visitors

Visitors
$7.98
It's interesting that so many reviews of this film rate it poorly. Whilst I'd not give it 5 stars, it's certainly worth 4. The script is fine, the acting good, the direction and production OK - what's not to like?

I guess a lot of the people who don't "get" this film were either expecting something quite different, or else they are not sailors. The general plot has been covered here several times so I won't repeat it again at length - it is a simple situational thriller in which a lone sailor, becalmed in the Indian Ocean, begins to experience vivid hallucinations. These are at least partly in reaction to the death of both her parents whilst her round the world single-handed attempt was under way.

Were the "visitors" real? No, of course not - they are all complete fantasies. Lone sailors frequently experience vivid, lucid hallucinations during long voyages. Watch "Deep Water", the recent bio-pic about the Golden Globe trophy in 1968, to get a taste of this in real life. One competitor went totally nuts and jumped overboard after craeting an elabourate hoax regarding his position - another saw and talked to Bing Crosby whilst in the middle of the Atlantic! It's old news.

What made the film gripping for me was the realization that, isolated as she was, her own mind was her greatest enemy. At one point she jumps overboard to escape imaginary pirates, and only comes back to her senses once on board again. That's REAL terror - the knowledge that in an isolated and totally self-sufficient environment, you may do yourself or your only means of survival real damage during an hallucination. The one person you can absolutely trust, yourself, is suddenly someone to be feared. Truly terrifying, more so than any ghost story.

The end is excellent. Having internalised the death of her parents, and with her boyfriend no longer faithful and her sponsor for the race backing out, she does the best thing possible - gives them all the finger and sails on to new horizons.

V: The Complete Series
$39.98
Got this item in a very timely manner. Was just as it was advertized. Wanted to compare the 80's series with the new series. Haven't watched much of it yet. Thank You!

A Christmas Visitor with Bonus DVD: Angel in the Family
$9.99
This movie is excellent especially if you've lost a loved one. It has made me feel much better even though nothing can replace a family member who has died.

A Christmas Visitor [Blu-ray]
$14.99
I love this movie. I watch it every year. The quality of the blu-ray is excellent. It's widescreen, which I wasn't expecting, but I didn't notice any cropping from the 4:3 aspect of when the movie airs on tv. It's a great Christmas classic that everyone in the family can watch. Sure, the film can seem flat at times, but you don't really notice that all that much. The last half of the movie is the best part of it, when the family gets Christmas back in their lives after 12 years. I would definately recommend picking this up if you've seen it and love it as much as I do.