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rdhathcock
Reviews
Dream House (2011)
Glad I missed the trailer
None of the reviews I have read would have prepared me for Dream House. Yes, the trailer, which I watched after seeing the movie, would have ruined much of it for me. The reviews here at IMDb, even skipping those with spoilers, would have had me expecting a very different movie than the one I saw.
The biggest problem of the movie itself was, of course, the script. It went beyond confusing, and the final bit didn't help to clear things up for me. OTOH, had it ended without the final revelation that Craig's character had written and published a book, I could have enjoyed the film more than most who have panned it here... that's because I work in a mental hospital.
This film is an amalgamation of several genres, including TV's The Ghost Whisperer in which dead characters refuse to fully accept their deaths until things have been put right, secrets are revealed, and justice is done. It also reminds me of Unknown (with Liam Neeson) with a very confused main character whose memories clash with reality. The struggle to understand what is real and what isn't is one our patients live with every day.
I do agree that Craig, Weisz, Watts, and the rest do their on-screen jobs very well. And I find myself wondering what the film might have been had Sheridan been allowed to work unmolested by panicking suits from the production company. As it is, I'd recommend folks watch it on DVD once they've forgotten what was in the trailer.
Max Magician and the Legend of the Rings (2002)
It's NOT the worst movie ever made
There are MANY home movies that are worse, plus a handful of commercial films that have worse scripts and bad acting. There aren't too many that have worse sound.
On the other hand, remembering that the folks that did this one are a small, local group of aspiring film makers, they didn't do too bad of a job in some areas. The stunt work was fairly good for amateurs, the cinematography was watchable, and some (10%) of the acting was passable. The young gal (she was 16 during production) playing the princess was easily the best.
The real question is how they convinced anyone to distribute their efforts, even in the bargain baskets at WalMart.
The bottom line is I got a few laughs at their expense and my kids will be entertained for a few hours, all for just $5.50. And remember, no mice were injured in the production of this film.