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House on Haunted Hill (1999), a review by Jimmy

Title: House on Haunted Hill (1999)

Genre: Horror
Director: William Malone
Rating: R
Length: 1h33
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1:78.1
Audio: English
Subtitles: English and French

Stars:
Geoffrey Rush   
Famke Janssen
Taye Diggs
Peter Gallagher   
Chris Kattan

Plot:
One night in the house, one million bucks, no questions asked. But there is a catch for anyone who accepts the offer. Murder is a way of life at the House on Haunted Hill, a jolting, effects-ramped remake of the 1959 cult classic that starred Vincent Price and was directed by screen horror legend William Castle. Geoffrey Rush plays twisted theme park bigshot Steven Price, who's hosting a scary/jokey birthday bash for his wife (Famke Janssen) at an abandoned institute for the criminally insane. Taye Diggs, Ali Larter, Bridgette Wilson, Peter Gallagher and Chris Kattan portray strangers mysteriously assembled for the event that could make them all very rich. Or profoundly dead. And you? We won't start the party without you.

Even if it's a remake I've appreciated that film. Not that it's the scariest movie ever made since it isn't really frightening, but it's a good ghost story (or mabe it isn't ), Most of the effects are practical effects wich is always a plus for me (but when they use the computer effects this is awfull, optical effects would have done the trick without looking fake). The acting is perfectly convenable, Geoffrey Rush do a good job in the role belonging to Vincent Price in the original and, since I love Ali Larter, I was more than happy at the end of the film. But on the other side Chris Kattan is highly annoying as usual...

Not the best film ever made, but better than expected.

Rating :

(From Jimmy's - 2013 Ooctober Horror Marathon on October 13th, 2013)

To Kill a Mockingbird, a review by Rich

To Kill a Mockingbird



Robert Mulligan's classic adaptation of Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, set in the racially charged atmosphere of Macon County, Alabama in the 1930s, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is a poignant coming-of-age story. Winner of four Academy Awards including Best Screenplay (written by Horton Foote), and Best Actor (Gregory Peck), TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is a timeless film packed with beautiful scenes and meaningful life lessons. The story is told from the vantage point of a young girl nicknamed Scout (Mary Badham) whose widowed white father Atticus Finch (Peck), an attorney, decides on principle to defend a black man (Brock Peters) charged with raping a poor white woman. But the bigoted townspeople would rather lynch the accused than try him, and they make life hellish for the lawyer, his daughter, and his son Jem (Philip Alford). While their father is in the throes of the trial, his bright, inquisitive children learn a hard and unforgettable lesson in justice, morality, and prejudice, part of which requires overcoming an unfounded fear of their mysterious neighbour Boo Radley (Robert Duvall).

Twee American classic, for the year it was produced it must have been controversial in some of its delicately handled content, albeit of course set in 30's Alabama.
The book I read back in school many years ago, and I think the adaptation keeps the original authors intent. The black and white production, novel film angles, sympathetic score and intelligent direction are plusses, the only real problem I had with the film was it's overly long length and at times 'finger on fast forward' desire to speed up the pace.
Peck does a credible job as Addicus, but the film is stolen by both children actors, especially the tomboy who played Scout, who narrates the film.
Worth a recommendation 




(From Riches Random Reviews on January 28th, 2009)

"Due South" marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

You Must Remember This

This one really didn't impress me all that much. I found it to be slow and boring for the most part. I also found who the girl was as being pretty obvious... I figured it was something like that early on into the episode.

My Rating:

Last couple in a row I wasn't very impressed with... I hope it picks back up here soon!

(From "Due South" marathon on July 15th, 2009)