MOVIE REVIEW: The Haunting (1999)

RELEASE DATE: July 23rd, 1999

DIRECTOR: Jan de Bont

MAIN CAST: Liam Nelson. Catherine Zeta Jones, Owen Wilson

IMDB Story Line

When Eleanor, Theo, and Luke decide to take part in a sleep study at a huge mansion they get more than they bargained for when Dr. Marrow tells them of the house's ghostly past.

WHAT I LIKED

Regardless of my over all opinion, the movie had a lot of strong qualities. The big house was the real star of the house. The mystery of it's over all floor plan was amazing. The green house, the mirror carousel and all of the statues and grand scale of the house was awesome. 

The movie had a over all good strong plot and story line. The visual effects where well done, it had a great cast. Lili Taylor (Nell) was the strongest part of the movie but was not listed as a lead cast member according to IMDB. I felt she had a stronger lead then the three listed.

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE

With all the great qualities of the movie it was not put together well. While you had a great cast it was as if the screenplay was not written right. It did not bring forth their best acting talents. Some parts where to over written. While the part of Mrs Dudley talking about the dark was amusing , it seemed to funny. The trailer mislead you into thinking this was a dark scary ghost movie movie, it did have the elements but did not deliver the goose bumps. I expected more from director Jan de Bont who gave us such great movies like " Die Hard (1988) The Hunt for Red October (1990) and Basic Instinct (1992)

SIDE NOTES: 

I seen the movie at the theater, and I am glad I did . It was a fun family day and we did over all enjoy the movie and I did buy the DVD. It was solid entertainment and the scope of the house made it big screen worthy. Depending on your family standards I can recommend it as a family movie. It was rated PG-13 which I think it could have been PG. I gave the movie a 6 out of 10 on the IMDB Scale  

MOVIE REVIEW: No Escape

RELEASE DATE: August 26 2015

DIRECTOR: John Erick Dowdle

MAIN CAST: Lake Bell, Pierce Brosan, Owen Wilson

IMDB Storyline

In their new overseas home, an American family soon finds themselves caught in the middle of a coup, and they frantically look for a safe escape in an environment where foreigners are being immediately executed.

WHAT I LIKED

This doing whatever it takes to protect your family in a situation you don't understand. This is about having a great job but don't understand what your a part of. Jack Dwyer (Owen Wilson) could have been the bad guy in this but clearly was not. If there ever was a movie about what a mother does to protect her children, it was in this movie. This was about being pushed way beyond you comfort zone> Annie Dwyer (Lake Bell) did not want to be in the situation she was in, but Jack was her coach and she was his when he needed.This was the Zombie Apocalypse with out the Zombies.

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE

I am a fan of Pierce Brosnan and I did not see or understand his character except he was there when jack needed him. The movie was less then two hours, and for this action packed movie to much time was spent on the Dwyer family coming for a new job and not explaining why the sent him to this God forsaken country. There was just a a lot of small details that was not explained, but to the credit of the movie, maybe that was the plan to not get bogged down in details , but focus on the family. I am not sure.

Movie was rated R, With a couple less F words it could be a PG-13, but I am not sure if it is a family movie, that would depend on your family rules.

I will give this a 7 on IMDB, I seen this on the big screen thanks to GOFOBO.com , I am not sure if I will buy it on Blue Ray