dutchie89 Reviews

The Haunting (1999)

A lesson in stripping down the original.

[5/10 · 7 January 2008]

The television of Saturday evening. Am I glad this was not something I paid for! "The Haunting" must be one of the worst 'reading' of an old masterpiece.

As viewing the original before the remake, I pretty much knew the story and the intense scenes to watch out for. A fun cast is the positive thing to begin with, the acting was mediocre but I really developed a 'relationship' with all characters in the film. The movie, had its moments. The ghost chasing Nell through the building being the thrilling scene. Just that this thrilling scene did not come over as horror/thriller at all. It truly gave me the feeling I was watching a fantasy film, for instance "Lord of the Rings" even. Luke's death must have been the biggest injustice against the original and was the biggest anticlimax in a movie ever, him being the funnest character. The whole confrontation of 'Nell' and the Ghost only gave a bigger feel of fantasy film. 'Nell' dying the death she did die, is the absolute no-no.

The original was so much better than this weak remake. It was not bad, and it had its moments, but it lost the complete mood of the original. The whole ending was different, and it did not do the film good at all. Watching this makes the remake of 'The Birds' even more disappointing than it already is. Let's all remember the great originals and forget the remakes, as soon as you possibly could.

A Fool There Was (1915)

Theda Bara at her best!

[8/10 · 29 December 2005]

A pity for this is only one of a few films left of the icon Theda Bara. Theda was a true madame who knew how to act. The film is not with Theda in a leading role. Although the movie to me is completely about miss Theda. Especially the scene where she truly convinced everyone she was a vamp. The scene where she convinces 'the fool' that she does not discard him but that she just took a ruse to test his love. But later on when he is gone she takes a wallet full of money. Another scene that draws attention is when Theda take a few flowers and crumbles one of them to dust. I truly enjoyed this classic and I surely tell you all to also see this masterpiece.

The Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots (1895)

Fake!

[3/10 · 28 December 2005]

For the technicals, I am sure they could'nt have done better for 1895, but this is quite pathetic... I can easily see the camera moving a little when the actor is replaced. I expected something horrorish but it was'nt at all! The 'video' does also not really appeal to the reality happening. I would not expect a woman to be so easy during the beheading scene, since it would be that she would fight for her life and struggle or at least cry during the process. None of this is to see. You also see the head moving when the actor gets replaced by the dummy of which you can then easily see the fakeness. This was like an experiment of trying to make an early ghost picture.