What Lies Beneath | | Cast : | Harrison Ford, Michelle Pfeiffer | | Director : | Robert Zemeckis | | Studio : | Universal Studios | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, DTS Surround Sound, Widescreen, Dolby | | Released Date : | July 21, 2000 | | DVD Released Date : | January 30, 2001 | | Language : | English (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | August 07, 2005 | | Summary | Weak 4 stars for Original Yet Conventional movie | Content
 | This is director Robert Zemeckis' attempt at a Hitchcock-like suspense movie.
Unfortunately, much of the suspense comes from the old tried-and-true suspense movie conventions of walking backward so you don't see what is in plain view; over-reactive fumbling and bumbling and dropping important things; and the intrusive musical cues.
However, like all Zemekis' movies, this one contains some impressive camera moves and special effects, which include shooting upward through a glass floor.
The acting was pretty good throughout, and most of the success of the movie is due to Michelle Pfieffer's performance. Harrison Ford was good, and played a bit against type.
The movie left a few loose ends untied (such as the situation with the neighbors, and some visions and apparitions), had a few lapses in logic and reality (yeah, I know it's a ghost movie) such as the boat mast poking a hole in the windshield though not breaking it, and some of it was a bit too convenient (one accident at the exact location of a previous accident), and the final scene felt tacked on (think how nicely ambiguous it would be if what lies beneath just sank past the camera...)
Overall, the movie is pretty good and entertaining, and though it started off strong, it tapered off a bit as it got into the second half.
DVD extras include a commentary by Zemeckis and 2 producers, a brief documentary of (mostly other) Zemeckis movies, and text-based cast/crew info.
|
| Rating | | | Date | July 25, 2005 | | Summary | ... | Content
| I don't like scary movies. I don't like them for the same reason I don't like rollercoasters with loops in them. Sure-- I know I'll survive the coaster, but that doesn't make it FUN. Ironically, this movie would have BEEN better if it had been scary.
Sloppy sloppy sloppy.
The acting was mediocre, the plot was easy to guess half way through the movie, and once the movie "reveals all," it stutters through some subpar slasher-esque scences for about 15 or so minutes of redundant cheap trick camera angles and constantly annoying music.
Only watch this to complete your Harrison Ford collectin. There is no other reason for it to exist. |
| Rating | | | Date | May 29, 2005 | | Summary | Not spooky if that's your flavor!! | Content
| I thought that the plot of this movie was okay. The movie was entertaining. However, I got a little weary of the suspenseful music used to make the movie scary. This is not a scary movie if that is what some people are looking for. It is entertaining if being entertained is enough. Michelle Pfeiffer annoyed me with that constant silly expression she used to looked spooked! She always had her mouth opened. I think that she was not directed well in her performance. This movie was quite a change in character for Harrison Ford ( who is one of my favorite actors). Not his best performance, but acceptable. All in all, I liked the movie. |
| Rating | | | Date | May 14, 2005 | | Summary | Unpredictable, Scary, a downright AWESOME THRILLER!! | Content
| I loved this movie! Harrison Ford is one of the greatest actors of our time and it was great to see him in the role he plays here. Don't want to give to much away, but if you have not seen this, I strongly suggest you do!
In this supernatural thriller, a woman believes that a visitor from another dimension is trying to guide her into a sinister mystery. Feeling lonely after her daughter leaves home for college, Claire (Michelle Pfeiffer) begins to sense that something is wrong in her house, and feels a spirit is trying to contact her.
At first her husband Norman (Harrison Ford), a scientist doing research in genetics, attributes her paranormal beliefs to stress or possibly a nervous breakdown, and sends her to a psychiatrist (Joe Morton) who puts no more stock in Claire's stories than does Norman. While Claire's contention that someone or something sinister is afoot leads her down a number of blind alleys, in time she becomes convinced that the mysterious happenings at her home are somehow connected to the disappearance of a woman who was a student at the nearby college - and bore a striking resemblance to Claire. What Lies Beneath marked the debut of screenwriter Clark Gregg, whose script is based on a story by himself and Sarah Kernochan; the supporting cast includes Diana Scarwid as Claire's best friend Jody, and James Remar and Miranda Otto as a contentious couple living next door. |
| Rating | | | Date | April 26, 2005 | | Summary | Harrison Ford Stars in Dog | Content
| Whatever homage for Hitchcock was intended, "What Lies Beneath" is not fit to be on the same shelf as "Rear Window." Why? Hitchcock movies are intelligent, winding around the story and characters. "What Lies Beneath" uses spooky music and scenes that jump out and calls it disturbing.
"Ghostbusters" is scarier.
What is disturbing is Harrison Ford's choice to be involved. What was he thinking when he signed on? He's a favorite actor for me. He's starred in "Star Wars," "Indiana Jones," "The Fugitive" and "Mosquito Coast." Good stuff. Until this.
Ford's credibility as an actor is not shaken. He carries each scene of this meandering movie. Bad plotlines are confused as tricky storytelling, and even Ford can't take a Saturday-matinee and turn it into a Friday-night blockbuster.
Does the movie adequately refer to Hitchcock classics? Who cares? That sort of thing is only interesting when the referring movie succeeds on its own. This doesn't. That's the same problem Ang Lee had when making "The Hulk." He spent so much time of mimicking a style that he forgot to make a good movie.
The Plot:
Happy couple lives in Vermont. The wife is being spooked but does not know why. The husband does not seem to understand. The ghost slowly reveals its intentions, and the happy couple's life unravels. The big finish is not expected, and the only redeeming part of this 130 minute couch-sit.
About the story:
Connections are never made as to why the ghost waits a year to do some haunting, and why it took the measures involved. Nor, why it thinks Claire "knows" why she's being haunted when she fully demonstrates she has no idea.
The ghost tries to kill Norman, Ford's character. If that's all it wants, why does it need Claire, Michelle Pfeiffer's character and Norman's wife?
Subplots involving the quirky neighbors are never sorted out.
"What Lies Beneath" as a title is misleading. I can't go into this more for the sake of ruining the story for those of you who will wind up still seeing it.
In all, the movie will be forgotten, played late at night in the time slot reserved for exercise equipment commercials. The movie is not awful, and better than a rerun of that infomercial with Chuck Norris. It is just that Harrison Ford, and costar Michelle Pfeiffer can and have done better.
Looking for a real thriller? See the Hitchcock movies that this is being compared. "Rear Window" with Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly is a great place to begin.
Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com |
|
Picture 01 (20)
