Scream' movies all over again.....
Rating:
Summary: Quite dissapointing.
Review: Well I thought they have a good director Jan De Bont from Twister they have good trailers and great actors as Liam Neeson and Catherine Zeta and the movie opened like with 30 million dollars on its premiere so I thought this is going to be such a ride but no It was quite dissapointing not that good effects and a terrible story I don't know how this actors agreed to make this movie maybe because of the money.
|
