The Haunted Mansion (2003)

User Rating:

4.8/10   

Director:

Rob Minkoff

Writer (WGA):

David Berenbaum (written by)

Release Date:

26 November 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Check your pulse at the door... if you have one.

Plot:

When a workaholic visits a haunted house with his family during a job interview, he meets a ghost that teaches him a lesson about the importance of the family that he has neglected.

Plot Keywords:

Interracial Romance | Family | Beautiful Woman | Family Vacation | Dysfunctional Family

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Eddie Murphy	...	Jim Evers
Terence Stamp	...	Ramsley
Nathaniel Parker	...	Master Gracey
Marsha Thomason	...	Sara Evers
Jennifer Tilly	...	Madame Leota
Wallace Shawn	...	Ezra
Dina Waters	...	Emma
Marc John Jefferies	...	Michael
Aree Davis	...	Megan
Jim Doughan	...	Mr. Coleman
Rachael Harris	...	Mrs. Coleman (as Rachel Harris)
Steve Hytner	...	Mr. Silverman
Heather Juergensen	...	Mrs. Silverman
Jeremy Howard	...	Hitchhiking Ghost
Deep Roy	...	Hitchhiking Ghost

Also Known As:

Disney's The Haunted Mansion (USA) (complete title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for frightening images, thematic elements and language.

Runtime:

99 min | USA:88 min | UK:87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:10 | Iceland:L (video rating) | Malaysia:U | Australia:M (original rating) | Portugal:M/12 | USA:PG (certificate #40325) | South Korea:All | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG (re-rating on appeal) | Brazil:12 | Canada:PG | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12 | Netherlands:MG6 | Norway:11 | Philippines:G | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Zurich) | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Walt Disney Pictures

Trivia:

Following the massive success of Ghost Busters (1984), Disney green lit the film in the mid 80s. However they at first would only give permission for the film to be made if either Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Rick Moranis would play the lead role.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Jim and the kids are outside the crypt you can see fog slowly creeping up towards them. Then when Jim and the daughter go inside and are trying to get out, the fog is at the sons feet. In the next shot or two the fog goes back to slowly creeping up upon them.

Quotes:

Madame Leota: Angels in Heaven, together at last. The tale is well ended for those who have passed. Love endures all, no reason, no rhyme. It lasts forever and forever all the time.
Megan: Mom, Leota won't shut up.
Michael: Are we there yet?
Megan: I'm getting pretty hungry.
Michael: Can we stop for some pizza?
Jim: Hey, how long before we get there, Sara?
Sara Evers: 20 minutes, tops.
Jim: Nothing takes 20 minutes.

Movie Connections:

References 20000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)

Soundtrack:

By the Light of the Silvery Moon

I see dead movies!

Another nail in the coffin of Eddie Murphy's career, The Haunted Mansion is a slap-dash attempt to cash in on The Pirates of the Caribbean, an infinitely more successful and better film based on a Disneyland ride. There's just nothing here to write about--very little human drama and not enough computer wizardry to keep you from noticing you don't care about the humans.

About the only two things worth mentioning are Jennifer Tilly's fairly funny Madame Leota, a wisecracking Gypsy trapped in a bright green crystal medicine ball and Marsha Thomason, not for any acting ability but simply that she is beautiful and her beauty relieves some of the boredom.

Oh, well. At least it didn't have some character pontificating, "Follow your heart!"--the ubiquitous and hackneyed Disney message