DVD : Vanishing Point |
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Rating:  - * It Still Holds Up Today ... I saw this in the theater in 1972 while constrained in the Marine Corps and was transported by the music, wide open desert spaces, anti-establishment themes, Kowalski's sense of fair play and nude hippie chicks on motorcycles. In other words all the freedoms I missed while being in the service. I really loved it then and was a little apprehensive about seeing it again as I wasn't sure it would hold up over the years. 36 years to be exact. Well, the movie works on different levels and it still holds up today and for the same reasons it was a great "B" movie back in the day. Now the Charger is a sweet classic muscle car and just the sound of that engine revving over my home theater system is a nostalgic celebration. (Gotta get me one of those!) We miss Cleavon Little even more as he nearly steals the film as Super Soul the seemingly clairvoyant desert DJ. Now we can still relate to the angst and frustration of not fitting in with normal society. There are real humanistic themes here to go along with the weirdness and action. I appreciated Kowalski's sense of fair play, notice how when someone might be injured he usually stops, gets out of the car and determines whether they might need help. Nice touch. He does this in different ways all through the film. You really see the man behind the wheel as a person. Really, I was most concerned about the present value of this film during the first fifteen minutes because the early chases seemed rather "Smokey & The Bandit" styled. I was relieved that we move away from there quickly and head into deeper, darker waters. A very entertaining little film. On the downside I would like to have seen some DVD extras like a "making of" segment or interviews and a 5.1 remix of the sound would have been great, too. I know, it's an old "B" movie, I'm just happy it's available at all! Rating: - * Vanishing breed of movie ... Vanishing Point is a movie I remember seeing on television as a child. I liked it because I've always liked cars and I liked muscle cars like the Dodge Challenger (love the 2008-09 model). Years later, I recorded the movie off of television on VHS, but the quality was so-so. I finally bought the DVD and I really like it. I loved the bonus features like the various movie trailers for the film and the directors commentary by Richard Sarafian. As a video producer and digital filmmaker, the movie still works for me. I did not outgrow it. Although, I think the drug use is a bit much, I understand how the experiences of the Kowalski anti-hero character would lead him to such behavior. Of note is the Super Soul character brilliantly brought to life by Cleavon Little. Vanishing Point is a great action car chase film, a wonderful exercise in filmmaking and a great look back at how films used to be made before the glitz and glitter of Hollywood CGI. Rating:  - * intreague ... sure not the greatest movie in the world, but as a cult classic its a must have and worth a watch every now and then. Also a good note is the style of filmography used, an interesting movie and a great car. Rating: - * Another great 70's B-movie ... Like I said in my "Dirty Mary,Crazy Larry" review..a great 70's B movie made on a low budget,real "special" effects,fantastic stunts..it doesn't get much better..it may not appeal to everyone..but put big budget hollywood out of your head and enjoy..director Richard C. Sarafian had a vision for a great movie and in my opinion he delivers..I hadn't seen this in years..a lot of years..it is much better than I remember..deeper..it makes you think...if you like this one check out "Electra Glide in Blue"...The 70's was a great time for movies..give'em a chance...you may just like them. Rating: - * vanishing point dvd ... this movie is grate i saw it when it first out at the drive-in in the 1970's it is one of the best in my collection the other one i recomend is trapper county war thank you henry j. whitney |
All three principals sing eloquently and with a fine sense of the opera's structure and context. Anna Tomowa-Sintow is in even better voice than Domingo, and Giorgio Zancanaro heads an expert supporting cast. The Covent Garden Chorus, directed with distinction by Michael Hampe, gives a memorable impression of the revolutionary mob. Julius Rudel's conducting is totally idiomatic. --Joe McLellan
Lotfi Mansouri spared no effort or expense in making this production special. He personally directed the staging, and handpicked an outstanding cast (right down to the very young and then-unknown Ben Heppner in the small role of Hervey). The visual elements--sets, costumes, and camera work--are also handled with great care, and Sutherland's positive response to this dedication can be sensed in her performance as the unfortunate wife of King Henry VIII. James Morris is best-known as a Wagnerian singer--perhaps the leading Wotan of our time--but he is equally at home in many of the villainous roles that are the fate of bass- baritones (Iago, Scarpia, Don Giovanni). In this sinister tale of an innocent woman ruthlessly destroyed, he shows a surprising knack for the bel canto style. Judith Forst is also excellent in the role of Jane Seymour. --Joe McLellan
