The Haunted Mansion (Widescreen Edition)

After seeing Pirates of the Caribbean I was impressed that a ride could be made into a really good movie. And when I heard that the Haunted Mansion was being made into a movie I was excited. But then the trailers came out and I was even more excited.

It wasn't everything I had hoped for but its still worth a see and a rent/buy.

I like Eddie Murphy a lot and this was a movie where he could really shine as Jim Evers, the workaholic dad.

The special effects on this film are amazing,the Zombies really had me scared and I don't think that they could have looked much better. The work on madame Leota is amazing.

THE RIDE
The Haunted Mansion was one of those rides that as a kid I would always want to go on but somewhere in the line I would regret it and get out of the line terrified of what would happen if I would go through the front doors. But one day I did and it quickly became one of my favorite rides.
The filmakers were able to take a lot of the ride and put it on the screen

-Madame Leota has a major part, and the séance room is a cross between the ride scene and a gypsy tent

-The singing busts appear, singing a verse from Grim Grinning Ghosts

-The Portrait Gallery is an almost exact replica of the one in the ride, although the portraits are somewhat different from the ride

-The ghost duellists from the ballroom scene

-Jim has to battle suits of armor in the film. This is a reference to the moving suit of armor in the rides

-The Hitchhiking Ghosts make an appearance

This film isn't perfect but for people who don't want to fly to California to see the real Haunted Mansion this about as close as you can get.

I really enjoyed this movie, as did the rest of my family. What appealed to me the most was the set design and costumes. Being huge fans of Halloween, we decorate extensively for the holiday and this movie is a great source of inspiration. Most importantly, it's just good family fun and a full-length Halloween themed movie the entire family can watch in contrast to all the slasher films popular that time of year that even I can't handle. The script really does a good job of including as much of the features of the Disney attraction in the storyline: The fortune-teller in the crystal ball, the singing busts, etc.

It's a little scary for littlest ones, but my kids could handle it OK and they first saw it at ages 1, 2 and 5! They are now 4, 5 and 8, and it continues to be a Halloween-time favorite. I should say, though, they've also seen all the Harry Potter films and both Pirates of the Carribean and weren't afraid of them...so if you've seen these films then you can gauge from them how your child will handle Haunted Mansion. Every parent knows their kids the best and can determine for themselves when their kids should see it.

I think those reviewers who gave it a low rating were unfairly expecting too much from it. Not every movie has to be Academy-award winning material to be enjoyable. This movie sets out to entertain families and it does just that.

I really enjoyed this movie, as did the rest of my family. What appealed to me the most was the set design and costumes. Being huge fans of Halloween, we decorate extensively for the holiday and this movie is a great source of inspiration. Most importantly, it's just good family fun and a full-length Halloween themed movie the entire family can watch in contrast to all the slasher films popular that time of year that even I can't handle. The script really does a good job of including as much of the features of the Disney attraction in the storyline: The fortune-teller in the crystal ball, the singing busts, etc.

It's a little scary for littlest ones, but my kids could handle it OK and they first saw it at ages 1, 2 and 5! They are now 4, 5 and 8, and it continues to be a Halloween-time favorite. I should say, though, they've also seen all the Harry Potter films and both Pirates of the Carribean and weren't afraid of them...so if you've seen these films then you can gauge from them how your child will handle Haunted Mansion. Every parent knows their kids the best and can determine for themselves when their kids should see it.

I think those reviewers who gave it a low rating were unfairly expecting too much from it. Not every movie has to be Academy-award winning material to be enjoyable. This movie sets out to entertain families and it does just that.

The main attraction to this dvd is the bonus features it contains. There is one feature which lets you become a home programmer in choosing the paths to "Disney's Virtual Ride Through The Haunted Mansion." Quite a nice feature, especially for halloween time. The other bonus features of special effects, costume designs, production values, bloopers, and music video are plentiful.
The movie itself is cotton candy for the horror comedy buff in us all, and not to be taken seriously. I must admit there are no actual scares in the movie at all, and even the final climax levels off the entire production scheme.
What can I say? In the end, instead of reading the book. . . go on the ride!

I think some critics are missing the mark when judging what are always the most successful (commercially and otherwise) markets in cinema: Family and positively themed movies.

Unlike the "Pirates of the Carribean" the links to the Disney Park's ride of the same name are more obvious and more fun! They serve as cinematic "easter eggs" that will appeal to anyone who's been to the ride. Yes, the story line is obvious within about the first fifteen minutes of the movie; but following that predictable path is never dull. Eddie Murphy's bravado, fading and rising with, first the realization that something is very wrong at the Gracie Manor, and then with the understanding that his family is threatened takes the audience along with him on this fun-house ride.

Supporting roles are, for the most part, predictable with the exception of the chilling performance of Terence Stamp and the surprise ending that unlocks "the curse!"

For very young children, be advised that there are some really scary special effects, courtesy of the current King of Scream, Rick Baker, but nothing that will leave mental or emotional scars and even my seven-year-old giggled her way through most of the movie.

A great film for the whole family, though your more jaded teens will be bored.