WSRBFan Reviews

Counterstrike (2002 TV Movie)

Watch it for Rachel Blakely!

[13 March 2004]

The movie is weak and contrived but this lady shines! Not only is Rachel Blakely gorgeous to look at as Brittany Cooper but she's quite a wonderful actress and sometimes, this critic feels, overlooked. Hope to see her again in better material and, hopefully, with someone like Will Snow, her co-star in THE LOST WORLD television show.

It's also interesting to see a great many unknown and known Australian actors in the cast which may be familiar if you ever watched HERCULES, XENA. BEASTMASTER or even THE LOST WORLD and TALES OF THE SOUTH SEAS. I think spotting the talent in COUNTERSTRIKE was even more fun than the actual movie!

The Lost World (1999–2002)

I Love Krux

[13 March 2004]

I started watching this show in its second season, not expecting much, but intrigued by an episode called "Stone Cold". The characters were possessed by some really reprehensible men and women from centuries before. The episode had an Edgar Allan Poe feel to it that I liked very much.

I found myself mostly intrigued by the character of Marguerite, an heiress, and not just because her blouse was missing buttons in strategic places. The actress playing her was stunning, with wide moody eyes and terrific hair, and she seemed to have a wonderful handle on the part she was playing.

Later, as I continued with The Lost World, I also became interested in the others, Professor Challenger, Malone and John Roxton, the hunter. Oh, and also Veronica, the jungle woman. they all touched something in me.

I know this is basically an action adventure show but when the characters can touch me more than the dinosaurs and action elements then I know we have a winner.

I was disappointed to learn The Lost World had been discontinued because it was one of the few shows I watched on a regular basis. Recently, I've heard it may return. I sincerely hope this is true. three years is not long enough for such a fine production.

Thank you.

Max Knight: Ultra Spy (2000 TV Movie)

Fun Movie/Good Cast

[13 March 2004]

I came into MAX thinking it was going to be pretty bad but was surprised by how much fun it was. The techno gobbildy gook was a bit much for my unenlightened mind but I let it wash over me because the performers were so good.

Rachel Blakely is a treasure. I know she is an Australian actress but her American accent is so good that you tend to forget that fact (Edited for sudden information alert: Turns out her father *is* an American - dah! - no wonder!). She's beautiful and compelling and fun in a double part. She's both Max's (would-be) girlfriend and his jealous avatar helper.

Max himself is a little too good to be true but very handsome and capable. Every girl likes that!

Enjoyable -- and my husband and daughter thought so too.

Thumbs up!

The Lost World (1999 TV Movie)

LOVE this show!!

[13 March 2004]

So far THE LOST WORLD is into its third season and awaiting a fourth. The characters have grown and so much has been developed by the wonderful actors involved it'll be tough when we eventually DO have to say goodbye.

Particularly interesting is the relationship between Lord John Roxton (Snow) and Marguerite Krux (Blakely) which started out rather rocky; a sort of steamy love-hate relationship into something very tender and sweeping. We know these two belong together even if they don't see it!

We've also seen depth develop in the other characters, pretty Veronica (O'Dell) the jungle-girl who eventually learned what happened to her parents, Ned Malone (Devry-Orth), the journalist who became more of a doer than a watcher and Professor Challenger (McCauley), who has learned by experience that science is not always the answer to all the questions in THE LOST WORLD.

Sadly, Professor Summerlee disappeared after the first season but his memory is kept alive in the show and if the watcher keeps close attention we get the idea that we may see him again some day. We also have a new character called Finn from the twenty first century. She's cute and perky but the jury is still out on her. She has to serve a purpose but what that is we just don't know yet.

All and all, a terrific show!!

Dead End (1999)

Will Snow Should Do More ...

[7/10 · 13 March 2004]

Will Snow, as a former police inspector turned author, has great charisma as well has being a very handsome man. The Australian actor does as well as he can with what he is given in this low budget movie but he is hampered by bad writing and weak direction.

The pluses in this movie include Todd Russell's (Snow's) confrontation with his adopted Mother about his real mother. He comes across as conflicted but still kind and understanding. He also takes on the role of a man, being slowly poisoned, having horrible headaches, and behaving erratically very well. You're not certain if Russell really is a homicidal killer or if the stress and all the death and destruction around him is getting the better of his psyche. Or ... if there is a true mystery a foot.

The minuses: The brutal violence and language in the movie is a bit over the top. In some parts it's rather ridiculous and gratuitous.

The sex scenes between Russell and his girlfriend, Laurie, while steamy are also forced. And - well - their relationship is wholly uninteresting. Simply stated, Snow and Hill had no chemistry. We've seen Will Snow work well with other actresses, most notably beautiful Rachel Blakely who starred with him on THE LOST WORLD and TALES OF THE SOUTH SEAS, and sizzle but it seems to take a special talent to bring out the best in Will Snow.

All in all, DEAD END is worth the price simply to work out the mystery and see Will Snow do something a little different than we've ever seen him in -- but Oscar material it aint.

Tales of the South Seas (1998–2000)

Good show but needed more ...

[13 March 2004]

... interaction between William Snow and Rachel Blakely.

These two were great together. You could see a great working chemistry between the actors and it was unfortunate that those behind the show chose to keep their characters, for the most part, away from each other. What is wrong with Grief anyway? Even after he dumps his island honey, Lavinia, he still won't get smoochy with gorgeous Isabelle Reed who was obviously very hot for him.

But it was a great show, terrific scenery, acting and characters, and I'm sorry it only ran for a year. Am also mightily sorry it never showed in the U.S.A. where TALES OF THE SOUTH SEAS would have a huge following because of the THE LOST WORLD connection (Blakely and Snow again).

One Way Ticket (1997 TV Movie)

Interesting but Miscast Movie

[13 March 2004]

Rachel Blakely is a lovely and talented actress and I can understand her wanting to stretch, doing more than glamour roles, but her casting in this movie was a mistake. For one thing, I found it incredibly difficult to believe this woman would fall for someone like the scum-manipulator-prisoner in this film. Perhaps it's because Blakely tends to act in roles that have her empowered and this role just made her seem like a silly, weak woman that decides to do something really stupid like have an affair with a jailbird then break him out of prison. If Blakely was remotely unbeautiful it might have worked, she's that good an actress, but she's just too lovely and confident and the man she's supposedly fallen for in this movie is as transparent as Scotch Tape.

After all, it's not like her lover is ... William Snow, who stars with Blakely in THE LOST WORLD. Now, there's a man I can see her character getting excited about.

All in all, ONE WAY TICKET is an interesting movie but needed different actors. Or, at least, actors that have chemistry.