Monster House (DVD)

Monster House
It might sound crazy considering Monster House is an animated film but what I enjoyed about it
nearly more than anything else was the acting. There is a depth to the characters and
the way they interact that I am completely unfamiliar with in animated film and it caught me completely and pleasantly by surprise. This along with a genuinely scary story and and some sharp humor make this one of the best films I have seen this year...animated or otherwise. With executive producers of Steven Spielberg (Jaws, Close Encounters, Raiders of the Lost Arc),and Robert Zemeckis (Back to The Future, The Goonies and Forrest Gump), its pedigree is unquestionable.

Monsterhouse is described by Columbia pictures as a comedy 'thrill-ride' featuring three kids 'DJ', (who lives across the street from the house in the films title), his best friend 'Chowder' and 'Jenny' (the newcomer with all the brains), who cross over to the other side of the street to unlock a mystery and experience the greatest adventure of their lives. Initially DJ and Chowder notice something is not quite right with the house over the road when its owner 'Nebbercracker' (unmistakably voiced by Steve Buscemi ), is taken away in an ambulance after a heart attack on his front lawn. I should just add that the voice casting for Nebbercracker is inspired. DJ and Chowder believe Nebbbercracker to be dead and decide to get to the bottom of what is going on. The house seems to retain things and also appears to be not all together as inanimate as it should be...

DJ is also embarking on another adventure - puberty, and at the start of the film his voice starts to break for the first time. Storys or fairytales with children of this age often feature a certain mystery or secrets to unravel. There is always somewhere they shouldn't go or a door that they musn't open (see Harry Potter..in fact, don't). They represent the aspects of adulthood that have so far been out of bounds and must be breached. Ultimately, it is about a coming of age.The interactions between DJ and Chowder provide the most humor especially during the scenes where they are vying for the attention of Jenny. DJ is the main character and is probably the most normal of the trio with normal reservations and normal feelings of inadeqaucy, due to his age. Chowder appears to be the opposite and is full of Bravado and self assurance - that is unless he is put into any sort of danger. Their attempts at one up-manship are brilliantly observed and are hillarious.

Throughout the film it is the various characters delivery of the script that brings about the most laughs...its the performance. Examples of this can be witnessed in all characters from the 'evil' teenage babysitter who is not really evil but just an exagerated teenager with an exagerated rebellious streak and her stoner boyfriend, to the two cops who patrol the neighbourhood: an older wiser cop and his nervy (not too bright), rookie partner. The relationships between both of these sets of characters feel real. The characters have obviously been worked on very hard and the writers and have been fleshed out with the same sort of detail as you'd expect in a live action movie. There is also a character played by John Heder (Napolean Dynamite), well more of a cameo actually, called Skull. He is a pizza chef with a mastery over video games and a mystical source of knowledge. He is quite a surreal character and the humor comes from this.

My kids watched this on tv and were enthralled by it. The mild horror keeps them pinned to the screen to see what happens. Great suspense aqnd mild horror. My kids are 4 and 5 and will watch this over and over again.

I bought this DVD for my 8 year old son and he loves it. With it not being a cartoon but not a film featuring real people/places/scenes etc, it is suitable for that 'inbetween age' where cartoons are too babyish, but they are not quite into usual films.
It is a funny film, with some scary bits although not too scary for children (my 4 year old daughter did not want to watch it as her brother had told her it was for 'older children'!)
Overall a good family film, worth watching over and over again!

good film really funny
good for the hole family
full of extras
i didnt think this film was gunna b good but i was wrong
its such a good film
its a must see.

good ebayer was as advertised new still in rapper seller was very helpfull and was true to his word i also brought a nother dvd off him and also very pleased and will use again ebay is my life line i buy lots off things every week and so far i havent been disapointed but you doo need to watch the post and packing as some times you pay to much but all in all really pleased with ebay and will spend much moor time and money buying and selling in the years to come , you need to ask questions about items befor you buy if your in any doubt if they dont reply then dont buy thats my tip off the day a good seller will awnser your questions , keep selling and buying amd good luck goldstar chris

its different from usual childrens films, bought it for xmas gift to go with the nintendo ds game monster house

i watched this film with my son and we both throughly enjoyed it good for older children some bits might be a bit scary for younger kids

i brought this because it was on my daughters christmas wish list. we rented this dvd when it first came out and she loved it. watched it about 5 times a day and hasnt stopped talking about it since.

monster house is a great family film that will keep kids hooked till the end. a most have in any dvd collection. you wont be disappointed.

very entertaining my children absoloutely loved it ,lots going on and the graphics were good too loved it ,,,,:@)

get it for my grandson he loves it seen it serval times first one was damaged thought buy it in ebay start again

great flim,
a little spooky in places,but its great,
younger children need parants with them.
but its great very good. five ***** star.

great film very fun to watch with the kids would recommend it to any family who love disney style movies

kids absolutely love it you cant beat it when there quiet watching a film. would recommend any parent to get it

Young dj always knew there was something strange about the old nebbercracker house across the street when the house becomes a living breathing monster dj enlists his pals chowder and jenny to learn the secret that keeps the house alive suddenly they find themselves in a hair-raising battle with an unstoppable entiy and must save the neighbourhood from total devastation this film is great
please look at my other reviews

Great film and good animation but a bit dark in places but hey that's obviously what todays 5 year old likes! It beats hiring it from Blockbuster every week!

I bought this dvd for my daughter because I had read good reviews about it - my purchase coincided with Halloweeen so we put the lights down and cuddled up. Personally I did not enjoy the movie as much as she did and would not want to watch it again - My daughter however enoyed it very much and has since watched it again. I found the notion of a "monster" house eating up people rather unrealistic but then again, when it's Halloween who wants reality??

reason for buying was my sons kept on asking me for it so i bought it since it come my sons have watched it every nighjt before bed even my 2 year old its for all the family not just for kids its great ive sat and watched it myself just to see how good it is

I BOUGHT THIS FOR MY 4 YEAR-OLD-SON AS HE LIKES NOTHING BETTER THAN SNUGGLING UP YO HIS MUM AND WATCHING A MOVIE TOGETHER. IT WAS A LITTLE BIT SCARY FOR HIS AGE BUT HE LOVED IT! IT HAS A VERY GOOD STORYLINE AND KEEPS YOU WATCHING TILL THE END. I RATE THIS FILM 8/10.

The story line is great with an added twist. Keeps you interested from start to finish. Daughter (15) loved it reckons it's amazing. She says she never expected it to end in the way it did. I have nothing but praise for it, could not fault it in anyway and I'm 47. Appeals to most age groups, except for the very young, should be over 12 or PG. Do not want to even give you an inkling as to what it's about, you must watch for yourself, go on, go and rent it. One of those DVD's once seen, must have. I ill say could make a good Halloween DVD for the family.

This is a good fun movie which we enjoyed with my 10 year old - perfect for Halloween. I would recommend it for younger children as it is scary in parts - we waited until my 3 year old was in bed to watch it.

MONSTER HOUSE,FRIGHTENINGLY FUNNY ****[DAILY MIRROR]...I BOUGHT THIS DVD ELSE WHERE IN A BIG STORE CALLED UMMM T T T T TTTTTT,SORRY NOT SURE IF I CAN MENTION IT BUT THAT SHOULD GIVE A CLUE,£3.WELL OTHER REVIEWS KEEP SAYING NOT SURE IF SUITABLE FOR THE YOUNGER ONES,MY SON JUST TURNED 3Y/O AND HASNT STOPPED WATCHING IT EVER SINCE,ACTUALY ITS OVER TAKEN PREFERENCE TO POLAR EXPRESS THAT HE'S BEEN CONSTANTLY WATCHING SINCE LAST XMAS [WHICH IS ANOTHER FANTASTIC ANIMATED MOVIE BY R.ZEMECKIS & TOM HANKS].ALMOST EVERY ONE HAS TOLD YOU THE STORY LINE,ONE WAY OR ANOTHER,MY FAV PART IS WHEN THE COPS TURN UP TO INVESTIGATE THE CHILDRENS STORY AND THE YOUNG INEXPERIENCE ROOKIE COP SAYS LETS CALL FOR BACK UP,HIS PARTNER REPLIES JUDY AT THE STATION OURS ONLY BACK UP,WE HAVE NO BACK UP,THEN THE KIDS ARE ARRESTED AND PLACED IN THE PATROL CAR AS THE 2 COPS PROCEED TO THE HOUSE,THE TREES GRABS BOTH OF THEM THEN THROWS THEM INTO THE MONSTER HOUSE,THIS MY FAV FUNNY PART-THE POLICE FORCE OF "2" JUST BEEN WIPED OUT,SUDDENLY ALL BREAKS LOOSE AS THE TREE GRABS THE CAR WITH THE KIDS STILL LOCKED INSIDE.......TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS YOU'LL GONA HAVE TO BUY THE DVD.....THIS IS A FANTASTIC FILM FOR LITERALLY ANY AGE GAP OVER 3Y/O,THEY AND THE PARENTS WILL LOVE THIS THROUGH AND THROUGH OUT AND THE KIDS OVER N OVER N OVER AGAIN..MY ADVICE, TREAT THE WHOLE FAMILY,EVEN GRANNY WILL PROB LOVE IT.I GIVE IT 5 *'S,HAPPY VIEWING.

This is a great movie, My son's (aged 4 and 6) saw it at a friends and loved it. The 6 year old takes it in his stride....'it's only pretend', the 4 year old hides behind his hands a little anouncing 'I'm not scared'...they love it and I still ok watching it for the 3 or 4 forth time...not bored yet...the kids or me!!! Excellent movie!