Rating: Summary: NOT UP TO THE ORIGINAL Review: One of the best actors in contemporary films is Lili Taylor. She was the only element of this film to make it worth viewing. Everyone was likeable, but the screeplay's potential, about the house's secret, never climbed to the level of suspense. The ghostly manifestations scream "computer" and this works against any creation of an eerie atmosphere. The one excellent eerie moment is Lili Taylor looking at her reflection in the mirror. One thing that amazed me, apart from the screenplay, was how attracted I was to Lili Taylor whom I never previously regarded in that way. Catharine Zita Jones played the sexy character, but, for my money, Lili Taylor was far more appealing in both personality and physical look.
Rating: Summary: Great Review: The Haunting has to be one of the best movies. I diagree with the people that gave it one star. This movie may not be very scary, but they picked good acters and actresess. Lili Taylor and Katherine Zeta-Jones did a great job. I have to admit they went a little overboard with the special effects.
Rating: Summary: Very poor story Review: The only good thing about this movie are the special effects. The story is poor, and even when it has great artists, they become secondary to the story. It is one of the worst horror movies I have ever seen, and it is basically because of the lack of arguments behind the story.After choosing it, my girlfriend banned me for six months of choosing the movie to see togheter. (And I think I deserved it)
Rating: Summary: Completely wasted opportunity Review: The wretched mangling of this remake of "The Haunting" is not only disappointing, but downright ridiculous. Jan De Bont forsakes even the most minimal character and atmosphere development for overblown (and all-too-obvious) CGI effects, resulting in a lot of unintentional laughter, (especially the ending, which was funnier than most alledged "comedies") but, unfortunately, not enough to make it a really good "bad" movie. As we all know, stories involving the supernatural, and especially "haunted house" stories, depend entirely on the establishment of MOOD and the gradual building of suspense, neither of which is ever present here. This is especially glaring because the interior sets of the house are spectacular (they alone are responsible for the one star in the rating); a wonderfully phantasmagoric mix of all sorts of architectural periods and styles that form a truly creepy and surreal space to be in. In the hands of a more talented director, the use of these sets alone, combined with creative sound design, could have produced a much scarier movie. Watch the original 1963 version to see what I mean. In the end, the most galling thing about the whole mess is the sheer amount of technical talent wasted; a lot of craftspeople clearly put in a lot of effort to create the film's look and style, only to have their work denigrated by a weak script, poor storytelling and inept, sloppy direction. Rent it if you must (just to see the inside of the house), but if you're not concerned with that, buy or rent the original instead, which is still creepy even after all these years.
Rating: Summary: Don't Believe Everything You Hear Review: The WORD on this film kept me away from it since its release last summer, a similar fate experienced by the Anthony Hopkins, Cuba Gooding Jr. film, INSTINCT. In both cases, when I couldn't find anything else available at the video store, I ended up enjoying two very entertaining (key word, ENTERTAINING) DVD films. I agree that Liam Neeson 's stature was overkill for his character. But overall, it was a fine ensemble cast. The NON-COMPUTER generated effects were outstanding and deserve credit for the creators. And, if you have just assembled a good home theatre sound system, the Haunting is a must! To put it into perspective, Star Wars Phantom Menace was last year's truly Bad Movie...not the Haunting.
Rating: Summary: Good special effects, lame otherwise Review: The special effects are the only thing that saved this movie. The characters are shallow, the plot is either non-existant or predictable, and the ending is unbelievable. If you're interested in this movie, I would recommend the 1963 version instead. It doesn't rely so heavily on special effects and in turn has great characterization and plot (not to mention a more believable setting). The DVD takes longer than usual to cue up or didn't work at all in both my players. (I tried two different discs, same problem.)
Rating: Summary: A Lame Ghost Wannabe Review: Very sad. If you must, rent the ORIGINAL Haunting--a very good flick. This film suffers from the Hollywood mentality: that special effects and big name actors can rescue a weak plot. Was there a single scare in the film? No. Was the ending telegraphed right from the start? Yes. CGI spirits do not make for chills.
Rating: Summary: THAT PICTURE! Review: The picture of the old man gives me the creeps, it looks like a werewolf! This is a wicked, wild and funny movie! 4 THUMBS UP! A great action, horror, suspense film that keeps you on the edge of your seat!
Rating: Summary: A Masterpiece Review: I don't know about the rest of you, but I thought that this movie was scary. You know why? Because it is so different from the bloody horror pictures we see today. It is so intriguingly odd that it sends a chill down your back. The acting, scenery and directing are superb. It has some very strange moments that will make you think twice before going to sleep at night. Let's start with the house. The mere fact that someone would build a house that huge and so scary-looking on purpose is strange. It had hundreds of rooms for children, that ended up dead, and even a carosel to entertain them. It reminds you of a haunted fun house. The acting, directing and ornate scenery were superb. All hail to Lili Taylor for her fantastic performance of Nell, the MAIN character. Jan deBont once again fascinates with his creative, odd and frighteningly entertaining revival of this Shirley Jackson classic novel. The story is somewhat different, odd, and freaky. That fact that it is just so strange is what makes it scary. And the scenery is the icing on the cake. While some may think that the magnificent house was overdone, I found it beautiful, haunting, and a lot of fun to search through. So, for those of you who want a good mystery to watch with your kids, buy THE HAUNTING. It is suitable for childrens eyes because of it's Fun House qualities. But it can freak you out. It haunts you as you watch it, but it really is a fun movie. The noises scare you as the ghosts of the children have a little bit of fun with you. You'll love it!
Rating: Summary: The Haunting Review: A MUST SEE TERROR WITH AN UNEXPECTED TWIST. ONE TO BUY TO WATCH AGAIN AND AGAIN.
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