Hollywood big shots Robert Zemeckis ("Who Framed Roger Rabbit," "Forrest Gump," the "Back to the Future" series, etc.) and Joel Silver (the "Lethal Weapon" series, "The Matrix," etc.) were the driving force behind HBO's "Tales From the Crypt" TV series. The two follow-up "Crypt" theatrical movies weren't able to recapture the magic and tongue-in-cheek humor of the HBO show. That hasn't stopped Zemeckis and Silver from teaming up with director Steve Beck ("Thirteen Ghosts") to craft yet another big-budget B horror flick with "Crypt"-like aspirations. Released around Halloween of 2002 to underwhelming critical and box office responses, "Ghost Ship" found a receptive audience on DVD this past March. Now that I've rented it myself I find myself grateful and saddened that I missed seeing "Ghost Ship" on the big screen.
You see, "Ghost Ship" starts off with one kick-ass flashback scene that hints at what happened to the passengers of luxury liner Antonia Garza on the evening of May 21st, 1962. This scene is topped by yet another flashback scene halfway through the movie (Ch.23) that actually reveals what really happened (and who was responsible) to the Antonia Garza vanishing into thin air from '62 until its discovery in present time by a group of ship salvagers. It's hard for a movie to make yours truly feel that he missed something special from not attending its opening night premiere at my local NYC cineplex from. These two flashback scenes alone, however, are such minor-scale classics that not seeing them with a crowd is a regret I'll take with me to my cinema-loving grave. I wouldn't dream of spoiling these scenes for those of you that haven't seen "Ghost Ship" yet, but you must also be warned that nothing in the rest of the movie comes close to topping these two scenes.
That's because the stock characters the movie focuses on throughout most of "Ghost Ship's" story (Gabriel Byrne's Murphy, Julianna Margalies' Epps, Isaiah Washington's Greer, Desmond Harrington's Ferriman, etc.) are the very definition of dull and uninteresting. Byrne, in particular, is as bland here as he was in his 1999 bombs "End of Days" and "Stigmata." It's clear these actors are more interested in collecting a paycheck than investing themselves in the silly and undeveloped roles that screenwriters Mark Harlon and John Rogue have created for them to inhabit. The lengthy hour of set-up that passes between "Ghost Ship's" killer opening act (no pun intended) and the crew of the Arctic Warrior being dispatched one at a time feels interminable. By the time the audience is let on the real secret behind the sudden re-appearance of the Antonia Graza ship in present time (a plot twist any horror movie veteran will see coming a mile away) audiences are more likely to groan than be thrilled.
I know I felt like I didn't get my money's worth when "Ghost Ship" ended up being two great (classic even) horror scenes with a whole lot of nothing wrapped around them. Buy my God, what great two scenes they are!
The Disc:
Warner Home Video's Widescreen Anamorphic (1:85:1) Video Transfer for "Ghost Ship" is as glossy and shiny as its fancy DVD cover. Although this polished look works against the movie (which looks more like a Madison Avenue TV commercial than a horror flick) there are no major issues or visual flaws of notice to complain about. A few of the matte shots of characters walking on top of the Antonia Graza ship look phony though (see first picture on the right), which might have been passable in 1997's "Titanic" but stands out like heck in 2003. The English Dolby Digital 5.1 & French Dolby Digital Soundtracks are pretty good though. Every artificial scare, scream of agony, line of generic dialogue and rusted piece of metal on the Antonia Graza sound as if it's right next to your chair on the living room (or wherever it is that your entertainment center is located). English/Spanish/French Subtitles are also included.
No commentary track is offered, and in its place Warner offers many behind-the-scenes featurettes ('Designing the Antonia Graza,' 'Visual FX,' 'A Closer Look At The Gore,' 'Designing the Ghost Ship') that cover various aspects of the movie's production. There's also a Theatrical Trailer, a 'No Panic' Music Video, PC DVD-ROM features, a Cast & Crew section and a self-promotional Documentary. Like the movie they profile, these "Ghost Ship" DVD special features feel like assembly-line product without a soul or reason for being except give those of us renting/buying the disc that we're getting our money's worth.
bottom line:
"Ghost Ship" has a couple of moments that recall the glory days of HBO's "Tales from the Crypt" TV series. Too bad director Steve Beck's assembly-line directing style and slick-to-a-fault formula ("Thirteen Ghosts" anyone?), combined with unremarkable acting and a sluggish pace, ultimately sink this horror flick into a boring yawn. The perfect rental for bored people who wish to waste a rainy Saturday afternoon and have nothing to show for it.
By - J.M. Vargas
1/2
