Rating: Summary: Be Haunted, or be entertained! Review: Either way you're having a good time watching this movie. I was more entertained than haunted watching this movie, which is hard to do either way. Two simple facts that know you're making a right choice for this movie. #1: the acting is good, and in this movie, it has highly underrated stars such as Lili Taylor, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. #2: The plot makes sense, and entertains. Nell Vance (Lili Taylor) is a fairly simple woman neglected by her family, after her mother dies. When she has no where to go, she takes a roll in an experiment that Dr. Marrow (Liam Neeson) is doing for people with Insomnia, but it pays really good money. Taking a job where all you have to do is don't sleep; sounds pretty simple right? Something seems strange, yet interesting about the location where the experiment is being held, at the Hill House. Though it's strange that someone would abandon such a neat place, weird things seem to go on as the occupants get used to it. Theo (Catherine Zeta-Jones), and Nell hear rigorous banging sounds in their rooms through the night. Things get cold with an explanation, and out of no where, the Harpsichord tightens a string by itself, and snaps nearly cutting Dr. Marrows assisstants eye. What's even worse is that something is coming after Nell. She can hear voices in her room, but what are they trying to tell her? Maybe she got more of a job then she bargained for. The acting in this movie was great, epecially by Lili Taylor. She was just great. She gives a kind of uneasy feeling about the house the way she potrayed her part as Nell. Catherine Zeta-Jones as Theo too. Her and Owen Wilson as Luke added the comedy to the movie as the two modern gripers. All in all, not the kind of movie you'd expect. Some may not find it scary at all. I didn't really. I found it more of a great thriller. I actually found the trailer more terrifying. I still definetely give it four stars.
Rating: Summary: WHY DID THEY BOTHER? Review: My main reason for watching this film was that it is a remake of a film I had failed to respond to 40 years ago. The first version of The Haunting seemed to me stilted and just a little silly. However I seemed to be in very much a minority in taking this view, so I gave the new version a try during the dead zone between Christmas and the new year. I found it just about worth watching. The effects are goodish, but we have been there before with Poltergeist, and in the meantime there has been a very similar film about somewhere called Hell House (this one takes place in Hill House) and I experienced a strong sense of déjà vu. The acting is only good average. Lili Taylor as Nell has the most opportunities and she acquits herself quite well. Catherine Zeta-Jones has - how can one put it? - considerable presence but still gives a fairly run-of-the-mill performance, and the film is really a terrible waste of Neeson. Apart from anything else, his American accent goes to pieces when he shouts. Far and away the best thing is the sets. The interiors are fine gothic efforts, but the building itself was what fascinated me most. I was too slow to spot whether it was Harlaxton Manor, which I recall from another film which I have forgotten in every other respect, but it was from the same general area, and if that part of England contains more than one building like this it looks like somewhere worth visiting. 3 stars mainly because this is the season of good will.
Rating: Summary: POINTLESS REMAKE! Review: I would rather give a positive review to something I like but I must attack this sickening trend. There seems to be a revolt by the new film makers in Hollywood to cast off the achievement of the great directors by remaking their movies into CGI affected trash. The best CGI can be found in commercials so where is the novelty in that? This film takes unwarranted credit by calling itself "The Haunting" in total disregard of it's 1963 predecessor or Shirley Jackson's Book! A total waste of time and talent for the actors. Nothing has been added to improve the plot. In fact a lot of the script that offered an intelligent perspective into the supernatural is lost. If Hollywood has been completely exhausted of originality then why don't they revive and improve the long list of B films that had good ideas. They failed in credibility because they did not have the budget to rise to their full potential. This is a respectable challenge! Instead they envy and tarnish the value of accomplished classics by making pointless remakes!
Rating: Summary: The Haunting (1999 Version) Review: I gave this 5 stars because that is what this site makes the highest rate. I actually give 100 stars. Anybody who reviewed this as a dumb movie are nothing but dumb themselves. This movie is a classic. The 1963 version sucked big time. This remake is nothing less than a classic. The special effects are unbelievably incredible. Lily Taylor is in the role of ELEANOR "NELL" VANCE. I though did a great job playing the part. You sort of felt sad for her. Catherine Zeta-Jones is in the role of THEO. The role was definitely for her. She was excellent in this role. She has to be the most beautiful actress I've ever seen. Owen Wilson is in the role of LUKE SANDERSON. This guy gets under my skin badly, but I did like him in this. He did a good job playing this role. Liam Neeson is in the role of DR. DAVID MARROW. I don't think he's that much of a good actor. He was okay in this role. I wish that would have gotten somebody better do this role. This is movie that should be watched carefully before criticisms are made. A lot of people say this movie was dumb. They don't know how to watch movies carefully. Nobody should miss this movie.
Rating: Summary: Must I even give it one star? Review: Crass, vulgar, ridiculous farce of a film that regrettably retains none of the keen psychological portraits in Jackson's novel. Believe me, I am no stickler for slavish literary adaptations. When changes need to be made for cinematic purposes, I utterly support a director's choice to do so. Here, however, Jackson's work is not even on display in spirit; instead, this juvenile, special effects laden mess is marred by a juvenile screenplay and lousy performances from good actors. Even Liam Neeson publicly declared his utter disgust with this production. If only the filmmakers had taken the Robert Wise film version as inspiration; it is by no means faultless but is a masterpiece compared to this dreck. Only those folks who adore CGI will appreciate this film, and to them I say "enjoy." To those looking for characters or true chills, try "The Innocents," "The Changeling," "The Legend of Hell House," or the original "The Haunting" instead.
Rating: Summary: It does NOT suck!!!!! Review: I don't care what all those other people say, this movie ROCKS!! I have not read the book, but even if I had, I would still say this rocks. It has so much suspence and horrific scenes that scare you stupid you'll be curled up in a little ball by the end of it. A doctor interested in the effects of fear and it's symptoms calls apon a group of people, telling them that he wants to help them with their sleeping disorders. But instead, they find out that he is actually studing fear, which is going to be perfect for the horror which is soon to take over them within Hill House.
Rating: Summary: in the crappy tradition of houseonhauntedhill and 13 ghosts Review: there are some pretty crappy haunted house movies out there like 1999's House On Haunted Hill and 2001's 13 Ghosts, people who find those scary and intelligent should be shot because their a heap of junk. this one is alittle bit above both but the story and characters drop it in some parts. Lili Taylor at the end is horrible but Liam Neeson and Owen Wilson add some spark and some comedy to it especially Wilson and Catherine Zeta Jones is ok as well as the bisexual. strictly a horrible remake done by DeBont after the classic original
Rating: Summary: Terrible...! Review: Since this movie had plenty of razzle-dazzle eye candy special-FX, I will not count it as a classic B-movie. Instead, it's just a tragic failure that's not even scary with bad acting, boring characters who have absolutely NO character development, and a plot that may sound original at first, but gets REALLY boring later. After reading some of these reviews here, I decided to watch it anyways even if everybody else didn't like it cause I might have. NOPE. I now know what everyone here was talking about. I think that this is the MOST crappiest Haunted House movie in a long time that should have only gotten a straight-to-video release because it's very dull! TRUST ME, I know horror movies! If you're looking for a good haunted house flick, then watch "The House On Haunted Hill" (1999) or "Thir13een Ghosts" (2001) because they are at least scary and intelligent!
Rating: Summary: EH Review: Laughable special effects, but Lili Taylor is super-great and who can down a film where CZJ plays a hot bisexual? Something fun to watch while drinking cheap liquor and eating Cheetos.
Rating: Summary: Very interesting and suspenceful Review: I found this movie to be a good scary movie to watch, and im sure all will enjoy the suspence and horror of this movie,it is worth watching and I hope all have fun with it...
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