jackstanley

Dead Like me was an interesting and unusual series, one of many post 9/11 shows whereby American TV audiences wanted to examine death more closely. Ironically it 'died' before it's time but still left several episodes to cherish on DVD.

This dtv movie bookend is a huge disappointment. It should be no surprise to fans that Mandy Patimkin was not returning for this installment, but to have characters cryptically blather about his absence, then theorize his disappearance was a perhaps a result of something more sinister - and then make no effort to investigate further - is simply lazy writing, editing or both.

Perhaps there were problems developing this script. Perhaps the writers ran out of time before production began. Ironically a movie (even a dtv one) is generally allowed more time to develop in pre-production whereas episodic TV has a huge time crunch. Yet compare this to any episode of the original series. 'Life After Death' seems rushed, as if the first draft of a script by an intern was greenlit and filmed with no further editing.

Most of the original cast are back, and do their best. Sarah Wynter has a decent stab at replacing Laura Harris as Daisy, but doesn't quite have the 'zing'. Henry Ian Cusick, great in Lost and great here, is underused. But the saving grace of this special is Britt McKillip as Reggie, who has blossomed from a talented child actress to a young adult with a hopefully great career ahead of her. Every scene of hers is filled with subtlety, pathos and nuance sadly lacking anywhere else.

Like the new Indiana Jones follow-up, this viewer sadly has to pretend that most of his 2 hours viewing was a bad dream, and focus on happier times in the past.

This is a fun, distracting movie with b-grade special effects and wonderfully-conceived action sequences - let down by some of the worst acting on the planet. It might have been more worthwhile for the director to have placed Barbie and ken dolls on screen. There are millions of incredibly talented AND attractive actors begging for work out there - what happened?

Jason Behr, so watchable in Roswell, seems to be on Prozac and is acted off the screen by his own hairdo and fashion choices. You know an actor isn't giving their all when you tune out of their line delivery to wonder where they got that great 70's shirt.

Amanda Brooks is truly dreadful. She seems to have been cast for a vague resemble to Sarah Michelle Gellar (the last scene has her costumed and hairdo'd remarkably like Buffy) - but unlike Gellar she has all the emotive power of a wet flannel. Watch her during a dramatic moment when Behr puts his life on the line for her - she looks vaguely concerned, as if Behr has developed a slight cough - maybe she should get some Vicks? WAKE UP!!

This could have been a solid B movie, fun all the way through, but sadly it has true DVD status given this viewer's keen desire for the evil dragon to eat the leads.

This is an unashamedly romantic, tear-jerking story in the tradition of Love Story.

I think Hollywood has been so lost in CGI-epics and not wanting the audience to feel bad for a second (apart from horror - there anything goes) that they haven't produced enough films which let people have a good cry in recent years.

From what I've heard this film was made for a relatively small budget though it boasts impressive production standards and beautiful locations. It could be enjoyed on DVD though the scope of the seaside backdrop suggests a big-screen viewing would be more effective. The acting is also very impressive.

Hollywood take note, an indie on a much lower budget has outsmarted you once again!