I'll have to admit that the remake of "THE HAUNTING" was one of my most anticipated films of last year.  I was expecting so much from it, as Director Jan De Bont, clearly skilled in the usage of sound, could have greatly expanded the atmosphere created by Robert Wise in the original film.  The original "THE HAUNTING", is vastly superior.  Robert Wise magnificently utilized editing, sound, and image to create truly horrifying moments wherein the unseen, was far scarier than the visible!  While the "sound" in the new version is spectacular, nothing else is above "mediocre"!  Nothing has been done to delve into the characters further than in the first film, and while Zeta-Jones' character is defined as a "bi-sexual", there's no sexual tension anywhere in the film, an opportunity completely lost by the filmmakers.  The house is supposed to feed on the energy of its inhabitants, but everyone here is pretty dull.  The dialogue is horrible for the most part.  When the female caretaker warns the inhabitants "no one can hear them at night", it's laughable! 

The transfer looks outstanding!  Every color is perfectly represented here in a glossy looking image, free of artifacts and shimmering.  The contrast is flawless!  Every level of gray and black is distinguished!  The DTS-EX soundtrack offers a great deal more depth than the previous Dolby Digital-EX soundtrack.  The dolby digital track relied on a 16 bit master, whereas the track here is a newly created "24" bit master!  The discrete center back channel offers some "sweeping" effects.  While the dolby digital EX version was excellent, the DTS EX version offers substantially more clarity.  The most subtle sound effects are sharper here!  The bass is also better used, it packed a whallop, and can really alarm the neighbors(trust us!) .   This is one of the best sounding/best looking dvds we've ever seen or heard.  We just wish it had been for a better film.

The same featurette offered on the dolby digital version is offered here.  It's hosted by the lovely Catherine Zeta Jones and includes interviews and behind-the-scenes footage of the CGI effects.