High Spirits
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Movie Reviews of High Spirits
Movie Review: Blew me away
Summary: 5 Stars
Hilarious, Ghosts & con-artists with a few budding romances. Love the movie.Movie Review: Cheesy fun
Summary: 4 Stars
I just bought this dvd because I have loved this movie for goodness knows how long and now my daughter loves it. This is good, charming, innocent fun...and it's so interesting to see current "big" stars like Liam Neeson and Peter Gallagher in something waaaaay before they were famous. (As well as seeing stars of the day and wondering "where are they now": Darryl Hannah, Steve Guttenberg, Beverly D'Angelo. Even Jennifer Tilly is working more visibly these days.
The plot is pretty good, the dialogue funny...Peter O'Toole is fabulous (the drinking scene with Steve Guttenberg is hilarious as is the opening scene where he is on the phone with Jim Brogan and clarifying just what his name is NOT).
It's cheesy fun because, let's face it...it's not the best production in the world. First of all, Darryl Hannah's attempt at an Irish accent is...aah, somewhat laughable most of the time. Steve Guttenberg is a little hammy (newsflash anyone?), but it works for his character. The special effects, were, I'm sure, terrific in 1988 when the movie was made, but by today's standards are very antiquated, yet somehow add to the charm of this film.
Keep an eye out for the "bloopers" in the movie...things I wonder if the producers just felt no one would notice in a theater (did they ever dream this movie might be watched one day, over and over again, in someone's home?) or did they just lack the funds/time to reshoot?:
1. Well, you can't really miss the horse's, um, endowment in the scene where Steve Guttenberg falls from the tree.
2. When Darryl Hannah and Steve are chatting by the tree (she's praying to be released from her wedding vows), you can see the netting in her wig...her "hair" was twisted quite prettily, but left the wig infrastructure quite visible.
3. When the squid arm reaches out to grab Woody (one of the kids), he has to bend his head down to let the squid arm grab him...all while struggling to get away from the monster.
4. In the scene where Beverly D'Angelo, Steve Guttenberg, Liam Neeson and Darryl Hannah are in the bed-chamber where Liam's character kills his wife, the imposing, sturdy marble mantlepiece wobbles quite unsturdily when Beverly D'Angelo bumps into it.
5. The bus falling into the lake is very clearly a model, that goes without saying....but it's funny because in the interior scenes everyone is panicking, yet from the outside the bus/model is quiet and empty.
I'm sure there are other things I haven't listed, so have fun watching the movie, not just for the incontinuities, but for the story and atmosphere itself. The Irish cast absolutely steals the "shaggin'" movie and the performances of some of the minor characters (Liam's ghots..."Eamon", "Malcom"...the cook) are really terrific. If you like ghosts, if you like rich sets (the castle is fabulous), and a fairly original and charming plot, and you go into it just to have fun, you'll truly enjoy this film. The soundtrack is great too!
P.s. A bit of academic fun: what's the significance of the title of the book which Peter O'Toole uses as a step stool to hang himself?
Movie Review: Hilarious!!
Summary: 4 Stars
I first watched this movie years ago on television and was very happy when I ran across the DVD. I had to buy it immediately!
It is the story of a man (Peter O'Toole) who is about to lose his ancestral home (the Castle) and the steps he takes to ensure this does not happen. He decides to tout the castle as haunted (and what better place than Eire?!) and open it to American tourists. What follows is a comedy of errors at its finest!
True, sometimes the movie lags and it sometimes is tiresome. But generally, it is very easy to watch.
Finally, I will say something about the romance between Peter's ancestor Mary (Daryl Hannah) and Jack (Steve Guttenberg) and Mary's husband Martin (the fantastic Liam Neeson) and Jack's wife Sharon (Beverly D'Angelo). Jack killed Mary in a jealous rage and ever since, that night has been playing for the past 200 years. The night that the Americans arrive, Jack interrupted this cycle and Mary and he begin to fall in love. I think the story did not necessarily need this subplot, although it was well acted and some of the funniest moments were related (check out when Sharon sees Mary who has aged 200 years). I also liked the interaction between Brother Tony and Miranda (Peter Gallagher; Jennifer Tilly).
Anyway, the movie was good and I do recommend it.
Movie Review: A movie with everything...
Summary: 4 Stars
I really love this movie. It is fun. Lots of comedy, but also has the spiritual side to it with the real ghosts. You have your heroes and your villains. You have your landed Irish gentry and the village people (not to be mistaken for the musical group, lol). You have the Americans and the Irish. The rich and the poor. I've always liked Steve Guttenberg, Jennifer Tilly, Peter Gallagher and of course Peter O'Toole. It is really a fun movie and a perfect movie to watch in October around Halloween. I purchased the movie and the whole family loves it.Movie Review: May not be the scareist but ...
Summary: 4 Stars
If you want one of those "jumper" movies -- you know the kind, the ones that make the girl next to you jump, grab your arm and pull you close -- this isn't it, and don't expect Oscar caliber performances either. But if you just want an evening on the couch with a funny ghost movie and a bag of popcorn then this is the one. Relax, put your feet up and have a good laugh. You'll enjoy it.