Anyone else see "The Haunted Mansion?" (spoilers
Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2003 1:05 pm
We finally saw the movie Thursday night. I have to say that there was very little from the ride that was left out - the Raven was all over the place. About the only ghosts I didn't see were the two Egyptians who sit on the chandelier in the ballroom, and for all I know I missed them somewhere in that gaggle of ghosts. I think that it must be very difficult for the writers to come up with something based on a ride, knowing that they have to incorporate a major amount of elements from the ride yet come up with a plot that isn't lame or predictable.
Having said that, I didn't enjoy the movie as much as my husband did. Considering that they had to write it for a family audience, it was slightly lame, and frankly, I've never found Eddie Murphy charming, but that's just me. Terrance Stamp was really good, Wallace Shawn was his usual self (which is like saying Gilbert Gottfriend was his usual self) the kids and the wife were good. I found Master Gracie rather puzzling (albeit handsome, charming and lovesick). The mansion is in Louisiana bayou country, his grandfather built the mansion, yet he spoke with a British accent. Shouldn't he have been a Southern gentleman? I did rather enjoy the way they played with poor Madame Leota, and the park's own Dapper Dans were the voices of the singing busts in the graveyard, schtick included. During the crypt scene, all I could think of were the Michael Jackson "Thriller" and "Ghost" videos. I would like to see it again from a design standpoint - I like what they did with the costumes and sets. From a "see it for the plot" standpoint, I'd have to pass... :?
Having said that, I didn't enjoy the movie as much as my husband did. Considering that they had to write it for a family audience, it was slightly lame, and frankly, I've never found Eddie Murphy charming, but that's just me. Terrance Stamp was really good, Wallace Shawn was his usual self (which is like saying Gilbert Gottfriend was his usual self) the kids and the wife were good. I found Master Gracie rather puzzling (albeit handsome, charming and lovesick). The mansion is in Louisiana bayou country, his grandfather built the mansion, yet he spoke with a British accent. Shouldn't he have been a Southern gentleman? I did rather enjoy the way they played with poor Madame Leota, and the park's own Dapper Dans were the voices of the singing busts in the graveyard, schtick included. During the crypt scene, all I could think of were the Michael Jackson "Thriller" and "Ghost" videos. I would like to see it again from a design standpoint - I like what they did with the costumes and sets. From a "see it for the plot" standpoint, I'd have to pass... :?
