The Haunted Mansion carries both "good" and "bad" news. First the bad news, the movie was terrible. What is worse, my own script for a Haunted Mansion movie was ten times better than what was produced, stuck to the original storyline of the mansion, and would satisfy the most ardent Haunted Mansion fan.Now for the good news, the attraction is almost 90% Disney-original vision! The effects are old, but still effective and playful. The artistry has not changed and my nostalgic heart skips a beat to see all the familiar spooks I have come to love. The changes made, such as the attic and ghost bride, were done right, in my estimation. They kept the original storyline, the changing portraits are magnificent effects, and the ghost bride is eery to behold! Some prefer the old, glowing eyed bride, but I am OK with the new version.
But that is not all the good news. The adaptation for winter's Nightmare Before Christmas is nothing less than pure Disney genius. In fact, it is the only time my younger children will venture inside the Haunted Mansion. I cannot offer enough kudos to Imagineering for what they have done, and for what they not done to this great attraction.
If the failure of the Haunted Mansion movie meant no ad-based changes to this great ride, then I personally am glad the movie bombed. How awful would it have been if behind every creaky door peeked a wide-eyed, frightened Eddie Murphey? Yeesh, that makes me shutter more than the mansion itself!
