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We have taken some photos of "The Haunted Mansion". They represent actual movie quality.

• oh the (commercial) horror! posted on 02 Aug 2009

  Up front: I didn't like this movie. I expected to not like it based on the reviews I'd read. I liked it even less than I expected upon seeing it. What I liked least: During that movie I kept thinking, "This is set up perfectly for Disney to make a theme ride at Disneyland." I felt like the movie was one big commercial that I PAYED to watch. It wasn't till after the movie that I found out that Disney already has a Haunted Mansion ride. Ugh. However, I laughed at some of the jokes and enjoyed some of the affects, but not much.

• Terrible, just plain terrible posted on 25 Jul 2009

  I had high hopes for this movie considering what a big deal the box office made this movie into but when I watched it for the first time, not even half way through the movie I was so disappointed in it. First of all, Eddie Murphy does not belong in this movie at all, he just does not fit in with this movie. And the leading lady was a poor choice as a supporting cast as well as the two bratty know it all kids who looked more like rejects from some shelter with crappy one liners through the movie. Even the plot of the story was bad, a man who fell in love with his fiance' in whom he was to marry dies of a supposedly suicide and years later he tries to bring her back to life and fall in love with him again by locating Eddie Murphys wife who we find that she is not his fiance' reincarnated but then she is and then she isn't again and the whole movie is just one mess. I wouldn't even recommend this movie to a child. There is nothing haunted about this movie movie more like stupid mansion is more like it. I don't know what has happened to poor Eddie but he really needs to change his direction in movie roles.

• Not as bad as everyone says! posted on 19 Jul 2009

  When this movie came out critics and audiences were saying how rubbish it was and it was a waste of time and money, but as i have a keen interest in the paranormal i still wanted to see it anyway and i glad i did! This is a family film but there are elements of adult horror here such as suicides, murder and even zombies! The story is of a typical workaholic dad who neglects his family and decides to take them away to make up for this, but when he receives a call asking him to sell a mansion he can't refuse so off he and his family go.Once there they meet the creepy butler Ramsley and the owner Mr Gracy who are obviously ghosts, and from then on all the supernatural events follow one-another from zombie reflections to levitating around a psychic in a crystal ball called Madame Leota. And i thought she was the best character in the film, not just because i'm a Jennifer Tilly fan but because she is very funny and has a strong personality for just a head.The effects are as amazing as the sets with the green glow of Madame Leota, the zombies and more even the people who didn't like this film can't deny that the effects are excellent. As i said the sets are also some of the best i've seen the mansion is absolutely breathtaking.The only thing that i think is bad with this movie is the child actors, they just look bored going round the mansion with straight faces even though they follow ghostly orbs into unknown places. But apart from this the rest of the film is great fun for kids and for the adults who aren't afraid to turn their brain off for 90mins. WATCH IT!!!!

• Where do I begin... posted on 13 Jul 2009

  SPOILER Remember this movie people...This movie marks the final nail in the coffin of Eddie Murphy's once proud career. A career which saw him fall from the heights of Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop to the lowly depths of the done-to-death workaholic father, Jim Evers.I can honestly say without a hint of exaggeration that this is by a sizable margin, the worst film I have ever seen in my life.The fact that this drivel was aimed at children is of no consequence, it should never have been allowed to come into existence. I can only imagine what mind bending drugs Eddy Murphy was on when he decided it would be a positive career move to appear in this poorly written, poorly directed, poorly performed cheese-fest.The words cliché, predictable & tiresome don't even begin to describe my thoughts as I shook my head again and again at the droll that was being thrust into my brain. Throughout the rather originally titled 'Haunted Mansion' I was quite frankly embarrassed to have sat witness to a storyline and character base so mind numbingly tragic. It is evident that Director Rob Minkoff felt that once he had gotten Eddy Murphy to sign on the dotted line, all he had to do was churn out more tried and tested Hollywood pap and wait for payday.Let me summarise: Workaholic and his kids arrive at a haunted house, surprisingly, some scary stuff happens and then everybody learns a valuable lesson... oh, and at the risk of spoiling the intricately woven plot... the Butler did it.Everybody involved in this movie should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves... and I mean everybody.

• Big disappointment for a big Haunted Mansion fan. posted on 05 Jun 2009

  For anyone who's a big fan of the ride, prepare to be both delighted and disappointed. The basic atmosphere of the film is right in line with the ride, and it's obvious that the script-writers & producers made sure to include as many Haunted Mansion staples as they could (examples: the classic "many-eyed" purple wallpaper, the singing busts, the Hitchhiking Ghosts, and even the bulging door which is featured in the Corridor of Doors). Even the opening of the movie starts off with a shout-out to the ride's staple Ghost Host monologue, with an eerie utterance of, "Welcome, foolish mortals...". Unfortunately, then the movie begins.Where they excelled in the set, they lost in the script. The actual storyline isn't a bad one: Trapped inside the Mansion by the reminder of his long lost love, the ghost of Master Gracey seeks out who he believes to be the reincarnation of his lost Bride - Mrs. Evers, the wife & business partner of real-estate fanatic Jim Evers (played by Eddie Murphy). But aside from a backstory with good potential, the dialogue is cheesy and forced, and the acting is below-par. Eddie Murphy does what he can, and Jennifer Tilly has some shine as the psychic Madame Leota, but the characters never seem to match up with the tone that the movie calls for.The addition of the Evers' children is an irritating one. The tacked-on side-theme of "Face your fears/it's okay to be scared" is out of place (even in a ghost movie), especially when the son's idiotic fear of spiders almost gets them killed by rampaging zombies. Instead of sympathizing with the child, I felt like punching him. Pirates of the Caribbean excelled in that, though based off of a children's ride, they left out extraneous and pointless child roles.Still, if you're going into the movie based on your sheer love of the ride, you're sure to get some enjoyment out of seeing the Haunted Mansion ride cast onto the big screen.

• An unanticipated surprise posted on 24 May 2009

  After reading all the negative reviews, my daughter and I went to see it with very low expectations. (Basically we both enjoy the Disney attraction and wanted to see what touches from it ended up on the screen.) While I won't go so far as to say this was one of the best films of the year, it certainly was a lot better than it has been portrayed, and I'm sorry if people (especially families) are missing it because unfounded bad reviews.Even before this movie and "Pirates of the Caribbean" were released, the critics were throwing barbs at the filmmakers for using a theme park ride as an inspiration. When "Pirates" turned out to be excellent fun, I can only think the critics turned their sights on trashing "Mansion" no matter how it turned out.For those who give it a chance, it's a fun ride (pun intended). The supporting cast (especially the inhabitants of the Mansion) do more interesting work than Eddie, who does unfortunately overact through much of the first half, but the story moves well and has a lot of delightful touches. It also succeeds where so many films fail in combining comedy, horror (or at least a little scary stuff), and genuine emotion (i.e. the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" television series goal) without getting into the truly violent/gross category of something like "The Frighteners". My daughter and I found it charming.

• Creaky Murphy vehicle posted on 22 May 2009

  THE HAUNTED MANSION (2003) ** Eddie Murphy, Marsha Tomason, Terence Stamp, Jennifer Tilly, Wallace Shawn, Dina Spybey, Marc John Jefferies, Aree Davis. Based on Disney's popular theme park attraction and adapted for the big-screen for a Murphy vehicle the results are middling at best but what more could you expect when the source material is a theme park attraction??? Murphy and his wife/real-estate partner Tomason are summoned to the dank Gracey estate to possibly sell the imposing edifice only to instead be held by the ghost-inhabited home by its owner (and long deceased) Tomason who in a past life fell in love with Tomason's doppleganger , cursed to remain until their love has been vanquished once and for all. The amazing production design by John Myhre adds an element of eerie elegance and Rick Baker's make-up spirits are right on the money in the spooky department yet the whole film feels half-baked at best and occasionally entertaining (I liked Tilly as the disembodied fortune teller). (Dir: Rob Mikoff)

• The Haunted Mansion = The Sleepy Viewer posted on 08 May 2009

  I don't know if it was due to lack of sleep but both my darling wife and I could barely keep ourselves awake through this.It just seemed to drag on without really going anywhere and by the time the importance of Eddie's wife was highlighted, we looked at each other thinking "Is that all?" and promptly switched off.The kids were annoying and Eddie's character was dull. We were waiting to be either scared or amused but it simply never came.I am guilty of not sitting through the whole movie - I promise if it comes to TV I may watch the second half... if I happen to be tied to an armchair in front of the box with eyelid retractors in place.

• it's better than wednesday night t.v. posted on 04 May 2009

  This was an o.k. movie for a wednesday night {no decent t.v. shows on}. The special effects were good and it was really cute BUT-I sure thought it would be a lot funnier, especially since Eddie Murphy was starring. The actors were all good, and the story stuck to the premise of the ride. I enjoyed it all in all BUT I sure wish it would have been funny.

• The Haunted Mansion posted on 02 May 2009

  Like Pirates of the Caribbean, this is another film based on one of the Disneyland attractions, I think the only reason I wanted to see it was because of the leading actor and some of the co-stars, I didn't really think of the story or anything, from director Rob Minkoff (The Lion King, Stuart Little). Basically Jim Evers (Eddie Murphy) is a workaholic real estate salesman, and his wife and business partner Sara (Marsha Thomason) is getting annoyed with him working so much, and on the day of their anniversary. So Jim suggests going on a vacation to a lake with their kids, Michael (Marc John Jefferies) and Megan (Aree Davis), just after he's stopped off at a mansion Jim got a strange call about from owner Master Edward Gracey (Nathaniel Parker), looking to sell the property. Unfortunately not long after arriving, the mysterious butler Ramsley (Terence Stamp) insists they stay the night because of the bad weather, and one by one they realise the mansion is haunted. Jim ends up in a secret passageway, the kids follow a floating ball in the attic, and Gracey is being very obsessive of Sara, the kids find out she looks exactly like Gracey's dead wife from a painting. Jim and the kids discover the dark secrets of the mansion from Madame Leota (Jennifer Tilly), a talking head crystal ball, and they are all now trying to stop the obsessive Gracey from getting Sara, with Ramsley and other nasty dead creatures standing in their way. Also starring Toy Story's Wallace Shawn as Ezra and Dina Waters as Emma. Murphy is good at adding small jokes to the not very scary horror feel, the only bit that really made me giggle a lot was the singing head statues, but other than that, I think the kids will enjoy it more than the adults. Adequate!

• Ride the ride, skip the movie. posted on 30 Apr 2009

  For me The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland is one of my favorite rides at the entire park. I put it high on my list along with Splash Mountain and Space Mountain. I even enjoy it more than Pirates of the Carribean. I even have a copy of the limited soundtrack of the entire ride, as well as the other "Haunted" houses at Disney parks worldwide. For me The Haunted Mansion was the ultimate spook house ride, adding thrills, chills, with state of the art special effects. When I saw the movie, my hopes were high considering that the Disney Studio did a decent job of making a ride into a film with PIRATES, but after watching the movie, I was extremely disappointed. The story involves Jim Evers (Eddie Murphy) a successful real estate seller along with his wife/partner Sara (Marsh Thompson). When the Evers advertisement flier was left in front of the mansion, Sara gets a phone call to arrive at the mansion alone for a proposition. Jim who messed up his anniversary, decides to take Sara and their two children, 13 year old Megan (Aree Davis) and 10 year old Michael (Marc John Jefferies) along with them to the lake. But when Jim hears Sara taking the phone call about the mansion, he sees it as a real estate opportunity. When they arrive at the mansion, they are greeted by a emotionless and creepy butler Ramsley (Terence Stamp) who works for Master Gracey (Nathaniel Parker). The mystery about why Ramsley and Gracey invited Sara to the mansion has something to do with Gracey's past, as Jim along with Megan and Michael discover the secrets among the mansion. I will say that when I was watching the movie, at the beginning it looked very promising. The story for the movie was going along with the ride and I was getting pleased with the film. Then after the credits, and opening scene, Eddie Murphy's character appears, and for a few minutes I thought I was watching deleted scenes or a sequel to DADDY DAY CARE. I was sitting there wondering, this movie is "The Haunted Mansion?" This is suppose to be based on the ultimate spook ride on any amusement park, and it seems way too much like a family comedy. Then as the movie progressed, I was pleased with the sets, the costumes, and even the plot involving Ramsley and Master Gracey, but it was the presence of Eddie Murphy that was really bothering me. It felt like that I was riding the Haunted Mansion ride, yet I was sitting next to an obnoxious and chatter mouth man in the "doom buggy," (which is how I felt about Eddie Murphy in this film). Then more things began to bother me, the throw away characters of Ezra (Wallace "Inconceivable!" Shawn) and Emma (Dina Spybey). It's bad enough that Shawn has to keep saying "Unexplainable!" to try to get some laughs out of the adults who recognize him from PRINCESS BRIDE (it doesn't work). Then there is the character of Madame Leota (Jennifer Tilly) who I thought was a great choice for the film and does appear at first to be what I expected, similar to the ride, creepy and mysterous. Then, in order to obtain the "Disney cuteness" they make her a reoccurring character, even having a scene with the crystal ball being fasten in a seatbelt in a car, oh boy. I did enjoy also the references the movie made to the ride (the statues that follow your move before going on the doom buggie). Then there were scenes where some of the ride refrences could have been a little more scarier or just plain better. Like the singing statues, they should have been singing "Grim Grining Ghosts" a song that is used on the ride and even creates that frightening image of their presence. Instead, for yuks they sing "By the Light of the Silvery Moon" or "She'll Be Comimg 'Round the Mountain," ho ho, ha ha. For me it seemed like that director Rob Minkoff was trying to use elements from GHOSTBUSTERS and THE MUMMY in trying to make HAUNTED MANSION successful, he failed. What he should have done was watch PIRATES then possibly rework the film to get the feel of what it takes to make a feature film based on a popular theme park attraction. Also, Eddie Murphy, I felt was a MAJOR casting error. It gets very annoying very fast when a actor has to make a wise-crack with every scary image or object that is being shown. Plus, like all comedians, when the actor is "mugging" the camera thinking the material is funny, it's not funny to the audience. Comedy works with reaction and surprise, by telling a joke and thinking it's funny, the joke turns out to be annoying, and that is what Murphy was in this film. I enjoy Eddie Murphy, TRADING PLACES, 48 HRS., and BEVERLY HILLS COP were great! Even Eddie Murphy "toned down" in NUTTY PROFESSOR, BOWFINGER, SHOWTIME, and DADDY DAY CARE were enjoyable. Then again, Murphy starred in VAMPIRE IN BROOKLYN and PLUTO NASH, and we all know how those films turned out. In this film, he comes off more annoying than anything else, similar to his vocal role in SHREK (which I thought was a very overrated film), it seems that Murphy was limited to what he could say and react since Disney wanted this to be "a blockbuster family film." Murphy should have gotten advice from Ramsley (Terence Stamp who also co-starred with Murphy in the hilarious BOWFINGER) with K.I.T. (keep it together) and that is what Murphy really should have done with his performance in this film.Why did Minkoff try to make HAUNTED MANSION more cute than frightening? Because it carried the Disney logo? That didn't stop other more intellectual and dark films like BLACK HOLE and TRON from being made. It seems that PIRATES director Gore Verbinski didn't set any barriers with tone of violence and fright and made PIRATES a enjoyable picture. With HAUNTED MANSION, Minkoff appeared to try to make the film scary, but not too scary, since I'm sure the Disney executives were saying, "there will be five year olds in the audience, this is our blockbuster Holiday family picture Rob." Overall, I wanted to enjoy THE HAUNTED MANSION but I couldn't, and I'm pretty darn lenient when it comes to liking movies (I enjoyed LEAGUE OF EXTRADONARY GENTLEMEN for pete's sake!) But it felt like I was cheated and robbed of what I wanted this movie to be. The movie had the sets, make-up, and special effects; but that doesn't make it a good movie. I haven't been this disappointed in a anticipated film since MEN IN BLACK II. Go ahead and see it, but... BEWARE! *** (out of five)

• could have been better! posted on 14 Apr 2009

  this could have been a much better movie if the producers had not tried to make a family friendly horror-comedy. a film like this works better if you try to scare your audience.the inclusion of kids in this flick already told me that nothing serious was going to happen to anybody. the two kid actors in this flick were not really needed,and as far as i could tell did not help the story.they could have been given more to do. a fair amount of mild scares,some good production design,and good special effects kept it from becoming a total snorefest.eddie needs funnier material and needs to get away from "family" films a little more. do more mature stuff or at least pick better scripts . enjoy the disney ride, forget this movie.

• Not really that good, but I guess it was 'okay' posted on 12 Apr 2009

  'The Haunted Mansion' was not that good, to me it was just 'okay'. The movie had good special effects and as always Eddie Murphy was hilarious, but still, I think it could've been better, but then again it was a Walt Disney movie which frankly means it's for the younger children. I personally think if it wasn't Disney it could've been better and if the rating was about PG-13 or Rated R then it would be awesome, with lot's of gore and blood and a different ending... Don't get me wrong, it was a sweet ending, but it was just TOO sweet and I thought it was just too obvious and predictable. The twist was predictable and well, I don't really consider that a twist because I think with one look at the butler everybody knew it was him...As I said, this movie was 'okay', but I don't really recommend it, if you want to watch go ahead and do so. C-

• Mindless Escape posted on 04 Apr 2009

  Movies are supposed to bring you to places you have never been, and this movie does that. It brings the audience into a Mansion that is hundreds of years old. The mansion is beautifully decorated and detailed. Oh yes, and it is haunted. Eddie Murphy and his wife are real estate agents. Eddie's character is a workaholic. His wife complains, and Eddie agrees to take a family camping trip away from work. On the way to the camping trip, Eddie convinces his wife to visit a Mansion that just went on the market. The family ends up being prisoners of the mansion. Oh yeah, and this mansion is haunted.This movie has great special effects. The computer graphics are good, and not considered annoying. This movie is a Disney movie. It would be appropriate for the whole family. The Ghosts are a little scary, but it is nothing the kids cannot handle. There really is not shocking violence either. For me this movie was perfect after a hard day of work. It was mindless escapism. It was funny and scary and dumb enough to help me forget my worries. Sometimes I just want to relax with a mindless movie. Not all movies have to make you think. This movie definitely did not make me think. Actually it successfully did its job by stopping the thinking process. The hour and a half I sat there, I did not have to stress about things like work, bills, ex-wife, etc… It brought me to a comfortable state of non-thought. 75/100

• Not for lovers of the thirty-five year-old Disney attraction posted on 27 Mar 2009

  Eddie Murphy? What genius thought up this lame script? Sure, they toss in a dozen homages to the original ride, but Disney flubbed a golden opportunity to create a classic film. Don't take one of the most-beloved rides from Disneyland/World, and come up with a sub-par comedy, with smart-mouthed kids, and a jabbering Eddie Murphy.Tech credits are great, though. Don't be fooled by the DVD's claim of a "Virtual Ride of The Haunted Mansion." I was expecting a recap of the actual park attraction, but was instead treated to a tour of the movie set.Also, Disney....why not just AVOID crude jokes and profanity in this type of family film? The scares alone garner the rating you desire. Don't dumb this down when it's not necessary. Have you not learned ANYTHING since "Watcher in the Woods"? (And THAT was definitely creepier.)

• Terrible posted on 21 Mar 2009

  All I Can say about this film is avoid it like the plauge. Murphy hasnt had a good film in years (shrek excluded) and this is much of the same bland attempt at humour. Totaly Unfunny and but together like a dogs dinner the whole film seems like its one strung out idea

• it's not Pirates, but... posted on 05 Mar 2009

  My mom, My dad, My cousin and I saw this last night... and, well...----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------...I was glad the critics were very wrong!!!! Sorry to mislead you, just upping the suspense. It was a very fun ride(no pun intended). Real estate team Jim Evers and his wife Sara are planning on a weekend at the lake with their kids when they get a phone call the night before to put a big mansion on the market. So they stop by on the way to the lake for what's supposed to be a "20 minute stop", and soon all hell breaks loose. It was very fun, thin plot(c'mon, it's based on a ride!), It's not Pirates of the Caribbean and for those expecting it to be need not see it. It's good Disney fun, and when you get out of the theater at the end, you'll be thankful it's NOTHING like the crude and boring Cat in the Hat.- The Haunted Mansion ****(4) out of *****(5)

• Actually not half-bad. posted on 24 Jan 2009

  'The Haunted Mansion' got a lot of bombs thrown at it by critics, and almost nobody liked it. Well, guess what: I did. It's a faithful homage to the ride, the actors are interesting, and the horror side of the story is appropriately creepy. The plot is partially based on the French version of the ride, and it's decent. Although the movie never answers the question of why Master Gracey (Nathaniel Parker, who's really good here) couldn't marry his sweetheart Elizabeth (who was black), the hints are pretty obvious. And I liked the whole concept of the curse (even though it doesn't make any sense). The little nods to the ride throughout the movie are fun, especially Jennifer Tilly as Madame Leota, a disembodied head inside a crystal ball who speaks in riddles. Tilly can do this husky-voiced role in her sleep, and I liked her (the special effects involving her are pretty neat too). Although Eddie Murphy is miscast, and there are zero laughs in the movie, his mugging for the camera doesn't hurt the movie. The kids are OK, and Marsha Thomason does what she can with a thankless role, but it's Terence Stamp who steals the movie. He is Ramsley, the sinister butler of Master Gracey. With his deep rumbling British accent, Stamp gives a deliciously over-the-top performance, and he does here what Johnny Depp did for 'Pirates of the Caribbean'. Back to Eddie Murphy for a minute: Although he earns no laughs, he plays noncomedic scenes well, and he has some good banter with Stamp. The production design of the mansion and the ghostly special effects are very cool, particularly a zombie attack that pushes the PG rating to it's limits. Is 'The Haunted Mansion' a great movie? Absolutely not; they could have punched up the comedy aspect of the movie. It's not a bad movie, though. I thought it was very entertaining, and it's certainly better than the awful trailers. Not as good as 'Pirates', but a fun ride nonetheless.

• Another Eddie Murphy Movie posted on 16 Jan 2009

  I'm sorry, but to my mind, Murphy's persona dominates any movie in which he stars. In this film, there isn't much to dominate. The story line is suitable for teenagers and older, but Disney tones it down for a pre-teen audience. It makes me want to see a filmed version of one of R. L. Stine's "Fear Street" novels.As for the acting, Murphy is, as usual, very entertaining, if not relevant to any plot. It's good to hear G-rated language coming out of his mouth.
  Jennifer Tilly as the Tracey Ullmanesqe Madame Leota gives the strongest supporting performance. Terence Stamp gives his usual yeoman performance.
  Marsha Thomason is a little bit too young to be convincing in her role.
  Mark John Jeffries seems to have a bit of a spark. The movie might have been better had they eliminated the role of the sister and given Jeffries more to do.All in all, a pleasant, if innocuous, way to spend an afternoon or evening with the children.

• Not what I'd hoped for. posted on 08 Jan 2009

  I want and saw this movie today and it wasn't what I thought it would be. i thought the previews and commercials for it hyped it up too much and it was sort of a let down. It was funny but kinda of a bummer. I was hoping for a good movie like Pirates of the Caribbean. It's worth seeing if you like the ride but I wouldn't hope for too much from it.