Note to Hollywood, action movie directors usually don't make good non-action movie directors. Also, some of your better actors do night like to work with directors who are pure action directors. Both of these points are made clear in the incredibly boring remake of a 1963 movie "The Haunting." The most recent version stars Liam Neeson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Owen Wilson and Lili Taylor. The story is not very interesting, and the acting is the same. The move was special effects driven by the action director Jan de Bont.

The story revolves around three people who are brought to a house for a supposed study on insomnia by Dr. David Marrow, played by Neeson (Schindler's List). There is the sexy artist Theo, played by Zeta-Jones (Chicago), the funny sidekick Luke, played by Wilson (Starksy and Hutch) and the overly depressed Eleanor, played by Taylor (Say Anything...). They are actually brought together for a study in fear by the good doctor.

The story is really about Eleanor, her relationship with the former tenants of the house and the house itself, or at least the deceased owner of it, Hugh Crain. Eleanor is constantly given mysterious clues to uncover the true secrets of Hill House, while the ghost of Crain tries to prevent her from finding the truth.

I have never seen the original movie, so I don't know if the script follows the original. I found the story to be full of holes, and while it was easy to follow, it just didn't make sense. The two most enjoyable characters were from Owen Wilson and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Wilson did what has become his trademark sarcastic sense of humor with perfection, but did not help the character with any depth. Catherine was just hot, sexy, eye candy. However, her body has been tainted by the touch of Michael Douglas.

The best actor of the group, Liam Neeson, looks like he is in pain acting in this movie. If I remember correctly, after doing this movie, Neeson talked of getting out of the business. This says something about an actor who should have won the Academy Award® for Best Actor in "Schindler's List."

I have to take a moment to talk about Lili Taylor. She did a nice job with what turned out to be the main character. She played and looked the part of a boring, somewhat mentally abused, homeless woman who is lost in life. At the beginning, we discover Eleanor was responsible for taking care of her invalid mother, and it was not a happy situation. Now that the mother is dead, her sister or brother with his or her significant other--you cant tell who she is related to and who is the in-law--is kicking her out of the apartment, because she has no way to pay for it. She gets a call to come to the house, participate in the study and get paid.

The movie is driven by the special effects, which are good but not spectacular. The effects that were good, specifically faces of the children in the curtains and bed sheets, are countered by poor effects of the ghost of Hugh Crain.

The script was written by David Self, who has written two amazing movies, "Thirteen Days" and "Road To Perdition." Since I feel those two movies are outstanding in story and depth of character, I am guessing--hoping--he followed the novel, because this movie has neither quality of his other movies.

It could also be director de Bont, who has done such classics as "Speed," "Twister" and "Speed 2," chose to have the special effects drive the movie and not the story. So, all of his production money went to making the ghosts, and none of it was spent on character or story development. I am finding he is forgettable as a director. I have really only like one of his movies in my collection, "Twister," and this is because of actress Helen Hunt and its SFX. However, as a cinematographer, de Bont has quite an impressive resume, "Lethal Weapon 3," "The Hunt For Red October" and "Die Hard," to name a few.

"The Haunting" isn't really worth renting. The DVD doesn't provide any quality insights to the movie. If you like special effects, or like watching Catherine Zeta-Jones prance around in a few skimpy outfits talking about her girlfriend, or Owen Wilson being a smart ass, watch it. However, I can't imagine you would want to watch a Sci-Fi Horror movie for just that.

Brian - the Naked Gun