Film Forum

Episode Recap

Episode 13

12/2/2003

Films Reviewed: The Last Samurai and The Haunted Mansion

Commentary: Best and Worst of Fall 2003

Featurette: Nelly's Music video from The Haunted Mansion

Regarding The Last Samurai:

Matt: This is the same trip to the same well that Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz have been taking for the past thirteen years, starting with Glory.  Tom Cruise gives it a game effort, but he really needs to work on his drunken acting.  Nothing really wrong with the film, but I've seen it too many times before from the same people.  Two stars.

Aron: Actually, it's another remake of Dances with Wolves.  But there are no animals in this film.  Still, Tom Cruise gives a great performance and the movie moves at a very nice clip, despite its two and a half hour running time.  I did like this.  Three stars.

Average rating: **1/2 (out of four)

Regarding The Haunted Mansion

Aron: This film is very close to the ride at Disney World and Disneyland.  There was a lot of nice set design.  However, the film is not for small children.  Still worth seeing.  Three stars.

Matt: This film, despite the very noble effort, is no Pirates of the Caribbean.  The film is too scary for small children (its intended audience) and has nothing in it to root for.  It does have some pretty good barbershop quartet busts, though.  One star.

Average rating: ** (out of four)

Commentary: The Best and Worst of Fall 2003:

Featurette: The Nelly music video from The Haunted Mansion.