Jack Langedijk Movies
- 2006
Based on a series of science fiction novels by Tedd Anasti, Patsy Cameron Anasti, and Stephen D. Sullivan, the 30-minute anime series Spider Riders got under way when the hero, 13-year-old Hunter Steele, chased a spider into a cave and emerged in the underground world of Arachna. Here Hunter linked up with a group of fearless warriors, all youngsters like himself, led by Prince Lumen, Arachna's rightful ruler. It was the avowed purpose of Lumen's "Spider Riders" to do battle with the evil insect mutants who had overrun Arachna, and it so happened that the young warriors had been awaiting the arrival of an "Earthian" like Hunter, who according to legend would either prove to be the Spider Riders' salvation...or destruction. In keeping with the time-honored anime "mech" concept, each Spider Rider was outfitted with a personalized "battle spider" (Hunter's battle spider was named Shadow), and each toted a specialized weapon. The villainous Invectids, comprised of common garden-variety insects who had grown to enormous and frightening proportions, also boasted their own personalized mechs, bearing such names as "Smashhopper" and "Praying Mantik." Originally seen on Japan's TV Tokyo beginning April 4, 2006, Spider Riders was subsequently redubbed and re-edited for English-speaking viewers, first appearing in the U.S. on June 17, 2006, as part of the WB network's Saturday-morning lineup. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Cameron Ansell, Julie Lemieux, (more)
Everybody Loves Raymond co-star Brad Garrett brings "The Great One" to life in this made-for-TV biography of video icon Jackie Gleason. The product of a fractious Brooklyn childhood, capped by the abrupt desertion of his ne'er-do-well father, Gleason launches his show business career with the motto "Never depend on anyone." Yet because of his multitude of insecurities, he demands total loyalty and 100-percent devotion from everyone around him. Trouble is, he has no loyalty or devotion to give in return: Dedicated to his career, his drinking, and his womanizing (not always in that order), Jackie neglects his wife Gen (Gretchen Egolf) and his children, tyrannizes his associates in general and his faithful agent George "Bullets" Durgom (Saul Rubinek) in particular, and shamelessly steals other people's ideas and comedy material, claiming it exclusively as his own. For all his bluster and bullying, Gleason remains likable and arguably even lovable -- just like his most famous TV character, Brooklyn bus driver Ralph Kramden (indeed, the script suggests that Gleason was Kramden and Kramden was Gleason -- and that Jackie was envious of Ralph's ability to "make things up" to his long-suffering wife Alice at the end of each Honeymooners sketch). The film is at its best in its re-creations of Gleason's stage and TV triumphs, though one could nitpick about the hazy and often downright inaccurate chronology of events. As the title character, Brad Garrett offers an uncannily on-target portrayal, despite the fact that the 6'8" actor was nearly a foot taller than the real Gleason (this discrepancy was amply compensated for by the clever camera angles of cinematographer Neil Roach, not to mention the elevator shoes worn by practically every other member of the cast). Of the supporting players, Gretchen Egolf and Terry Farrell are superb as Jackie's first and second wives respectively, while Michael Chieffo's portrayal of Art Carney is eerily perfect. Co-written by Michael Preminger and Rick Podell, the same team responsible for Jackie Gleason's final theatrical feature Nothing in Common, Gleason made its CBS network debut on October 13, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
In the Holy Bible, the Book of Revelations speaks of an event called "The Rapture," in which it is believed God will call those who have been saved to Heaven, while those who have not repented their sins will remain on Earth. Authors Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins have written a series of novels based upon the premise of how the Rapture would affect ordinary people in the modern world, and Left Behind is the first feature film to be adapted from their work. Rayford Steele (Brad Johnson) is an airline pilot whose relationship with his wife has gone sour; she responds by devoting more of her time and energy to the church, while he ponders having an affair with an attractive flight attendant, Hattie Durham (Chelsea Noble). In the midst of a flight to London, a number of their passengers mysteriously disappear, and chaos takes hold as a number of vehicles on the ground and in the air are suddenly unmanned. Meanwhile, Buck Williams (Kirk Cameron), a television journalist, is pondering the rash of sudden disappearances as he works on a report about Dr. Chaim Rosenzweig (Colin Fox), an Israeli scientist who has devised a formula that would make any soil on earth easy to cultivate. However, Cameron wonders if there's more to Rosenzweig than he first imagined when he discovers the doctor is in cahoots with two multi-millionaires who plan to broker the invention to promote their own agenda of international domination. Produced by Cloud Ten Productions, a Christian filmmaking concern, Left Behind was released with an unusual marketing strategy -- the film was made available on home video in October 2000, with a theatrical release scheduled to follow in February 2001. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kirk Cameron, Brad Johnson, (more)
- 1998
Burned-out, boozing crime novelist Bruce Simon Barker (John Ritter) emerges from his doldrums long enough to involve himself in a bizarre missing-persons case. At the urging of his police inspector sister (Samantha Eggar), Bruce investigates the disappearance of a baby. There have been no ransom demands, the baby's parents are (to put it mildly) dysfunctional, and the father of the child is cheating on his wife with her sister. At first, Barker figures that these sordid real-life intrigues might serve as inspiration for another of his crime novels, but the deeper he becomes enmeshed in the situation, the more he realizes that there is much, much more to the case than meets the eye. Meanwhuile, Barker must wrestle with the disintegration of his own marriage and the alienation of his daughter. Daphne Zuniga, Michelle Scarabelli and Roddy McDowell deliver standout performances as the sister-in-law, the baby's mother, and the family's shady attorney. Produced for Canadian TV under the title Loss of Faith, this film has since been shown on America's Lifetime network as The Truth About Lying. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- John Ritter, Michele Scarabelli, (more)
- 1994
- R
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Darkman is up to his old tricks. He's robbing from the criminals and keeping for himself so he can further perfect his synthetic skin which dissolves after 99 minutes in the light. His old arch-nemesis, Robert Durrant (Larry Drake) returns, having survived the helicopter crash in the first film. Durant attempts to rebuild his crumbling empire by devising a new particle gun to sell on the market. After Durant kills a young scientist for his warehouse, Darkman goes on a rampage, vowing to destroy Durant once and for all. Darkman concocts masks of his enemies and infiltrates Durant's gang, turning everyone on themselves. This sequel is above the typical direct-to-video quality and director May has captured Raimi's comic-book style, but the energy that propelled the original is sorely missing here. Welcome back is Drake who once again astonishes with a gleefully maniacal performance, rightfully stealing the show. Replacing the title character is Arnold Vosloo, who coolly plays Darkman without the enraged melodramatics Liam Neeson brought to his portrayal of the tormented hero. This sequel was actually filmed after Darkman III: Die, Darkman, Die but was released on video first despite the fact that Universal thought it looked good enough to release into theaters. ~ Sean D. MacLaggan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Arnold Vosloo, Larry Drake, (more)
- 1993
Based on a novel by Mary Higgins Clark, the film explores the life of an art-gallery manager (Carol Higgins Clark) who marries a famous Canadian painter (Perry King). After moving her two young daughters to his mansion, she soon comes to the frightening realization that he is much more than the garden-variety tortured artist. ~ John Bush, Rovi
- Starring:
- Perry King, Carol Higgins Clark, (more)
- 1991
- NR
Jan Michael Vincent is the hero-by-default in Final Heist. As indicated by the title, Vincent is David King, a master thief on the verge of retirement. Feeling unfulfilled until he can pull off one last job, King discovers that his partners in crime have their own agendae. Gabrielle Lazure is the woman in the case. When first telecast on Canadian TV, Final Heist was titled L'Etrange rancon. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jan-Michael Vincent, Gabrielle Lazure, (more)
- 1986
Filmed in Quebec, this children's fantasy was originally released as Tales for All #5. The principal character is a lovable goblin who befriends a group of children. The magical dwarf is visible only to the kids, leading to all sorts of complications with the local adult population. In the end, the children save the goblin from the evil machinations of the human villain, a despotic land-grabber. The film's lilting musical score, written by G. Trepanier and N. Dube, has been made separately available on tape. Great Land of Small was part of a series of kid's films designed for the dual market of TV and theaters. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Karen Elkin, Michael Blouin, (more)
