The Haunted Mansion
Released 2003
Directed By Rob Minkoff
Music By Mark Mancina
Released 2003
Directed By Rob Minkoff
Music By Mark Mancina
Happy Halloween (or Samhain for my Pagan readers) Disney fans!! So who among does not love dressing up for Halloween each year!!! I can tell you I'm seeing a lot of American Horror Story clowns (kinda creepy if you ask me!!), Frozen inspired outfits, and in my neck of the woods a lot of young draglings coming out and trying their hands at drag for the first time. Halloween is the time of haunted houses, haunted corn mazes, zombie runs, dressing up and things that go bump in the night.
For those of you that are Halloween buffs, you'll know
that the holiday is based around All Hallow's Eve and as mentioned earlier
Samhain in the Pagan wheel of the year. It's the time when it was
believed that the veil that separates the physical world with the spiritual
realm is at its thinnest and that occupants from either side can pass through.
We dress up to scare away or confuse the spirits as some are not as
benevolent as others. Disney hosts a Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween
Party in Disney World and Disneyland, and even a celebration for our
four-legged companions (Howl-O-Ween).
| The Haunted Hallway |
But enough of the history lesson, this month presented me
with a challenge of which movie to choose for the Halloween festivities. How does one choose between Hocus Pocus,
The Adventure of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, and Blackbeard’s Ghost; or
possibly delve into the mystery shows like The Great Mouse Detective or Candleshoe,
or even TV shows (Who else remember watching Disney’s Halloween Treat?) But after much deliberation I’ve decided to
review a rather new movie but an icon of the parks, The Haunted Mansion. While it did not rise to the critical acclaim
of its ride-inspired predecessor, Pirates of the Caribbean, The
Haunted Mansion still gives us a taste of Disney Magic and homages the ride
found in every Disney park (random fact, the attraction is one of the few rides
that’s different in every park; Disneyland and Disney World has the Haunted
Mansion, Disneyland Paris has The Phantom Manor, and Hong Kong Disney has Mystic
Manor). With a cast headed by Eddie
Murphy, this light-hearted romp through Gracie Manor gives us one
interpretation of how hauntings can occur (complete with broken hearts,
unrequited love, intrigue and mystery). And
all of our favorite characters from the ride are present, Jennifer Tilly as the
all-seeing Madame Leota (complete with crystal ball), Emma (played by Dina
Waters) and Ezra (Wallace Shawn) the maid and footman, Ramsley the butler
(Terence Stamp), and all the ghosts and ghoulies you’d expect to see in the
graveyard scene of the ride, all the way down to the singing busts.
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| Grim Grinning Ghosts Come Out To Socialize |
When it comes to the many wonderful attractions at the
Disney parks, the Haunted Mansion and I had one of those love/hate
relationships for many years. I remember
first going on the ride at the age of 4 in Disneyland. In Disneyland, the exit of the Haunted
Mansion meets up to the entrance of Splash Mountain (which happened to be my
favorite ride in Disneyland) on the border of New Orleans Square and Critter
Country. The funny contrast being that
to get to my favorite ride normally meant having to go on my least favorite
ride in the park. I’m also not too proud
to admit that up until I was in high school, I opted to hide my eyes or not go
on the ride at all mainly because of how skittish I am at jump scares (coupled
with severe arachnophobia … because let’s face it, where there are old houses and
there is most likely spiders). But when
I finally did open my eyes on my senior year trip, it started my appreciation
and eventual love for the ride. As with
every undertaking Disney does, I appreciate the detail and thought put into the
ride. I mentioned before that this is
one of the few rides that has different incarnations: Disneyland, Magic Kingdom
at Disneyworld, and Tokyo Disney are scenes moving from bumps in the night to
outright ghosts in the cemetery; Disneyland Paris has the Phantom Manor that
connects Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to the builder of the mansion; Hong Kong
Disney has Mystic Manor, a completely new take following an eccentric collector
of world artifacts and his companion. If
you wish to see more information or ride through of these attractions then
check out YouTube!!
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| The all-seeing Madame Leota |
While the movie may not have been a smash hit, what I enjoy
looking for in the movie is how many nods to the ride are in the movie. Of course there are the iconic characters
such as Madame Leota and the ghosts in the cemetery like the hitchhikers
(random fact, three ghosts have names! The one carrying the bag the Eddie
Murphy first talks to is Phineas, The skeleton is Ezra, and the prisoner is
Gus); but there is also parts of mansion itself the give a nod to the
ride. When watching pay attention to the
singing busts (one modeled after the original lead singer, Thurl Ravenscroft),
the eyes in the wallpaper, the morphing paintings, and the “breathing” doors,
all drawing on inspiration from the original ride.
Title: The Haunted Mansion
Perfect For: The haunter in your family.
Most likely character you’ll see in the parks: What else but
the haunted beauty herself. In all of its
forms the Haunted Mansion will delight you and your Disney family.
Well everyone another month has passed and another movie. I hope you are all have a fun and safe
Halloween and I will see you next month for another Disney movie.
Have a Magical Day -- Pat A
