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The Vanishing, a review by Rich

The Vanishing



In this riveting, tension-filled psychological thriller, a young woman (SANDRA BULLOCK) mysteriously disappears, sending her boyfriend Jeff (KIEFER SUTHERLAND) on a years-long quest to find her. Not even a new love (NANCY TRAVIS) can keep him from his obsessive search. All the while, the calculating psychopath (JEFF BRIDGES) who kidnapped his girlfriend stalks Jeff, ultimately taking him through the exact same steps that led to the crime. In order to find out what really happened, Jeff must put his own life in the hands of this devious stranger.

Psycho-thriller pulled from average status by some top-notch acting from leads Sutherland and Bridges. Never seen the original but may have to invest in that now.
I was never sure of the motive of the killer, why he did the original kidnap and then years later the obsession with the victims husband? Bridges was eerie and original in the role, but what was the thinking behind the accent and slow talking, which was accentuated through the film?
Overall an enjoyably tense, jumpy, watchable thriller with a very exciting ending.
 

(From Riches Random Reviews on May 14th, 2009)

The 39 Steps, a review by Dragonfire

The 39 Steps

Richard Hannay (Robert Donat) picks up Annabella Smith (Lucie Mannheim) at a music hall, but he finds her behaviour strange. She tells him she is a spy and warns he is now involved. Indeed, she is soon murdered and he is the only suspect and on the run to Scotland, with the one lead she gave him. Along the way he meets Pamela (Madeleine Carroll) and soon she is also caught up in discovering just what The 39 Steps are.

My Thoughts

I was a little distracted when I first started watching this one, but I ended up really enjoying the movie overall.  The plot was interesting and there is a decent amount of suspense with what is going on.  The characters were interesting and seemed more..likable at times as well.  It does seem like Hitchcock was trying to push the limits of what he got in the movie, especially with that scene involving the stockings.  That had to be shocking when the movie first came out. 

My copy is part of my set with several Hitchcock movies and a few episodes of television shows.  The picture quality really isn't that bad even though it hasn't been restored.

 

I'm making progress on getting caught up at least even though I'm still behind.  lol  But I've made progress.

(From Alfred Hitchcock Marathon on May 12th, 2009)

Wonder Woman, a review by addicted2dvd

Wonder Woman (2011/United States) Wonder Woman is an action drama about the dc comics icon, a vigilante crime fighter in L.A. who is also a successful corporate executive and a modern woman trying to balance all of the elements of her extraordinary life.

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Stars:
Adrianne Palicki as Diana Prince / Wonder Woman
Cary Elwes as Henry Johns
Elizabeth Hurley as Veronica Cale
Edward Herrmann as Senator Warren
Tracie Thoms as Etta Candy
Justin Bruening as Steve Trevor
Nancy Grace as Herself

Extras:

• Scene Access

I am so thrilled I got the chance to see this. After looking forward to a new series and then the studios canceling the series before it even started was a real disappointment for me. After watching it I remain disappointed. I could have seen myself really getting into this series. Though it definitely needed some tweaking. First of all I found that they made Wonder Woman too dark. She did what she had to do to get what she believed to be justice. This included not only putting people in the hospital... but as far as murder. Though she only killed those that was trying to kill her... it still don't seem right for the character. Then there is the way she uses her magic lasso... she used it on several occasions in this pilot... and every time she snagged the person around the neck with it. It is definitely gone a step too far in that matter.

Next we have her identity. While she still only has 2 identities literally... it feel like three. We have Wonder Woman... who is also known to the public world as Diana Themyscira who runs a big business that supports her going out to fight crime. Then finally there is Diana Prince... which is no more then a persona she uses to let her get away from things. Going to a small home elsewhere to be by herself (other then her cat Sylvester)... and that is all Diana Prince is in this series.

Now I want to talk a little about the costume. We have debated what version of the costume we liked better... and that debate was all for nothing. Why? Because all the versions exist in this series! Yes she has more then one costume... which she wears depending nothing more then on her mood. So it is not like in the classic Lynda Carter Wonder Woman where there was one for everyday use, One for motorcycle riding and one for swimming. She just grabs whatever costume she is in the mood to wear. And yes... this includes the classic look with the short shorts!

Jet... Yes!... Invisible... No! We do see Wonder Woman flying around in her little jet. But this jet is not invisible. I don't know... possibly their plan was to give the jet a cloaking ability so that it could appear invisible in future episodes... but this is something we will never know. Also the jet is really very small. Almost pod-like only big enough for her alone to fly in.

What did I think of Adrianne Palicki in the title role? I liked her much better then I did in the promo photos we saw of her. While I would have still liked to seen someone else... someone like Eliza Dushku in the role... I could have enjoyed watching her Adrianne Palicki in the role with no problem at all. I really liked who they chose to play Steve Trevor. The got Justin Bruening to play him. He is the guy that played Michael Knight in the reboot of the Knight Rider series.

The story itself was interesting... definitely kept my attention. Wonder Woman is going after Veronica Cale, a Lex Luthor like character, who is putting out a dangerous steroids type drug to some ghetto sports kids which is killing the kids. She is trying to create a formula to make super-soldiers. I found to be entertaining but definitely in the need of some polishing. Over-all a good attempt at a new series... but watching this I can see why they refused the pilot. I just wish they would have polished it up... change a few things... then maybe they would have something they could have aired.



(From Addicted2dvd's Random TV Series Watched on July 28th, 2011)