LisaLisa85 Reviews

The Time Machine (1978 TV Movie)

OK - here we go again...

[6/10 · 11 June 2008]

I had to post a comment about this adaptation of The Time Machine after reading the very harsh review by "Anonymous" from Sacramento.

This 1978 version was never intended as a remake to the 1960 version; in the 1960 film, MGM took a lot of liberties with the original book material, and in fact this version is a much more faithful adaptation of the book, and much closer to HG Wells' vision.

Whereas the 1960 version had a number of "key events" included that were not actually in the book at all, and also several key issues omitted, this version largely stays true to the book in all aspects.

While John Beck is not as confident or assured (or even as "arrogant") in his role as Rod Taylor, his more laid-back performance is far more reminiscent of the Time Traveller from the book than Taylor's. A couple of other famous faces (including the John A. Doucette, Priscilla Barnes and even Whit Bissell, who also starred in the 1960 version, are all pleasant enough in their supporting roles.

The effects are not brilliant, but then this was a cheap budget production made in the Star Wars era, so in comparison there was no way the effects were ever going to match up with productions from the likes of MGM or 20th Century Fox for that time! In short, while nothing special, and not as entertaining as the 1960 version, this 1978 adaptation is not absolutely disastrous either.

When it comes to accurately depicting HG Wells' original book, the 1960 "Time Machine" film is the weaker version, not this one

The Wind in the Willows (I) (1983 TV Movie)

Sublime

[9/10 · 8 June 2007]

As someone who loved Kenneth Grahame's book "The Wind In The Willows" - my father used to read it to me a lot when I was little - I have seen many TV/film/theatre adaptations of the story. But it was this 1983 feature length film by Rosemary Sisson (produced by the great animation team of Brian Cosgrove & Mark Hall) that, for me, ranks as perhaps the best of the lot. This was perhaps the most faithful adaptation to Grahame's book, and in my opinion, it was this adaptation that got it absolutely spot on!

Everything about this version is excellent - this was exactly the characters and scenes as I imagined them from when my father read me the story and from when I was old enough to read them myself. The Edwardian scenery was just perfect. The often poignant and sometimes hilarious incidental music was awe-inspiring. And the theme tune was so beautiful, so relaxing, and so heart-wrenching all at once!

As for the characters and voice actors... They simply couldn't have made a better choice for Mr. Toad than the fantastic David Jason, who takes to his part with passion and vigour. The great Ian Carmichael's warm, friendly and dry manner was totally perfect Ratty (what a pity they couldn't keep him for series that followed on from this film), and Sir Michael Hordern's gruff, husky and stern yet kind voice made a fabulous Badger. Richard Pearson as the shy and sensitive but lovable Moley was very good too, while Brian Trueman and Una Stubbs were great in their supporting roles. The Weasels are great villains, and some of the scenes, while rather dark and scary, evoke exactly the view and words of Kenneth Grahame.

And then there's the songs. David Jason's "The Open Road" still makes my head turn to the screen even now, and Ian Carmichael singing the Ducks' Dance followed by the amazing sequence of the clay puppet ducks performing a well-timed dance routine... Well, you have to see it to believe what an incredible experience it is.

Whether a child or an adult, this film is an experience to be treasured!

Perry Mason: The Case of the Lady in the Lake (1988 TV Movie)

Unspectacular but likable Mason fare

[7/10 · 17 October 2006]

Despite the seemingly self-explanatory title, there's a little quirk behind this mystery.

A mild but reasonably enjoyable TVM in the Perry Mason series, this features a couple of famous faces from the 80s era in which it was filmed, including David Hassellhoff (between Knight Rider and Baywatch days) and John Beck (fomerly of Dallas and Santa Barbera, and more recently of Walker:Texas Ranger fame) in addition to the late Raymond Burr in his role of Perry Mason.

15 years earlier, twin sisters Sarah and Amy Wingate were kidnapped and boated out onto a lake near the mining federation headquarters owned by their father, and thrown into the lake by their kidnapper... The kidnapper was killed in a gun battle with the Sheriff's posse soon after, a posse which included former reserve deputy sheriff-turned-mining company president Doug Vickers (played by John Beck), and old friend of Sarah's father who took over the operations management side of the company following Sarah's father's death with the company ownership itself having been inherited by Sarah (who, unlike her sister, survived the kidnapping ordeal). After some pains as she tries to fully come to terms with the tragedy, life returns to normal for Sarah, largely thanks to her new husband, Billy Travis (Hassellhoff), a retired tennis pro now trying to set up a new ski resort, a development which sees Sarah considering the possibility of closing the mining company down, and going into partnership with Billy.

Then Sarah disappears, and the Sheriff receives an anonymous call telling him that she has been murdered and that she is lying dead in the lake. All the clues point to Billy Travis, and he is subsequently arrested and put on trial for his wife's murder - having himself received an anonymous phone call, he is found rowing a boat out of the lake with Sarah's blood and clothing in it and a napkin with his name on it inside the boat. The town, all of whom believed that Billy only married Sarah for her money in the first place, are quick to point the finger of blame at him, mainly out of convenience and dislike towards Billy, but also having seen him publicly argue with Sarah the night before.

But Billy knows that he did not murder Sarah. And and along with Perry (defending him at the trial) and sidekick Paul Drake (played for the last time by William Katt in this film) he tries to find out who really committed the crime.

There are a number of suspicious questions left unanswered following Sarah's disappearance. If Sarah really was murdered and dumped in the lake, then why is her body not there now? Why has Billy's brother Frank done a runner, and who is he running from? What was Billy's former lover, Lisa Blake, doing back in town on the night of the murder, and why has she now disappeared? Why are Doug Vickers, Sarah's cousin Skip Wingate, and Sarah's personal attendant Ms. Constance Chainey all so quick to blame Billy, and yet at the same time so reluctant to testify at Billy's trial? And is it just a horrible coincidence that Sarah has been murdered in the same waters as her twin sister was 15 years before, or is someone deliberately trying to repeat history?

As the case progresses, it soon becomes apparent to all involved that there's far more to the case than had initially met the eye. As Mason and Drake get closer to the truth, they realise that the real murderer is only not working in tandem with an accomplice, but that, as they close in, the two culprits will go to all lengths to stop them unearthing the real truth - with shocking results...

Good performances from David Hassellhoff, the very under-rated John Beck and Raymond Burr make this a watchable movie that starts off very well prior falling into mediocrity in places due to weak script and lack of plot before the film eventually reaches an intense and intriguing climax towards the end.