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philschafran
Reviews
Haunted Mansion (2023)
I freely offer here my perfect Haunted Mansion movie idea
Here's the main problem with both the 2003 and this 2023 Haunted Mansion films;WE were not the main character. In the ride attractions at the Disney parks, YOU are the main character in the story. The Ghost Host tells us at the beginning of the ride that our mission is to "Find A way out!"
These two films are overly complicated with too many characters and storylines. K. I. S. S. ; Keep It Simple Stupid, is the philosophy i was taught in film school. As such, here is my super simplified, but far superior Haunted Mansion movie idea:
Three friends find themselves accidently locked in the Disneyland park afterhours, and discover the park actually comes to life after midnight. It's not just closed for maintenance every night as we have all been told, but rather to cover up the dark secret the park hides. The three friends find themselves in the Haunted Mansion as that is the only "attraction" that offers a hope of escape from the park before the sun rises. If they cannot escape the Haunted Mansion before sunrise, they will join the other 999 happy haunts as permanent residents.
This story would keep the focus on the simple task of escaping from the mansion, and we the audience would feel connected to the characters as we could easily imagine ourselves in their position. This would honor the original spirit of the attraction, keeping the focus on US the audience as the main characters.
John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)
Holy S@#t!!
Holy S@#t! Go watch this in the theater. Incredible. There are a minimum of three action scenes that would stand on their own as a solid action movie. But to have all three in the same movie is incredible. There is a deliberate awareness of itself the previous three movies had also, but not to this effect. The results are some of the funniest laughs I've ever had in a movie theater. I want to go watch it again with different friends to see their reactions to some of the most insane action I have ever seen. I will be buying the 4K Bluray and skipping to the three aforementioned scenes for repeat viewing over and over. My score for John Wick Chapter 4: 10/10. It is one of the best action movies of all time.
Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021)
Should have used the real mansion.
I was disappointed when I learned they were not going to capitalise on the fact that the parks were closed due to Covid, which would have been the perfect opportunity to film inside of the actual mansion at Disneyland. I was hoping for more of a backstage feel of the actual attraction featuring the muppets.
Reign of Fire (2002)
Reign of Fire Reigns!
This movie kicks so much ass! Matthew Mcconaughey is at his peak, easily playing his baddest ass character ever. This movie is soooooo under-rated. A must watch, and every time I do, I love it even more. Anyone who wouldn't enjoy this movie doesn't enjoy the kind of movies I like.
Unhinged (2020)
Car Horns Are Evil
The moral the movie tries to make is that car horns are the root of all evil! What a hilariously ridiculous premise. And indeed, it is ridiculous from start to finish. The whole premise is totally unrealistic, making it difficult to get involved in the story. Where are the police?😂
The 15:17 to Paris (2018)
The equivalent of sending actors into a real war
The "acting" from the non-actors was so atrocious and distracting, that I spent most of the movie unable to focus on anything else, as it was that glaring. Cringy is being generous. We wouldn't send actors into a real warzone, so why did they send soldiers into a real movie?
Walking Tall (1973)
"I keep my warrant in my boot!" - Kicks the door open
I just wanted to point out the above mentioned line in the tagline. Pure gold!
Jackie (2016)
Watch in accompaniment with the book The Death of a President by William Manchester
I listened to the audio book of The Death of a President by William Manchester. What an incredible experience it was to follow the book with this film. Life is beautiful how you can mix and match books, films, music, etc and come out on the other side with a completely different perspective if you had not consumed one or the other, and in a particular order.
Knives Out (2019)
Overrated and convoluted
It was entertaining enough I suppose, but when a film has 10/10 reviews from critics and fans alike, you have expectations which the movie simply did not deliver on. I paid close attention and still found myself confused at several points in the story. There are far better movies in this genre, for example, I personally enjoyed this years Ready Or Not much more in the Murder Mansion Mystery Movie genre.