The Canterville Ghost
by Sydney Macartney
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Cherie Lunghi, Donald Sinden, Joan Sims, Neve Campbell, Patrick StewartDirector: Sydney Macartney
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Format: Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: Pan & Scan, 1.33:1
Running Time: 91 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2000-09-26
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Geneon [Pioneer]
Movie Reviews of The Canterville Ghost
Movie Review: Really, this is a one-star production
Summary: 2 Stars
The version with Charles Laughton is still unavailable on dvd and the Ian Richardson one is cost-prohibitive. So, after doing some searches on different versions of this movie, I decided on this particular version-- since Patrick Stewart is definitely one of my favorite actors.
He really doesn't disappoint here. He's excellent, as expected, and brings depth and empathy to the role of the Canterville Ghost.
However, everyone else in this production is more than bad. They are horrid.
Neve Campbell, in particular, can't act. She's a one-note actress and I'm surprised that nobody has told her to go take some acting lessons. She does this great tentative, unsure-of-herself, little girl smile thing, then she stops smiling (as if she's not sure a smile is appropriate), then she'll smile again-- just a bit. UGH! Talk about annoying. Maybe this was a good thing for that character she played on the tv show, but it's not good in feature films and it's not good if that's all you see her do. And, it is. I've seen her in a few other films, and she plays every single role the same way. Have you ever seen her break into a wide grin? Give a hearty laugh (a guffaw, even?)? No-- because she can't act. She can only shyly smile, stop smiling, give a hint of another smile, lick her lips tentatively, and repeat.
So, because she has so much on-screen camera time, I can't give this film too many stars. And, because there are other people who also can't act in this film, I can't give the film too many stars.
The little brothers were alright- not too cute, but cute enough. They didn't have big roles, however. The father was horrible! If not exactly a one-note actor, he's a two note actor, maybe. He wasn't given a great script, granted, but he delivered his lines fairly flatly. Yes, he was "angry" when he delivered the lines, but not with depth. And, at one point, he had to kneel and cry into his wife's body. Oh, he didn't pull that off well, at all.
The script was terrible. Yes, Sir Canterville's dialogue was perfectly fine. But the story line for the rest of the film was asinine. The kids can see the ghost. The parents can't and the dad thinks the daughter is making it all up so that they can leave England (she's just a sullen hormonal teen, I suppose). So, the kids are being haunted and the father is increasingly angry at the daughter, unfairly. Finally, the daughter has the 'ingenious' idea that will force her father to be able to see the ghost, too. This works, but also has some consequences. That's the story-- which would be okay, if they had some actors that could act.
That's what really bothered me about this movie. There are so many actors out there who need jobs and can act. Why use these actors? Why use the dad and Neve Campbell when there are tons of good quality actors who would love to do these roles? It's not as if actors are in short supply!
So, five stars for Patrick Stewart, and so many negative stars for the other actors and the script itself, that it works out to about 2 stars.
Summary of The Canterville Ghost
Patrick Stewart gives an outstanding performance in the title role of this high-spirited, new adaptation of Oscar Wilde's classic tale of mystery, romance, and adventure. The fun begins as the unsuspecting Otis family moves into the stately, rambling rooms of Canterville Hall where young Virginia (Neve Campbell, "Party of Five") meets up with the castle's resident specter: the 400-year-old ghost of Sir Simon de Canterville (Stewart). But while Sir Simon does his moaning, chain-rattling best to frighten the newcomers, Virginia soon befriends him, and learns the sorrowful secret: unless a purehearted mortal agrees to plead his case before the dreaded "Angel of Death," Sir Simon will be doomed to haunt the Hall for all eternity. With the midnight moment of truth approaching, Virginia prepares for a journey into the unknown -- in a hair raising conclusion to this all-time favorite tale of ancient spirits, young love, and otherworldly adventures!Drama DVD Video
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