Haunted Mansion (2023)

 

Yes, I am a self-proclaimed Disney fan.  

I also admit for me no trip to Disneyland or Disney World is complete without out three things. 1) Going on the Pirates of the Carribean Ride; 2) Going through The Haunted Mansion; and 3) A hug from Mickey.

I was excited twenty years ago when Disney released The Haunted Mansion.  Based on the popular theme park attraction and starring Eddie Murphy the film was expected to be a major hit. As with many expectations in life, the reality fell short, and the movie was largely considered a flop. Such a disappointment on many levels. Now, Disney has once again looked to the popular attraction for inspiration and released the movie, Haunted Mansion. Being a fan of the ride, I wanted to see if this Justin Simien directed version delivered a more entertaining experience.

In the immortal words of Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth, “Good news, everyone”! Haunted Mansion does indeed deliver an enchanting, fun filled, entertaining movie experience.  I was hoping for an improvement on the original but got more than I expected. 

Schweet!

The films’ casting choices are perfect. LaKeith Stanfield, Rosario Dawson, Tiffany Haddish, Danny DeVito, Chase Dillon, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jared Leto, and Owen Wilson fire on all cylinders and make for a great ensemble. Not for nothing, I especially enjoyed Owen Wilson essentially going through the movie as himself and stealing every scene he’s in.  His presence on screen is pure joy. 

Haunted Mansion works successfully this time around because writer Katie Dippold gave the script the Pirates of the Carribean treatment and let the ride inspire the story, not dictate it. Unlike the 2003 film where elements from the attraction are directly “lifted” and the movie feels created around them, Dippold went the opposite direction and delivers a solid, fully fleshed out script, independent of familiarity of the ride. If you’ve never experienced the ride, the film still engages and entertains.  If you have experienced the ride, you're in for an even bigger treat. All the details and Easter eggs are subtly and gloriously interwoven into the story seamlessly, enhancing the and elevating the movie. The result is more satisfying and feels much more organic.  The film taking place against the backdrop of New Orleans' rich culture and flavor also packs a nice punch tying it all together nicely.

Speaking of the story, it’s well crafted, humorous, and surprisingly deep.  The central themes of loss and grief, connections and relationships hit all the right notes without being overly morose. Haunted Mansion delivers the “feels”.  The overall tone is well balanced between the humor, the heart, and the spooky. The pacing is good, and I never felt a drag during the 2-hour 2-minute runtime. 

Haunted Mansion is a fun, entertaining ride for the family.  If you have more sensitive kids, I’d recommend adhering to the PG-13 rating, some of the scary elements may be a bit much.  There are some nice twice and turns adding to the layers of the film. Great effects, plenty of humor and charm, a definite crowd pleaser for me.  I want to see this film again and again, and have it earmarked to add to my personal movie collection.

I gotta give this new and improved Haunted Mansion its props.  It’s a 10 from me.

#hauntedmansion

Barbie

 

In all honesty, I don’t know why I went to see this film.

Yes, I grew up playing with and loving Barbie.  Until recently, I still had all my dolls, a suitcase full of all her shoes, clothes, and accessories, not to mention her toys: Sunsailer Catamaran, cruise ship, beach bus, and mobile home. I’m also still sad I never got her dream house, but there were only so many chores, allowances, birthdays, Christmases, and summers of jojoba picking to make money to placate my Barbie love. 

Regardless, from the first moment I saw the movie trailer, I wasn’t impressed.  It was more a hard eye roll, snort of derision, “seriously?” exclamation, knee jerk reaction from me.  Even with the building hype over months I have been less than enthusiastic about seeing this film, continuing even as I pre-purchased my ticket the first day they went on sale. It was with less anticipation and excitement than normal; I headed out into the 110°+ temperatures to see writer/director Greta Gerwig’s Barbie.

First, Barbie is definitely not for everyone.  

It’s not a kids film even though at first blush it looks like and has been marketed as one.  

Second, there will be plenty of detractors based on the “treatment” of the male characters/masculinity.

Third, the female empowerment message will no doubt turn lots of folks off.

With that all out of the way, much to my surprise and utter delight, I loved Barbie and am so happy I got out of my own way and went to see it.

Barbie is subversive, poignant, profound, heartfelt, deliriously humorous, unexpectedly deep, and thoroughly entertaining. From Helen Mirren’s opening prologue to Barbie’s last remarks the film is an hour fifty-four-minute ride that doesn’t disappoint.  

Fantastic casting in Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as the primary Barbie and Ken.  Watching them is a delight in and of itself, adding America Ferrera, Michael Cera, Kate McKinnon, Simu Liu, and Will Ferrell kicks everything up a notch.  Actually, kudos to all the Barbies, Kens, and various discontinued/unpopular dolls.  Everyone leaned into this film, hard, and it pays off in spades.

The soundtrack is excellent.  The costumes and art design are incredible. Amazing dance numbers and wild action sequences. But it’s the set design and props that do the heavy lifting in creating the magic of Barbieland, grounding the film in the imagination and magic of all things Barbie.  There are so many details and subtle touches that brought me so much joy seeing.  

No, I do not apologize for my squeals of delight seeing so many Barbie items I owned recreated and on the big screen.  

Barbie capitalizes on smart writing, snappy dialogue, strong direction and cinematography. It also contains unflinching truth, making it a winner. America speech alone is well worth the price of admission. It's a resounding slap in the face (think Encanto) that I felt with every fiber of my being. Leaving me stunned by its impact.

I went in not expecting much and questioning why I was going.  I left happy and thankful for having gone.  I applaud everyone connected with bringing this movie about this particular icon to life.

Barbie, for better or worse, has endured for so long for a reason.  The fun and nostalgia of this film, I suspect this film will ensure that her legacy continues. 

Barbie gets a 10 from me.

#Barbie

Oppenheimer

 

This week film release featured two highly anticipated movies, collectively called 'Barbenheimer', on the same day.  Given the three-hour runtime of writer-director Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and not wanting to spend at least 6 hours at the movie theater I opted to see Oppenheimer, first.

There’s not a lot to say about Oppenheimer, so this will be short and sweet.

This is a Christopher Nolan film through and through.  

Meaning you have a stellar all-star cast from top to bottom, acting their butts off as you exclaim, “damn, that’s so and so”! Yet. You’re still shocked when you watch the credits and see how many folks you missed. Gary Oldman?! Yep.  

The direction, visuals, and cinematography are stunning. Soundtrack sweeping. The characters well developed and engaging.  

Also, like a number of Nolan’s films, the epic nature comes with some pacing issues and gets a tad boring.  While not completely awful, there are definitely areas where the film feels a bit tedious. One gentleman sitting next to me did doze off a couple of times (he made a point of mentioning it to me after the movie) and I don’t think it was entirely due to the hot temperatures or his age.  

A couple of unexpected points.  First, while the film is called Oppenheimer and is billed as the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb, it’s almost a secondary feature consequence of the film.  The politics is the primary driving force.  Interesting overall, but the heavy focus was somewhat disappointing as I went in expecting/wanting to learn more about the person and the project.

Second, the audio. The audio editing is on par with Dunkirk and effective, but damn it’s unbelievably and at times uncomfortably loud. I’m talking, the lady sitting next to me who was deaf in one ear and wore a hearing aid in the other (she told me this as she asked me if I found the movie loud), took her hearing aid out and still put her finger in her ear to muffle the sound loud. According to second had reports from other viewers it wasn’t just the screening I attended.  So, consider yourself warned.

Oppenheimer gets a 8.5 from me.

Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part I

Good day movie goers.  The highly anticipated film this week, Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part I, has hit the big screen.  For the seventh time in the last 27 years, Tom Cruise as   Ethan Hunt once again leads his IMF team around the globe in an effort to save the world.  

Re-teaming for the third time in a row with writer/director Christopher McQuarrie, Cruise and company set out to deliver the biggest adrenaline rush of the film franchise to date.  And boy did they deliver.  From the opening underwater sequences to the final parachute landing, Dead Reckoning Part I, grabs you by the throat, pulls you in close, and never lets up. 

Clocking in at 2-hours 43-minutes, Dead Reckoning Part I, uses every cent of its 292-million-dollar budget to thrill, entertain, and enthrall the audience with gorgeous cinematography, spectacular never before seen practical stunts, a timely and relevant storyline, wonderful soundtrack, and amazing cast.  

In addition to Cruise, series favorites Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg (personal fave), and Rebecca Ferguson revise their respective rolls, each getting their moments to delight and shine.  Newbies to the franchise Hayley Atwell, Esai Morales slide in effortlessly and are more than up to the impossible mission challenge. Among the new popping up this time around are actors Cruise has previously worked with as recently as Top Gun Maverick adding to the fun.  It’s also pure joy seeing the likes of Vanessa Kirby, Cary Elwes, Pom Klementieff, and Henry Czerny.

Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part I not only has all the thrills and actions expected, but there are also nice touches of humor and character moments.  It’s also a bit of a reset in terms of delving in how Hunt specifically and other IMF agents came to be and what makes them tick.  So yes, there’s plenty of action, but also more expansive, smart dialogue and character development, making it one of the most serious, less action-packed films in the franchise. The pacing, however, is good and the balance between all the moving parts is handled well so you never tire of or feel bogged down with the exposition and have time to catch your breath with the action.

Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part I is a solid setup for the second half of the movie scheduled to be released June 28, 2024. I do feel that because the film is being cut in two, this first half overall feels flatter than previous films because of the need to hold off for resolution.  The stakes are high but don’t feel as if you’re ever at a true tipping point. And while the stunts/action are amazing there’s a bit of a letdown from all the behind-the-scenes videos and marketing leaving no surprises.  

If you decide to accept this mission, hurry to your local theater and see this epic on the biggest screen you can. 

This review will not self-destruct in 5 seconds.

Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part I gets an 8.5 from me.

#missionimpossible