pitzerclan

Watching "V" has become an Event at our house. We have the entire miniseries and TV series on video (thanks to having the Sci-Fi Channel and Primestar/DirecTV). Over Independence Day, 2000, beginning at 430 am Monday, July 3rd and concluding at 530 pm, Tuesday, July 4th, we watched the entire miniseries and all 19 episodes of the subsequent TV series! It was GREAT! I agree with those who says it's better than the movie Independence Day. Some big-budget producer or director (like George Lucas or Stephen Spielburg) ought to take this great sci-fi adventure and do it up right with a proper conclusion! It would be great to get Marc Singer, Robert Englund, Faye Grant, Michael Ironside, Jane Badler and all the other great actors and actresses (or others who would properly fill,the roles) (as well as all those in the production credits) who worked so hard on this and give this production what it (and we) truly deserves!! So, if any of you are reading this -- "let's do it!"

Having seen (and commented on for IMDb) the more recent movie by the same title with Gene Wilder, I wanted to watch the 1940 movie to see if there was any resemblance between the two. There was none. Although I am less qualified to evaluate this movie, considering it was made eight years before I was born, I must say it seemed to me that this court-room mystery could not make up its mind whether it wanted to be a comedy or a serious drama. There were alternating comedic and serious touches which I believe detracted from the overall enjoyment of the film. However, the story was enjoyable for a one-time viewing. Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford were familiar to me. Brian Aherne was unfamiliar to me in name, but I believe I recognized him from other movies. He reminded me a little of blustering William Powell in "Life with Father," a movie I cannot stand. It seemed to me the wife could have seen through the father's stories a lot sooner, the silliness of the daughter was overdone, and the scenes with Glenn Ford and Rita Hayworth could have been more revealing as to their true feelings for each other. The pairing of the daughter with the fat boy was predictable. And I don't know that the real truth about Rita Hayworth's character really made all that much difference in the end. But these are just my opinions, and I'm glad to say I was able to view the film this once.

I have seen this movie four times now, and each time is a more satisfying experience than the last. The first time I watched The Changeling, I had to go to the dictionary to find out just what a changeling was. Over the course of our viewings, I have learned the meaning of a changeling, and I have finally followed the entire plot!

The special effects and music are appropriate to every part of the story, sufficiently scaring us again and again. Several members of my family have even taken to enacting scenes from the movie here in our own house. These scenes (which I will not reveal here) scare my daughter to death every time. She has threatened to never watch this movie with me again, but each time she relents. For those who love being scared -- and by the old-fashioned power of suggestion, not a bunch of gore --this movie is one of the best!

I would call the music deliciously eerie. Congratulations to Rick Wilkins and those who performed the score. George C. Scott is perfect for the lead role. His wild-eyed appearance and gruff voice, along with his virile determination to get to the bottom of a mystery hypnotically carries us along. Trish Van Devere is excellent also. I am especially impressed with her fits of fright and panic!

I don't really like the inclusion of a medium and the supernatural because these things can be really real in our world and are best left alone. However, these elements are essential to the story. I don't know why the film is rated R - only once is there the kind of profanity that would be edited out for broadcast TV release. Perhaps it is the supernatural element or the (small amount of) violence; I don't know.

I am reminded of another one of my favorite movies when watching the Changeling: The Uninvited with Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey. Enough said. I would like to watch The Changeling again tonight -- with my sister -- who has not yet experienced this thriller delight!

"The Lady in Question (1999)" starring Gene Wilder is a well-acted mystery drama that reminds me of the old black-and-white Raymond Burr Perry Mason series. Both Perry and "Cash" kept me guessing right up to the end. There were many suspects with a motive for the murder, but I had no idea which character it would be.

Gene Wilder has a special charming wit about him, even in his facial expressions and vocal inflections which make him perfect for the part. The portions of the movie which portrayed actors acting was done very well. I'm sure this is an additional challenge for the cast to pull off. I am not surprised to see that he did some of the writing for the movie. Even his singing was a delight. I like him in this role more than his former "sillier" roles like "The Young Frankenstein" and "Willy Wonka." I am hoping A & E will continue this series. They ought to call it something like "The A & E Gene Wilder Mysteries."

The music fit the period. I enjoyed the cool live combo and the swing tunes. I was a little unclear at the beginning whether we were seeing a flashback or whether the action was taking place in that time period. And I do not agree that the inclusion of profanity is necessary to the flow of the script. To me, that always distracts.

Overall, my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed this second in a well-crafted start in what we hope will be many others -- just like one of our other favorites: Raymond Burr's Perry Mason.