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The Net

The Net

List Price: $14.94
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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: SUSPENSEFUL!!!!
Review: Angela Bennett (Sandra Bullock) leads a life that is unlike most. She doesn't have much excitement in her life; her life is built mostly around her being a MAJOR computer ace. Unfortunately, her favorite hobby and job just might get her in trouble when she comes in contact with the wrong group of people and when she finds a top-secret program that can faulter computer networks.

"The Net" is a GREAT movie to say the least! The majority of the best suspense movies are built around a story having to do with a kidnapping, murder, or something else like that. The makers of this movie did a spectacular job of making "The Net" intriguing, compelling, interesting, and best of all, suspenseful. Sandra Bullock also puts on an unforgettable performance that makes the movie believable and even more compelling.

An identity can be stolen and a life can be changed dramatically by a simple computer hacker or even a simple diskette. Whether you're a fan of the internet, things having to do with computers or not, at least give "The Net" a rent. If you're a big fan of movies that keep you on the edge of your seat, don't even think about renting "The Net", BUY it instead!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Sandra and Suspense! Killer Combo! Bad DVD move for Columbia
Review: I am a really big fan of Sandra Bullock and the Net, let's get that out of the way right now. I liked her in Speed. Fell in love with her in While You Were Sleeping and fell for her again in Miss Congeniality. But there was one movie that made me die for her. That movie was the Net. The thing that makes me look like I don't like Sandra is the fact that I bought the movie-only version over the special edition. Well first of all, I believe in value over pleasure. ...P>Yes, I know that if I fork out 10 more dollars, I can get a couple features, but is it worth it. I bought the M-O version and it's a great DVD. Good picture quality. Great sound! Okay menus, (at least there are menus) WIDESCREEN or FULL-FRAME presentations. How can you not like that! Columbia needs to say to themselves, "hmm, does the consumer want features or just the movie?, or 'Should we charge more money for a SE?"

No charge the same amount for both and let the DVD fans choose. So, that ticked me off. I am sticking with the single edition which is probably better. I will only buy the SE if it has like a director's cut or has 1 hour of deleted scenes. But hey, buy this movie. It is Sandra's best!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Suspense on the run!
Review: I really liked this movie. I think its because I could relate to the character. I really liked her little guizmos and her computer social life. I love Sandra Bullock and Jeremy Northam so it was a treat to watch the film. There are parts that are a bit unbelievable, like how no one knows the main character. She cannot be identified by anyone except her therapist. She must have some relatives or friends who know her by her appearance not just by her computer chit-chat. Even though there were some times when your belief had to be suspended, the movie still entertained and with two capitavating actors set up in the main roles, it is to be recommended. Watch how Sandra sits down to have her dinner, check out her fireplace. I love those creative little touches and this movie has them. The movie won't knock your socks off but it will hold your attention. If you like computers this one is for you!

Lisa Nary

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Throwing Tomatos
Review: SPOILER AHEAD: Here is The Net in twenty-five words or more: The White Shadow is murdered. Cut to computer hermit girl. She finds something weird on software she is sent. Then she's on a boat in a convenient storm, then alone in foreign country sans passport, and cannot contact anyone who knows her. Her identity is stolen. She is almost killed a few times. As though there were ever a doubt, since she is played by Sandra Bullock, she is restored to home, as evidenced by her happily gardening with neighbor.

I haven't seen many films that asked so much suspension of disbelief, and yet did not have at least one muppet, time machine, space ship, or magic spell. First, there's this whiny white girl, who has a six figure salary and a job where no one cares if she wears her yellow sweatpants with the hole in the knee (not that I am the slightest bit jealous, no! not me. Not once did I want to jump into the TV shouting "Problems? I'll give you problems! I should have your luck! If some man offered to wipe me out of existence, I'd ask how soon can you do it!") who has barely left her house long enough in the past five years to buy a box of Cheerios, suddenly decides to pursue truth and justice across a continent.

And the stolen identity. Within a few hours, some computer superpower has wiped out her identity WORLDWIDE. Puh-lese. I can see getting her membership at VideoWorld canceled, getting her electricity turned off, or even canceling her credit cards, but embassies are only as efficient as the countries in which they're located. The American embassy in Moscow couldn't even get my laundry done on time. It does no good to put supercomputers in the embassy in Kazakstan, if they will run through the Kazak phone lines. It would take months to completely disenfranchise a citizen, if it could be done without someone catching on along the way.

Then there's the ending, which was such a not sequitur, I'm surprised theatre audiences weren't throwing rotten fruit and beating the screen with their canes. Here it is: hermit girl ventures out once in a quinquennia, and look how it turns out: shipwreck, stranded, stolen identity, attempts on life, etc. If that were me, I'd look at all the people who called me a crazy hermit and say "See?" then take up permanent residence in a bomb shelter. But not Sandra. There she is, at the end, deciding she's not getting enough human interaction, volunteering at a hospital, and making friends with the neighbors and their plants. And for no apparent reason other than the director needed an excuse for a pull-back shot. The message of this film is apparently "you should always get to know your neighbors, so if you're ever shipwrecked on a resort continent without your passport, at least there's someone to water your ferns."

I see that all I have done here is recited the plot for you. A review is supposed to do more than that-- but well, in this case, there wasn't really anything else to write about. Yes, Sandra Bullock is pretty, but pretty is no substitute for character development. In her defense, she may have agreed to take the role before the script was finished, so if this is a learning experience for her, then maybe some good can be salvaged from the rubble. Sandra Bullock-- DON'T SIGN THE CONTRACT UNTIL YOU READ THE FINAL SCRIPT.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: An Urban Legend for Our Times
Review: The movie begins with the suicide of a government official. Next it shows a young woman who spends time playing computer games for profit, and dines on pizza and chocolate candy. Her life is solitary, communicating mainly thru telephone lines. (An earlier incident in Angela's life made her withdrawn.) A package is delivered, and she runs the enclosed diskette. Because of the diskette's secret, great danger enters her life.

The story tells how her identity can be stolen, and official records created, to make her a wanted criminal. She survives many attempts to kill her, but her close friends do not. All because of that diskette, whose secret is slowly revealed.

The secret of the diskette is how a "bug" was installed into protection software to create a 'trap door' that can be used to allow a person to access any computer, and then browse, create, or modify the data. This is NOT fiction - some software does come with defaults to allow access. (I once heard a person boast that his former firm had a tradition of doing this.)

Angela discovers that a deliberately incorrect medical diagnosis was created to induce the suicide of that government official. After escaping dangers, she succeeds in sending the information to the FBI, and the plot is uncovered. (Did you note the resemblance of 'Jeff Gregg' to the fictional 'Will Styles'?)

The movie's style and scenes reminds me of Alfred Hitchcock: an innocent on the run due to a mistaken identity, or stumbling into a secret plot. The parade scene recalls "Blowout", the ending on the catwalk recalls "The Parallax View". Some criticize this for copying, but I would call it "best practices". But all ends well to make it a successful movie.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: This one may make you wonder WHO is watching YOU online
Review: Not exactly designed to be reassuring about computers and technology, the film's premise is that a hacker group has infiltrated the nation's computer systems and is behind major terrorist attacks. Sandra Bullock is excellent as a computer expert who is unwittingly helping the bad guys until she finds out what is going on....and then she's on the run for her life as the terrorists try to get to her before she exposes them. While I think Sandra Bullock is at the top of her form in this one, I think Jeremy Northam hasn't gotten nearly enough credit for his role as Devlin, the romantic stranger/hacker/bad guy. You'll get a kick out of Dennis Miller, too, as Bullock's ex-boyfriend who nearly comes to her rescue. I have only one quibble about this film. If you pay attention to Bullock's mannerisms, you'll notice that there's rarely a scene where she isn't fiddling with or playing with her hair- tucking it behind her ears, pulling it back in a pretend ponytail, brushing a strand off her forehead. What is THAT all about anyway? I felt like saying, "Get a haircut already!"

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: ummmmmmmm.........
Review: I love this film and had play the vedio quite a few times since I first watched it. It's fast paced and an interesting story.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Net
Review: This is a great movie it has twist is extravagant but yet never goes to over the top. Its great for those who want action computers and death all in one tape or disc and you can watch it as many times as you want but every time you get more out of it I ve watched it 38 times and still not bored. Give this Movie a try I personally guarantee you wont regret it!!!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A very average thriller
Review: So Sandra Bullock is such a computer geek that no one knows who she really is? If you can swallow that premise then you may be able to enjoy this standard offering from producer irwin Winkler. To be honest the premise of the young woman who has her identity wiped and has to go on the run is fine, if slightly implausible; the overall effect is just not that exciting. Jeremy Northam is suitably slimy as the bad guy and Sandra does a fair scared but fiesty routine. But the film makers don;t seem to be aware that typing on computers is not a thrilling thing to watch. Sandra Bullock running around is, but not when her efforts are not done justice. Overall this ticks off all the required perils but if you've seen The Pelican Brief, then this is pretty much the same thing.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Painful cliches abound
Review: Normally I would never admit that I watched this movie. I do so only to issue a warning: if you value your brain, do not watch this!

The plot is a series of cliches and illogical events. The "bad guys" are mind-numbingly stupid.

If it appears on television, watch something else. If someone offers to sell it to you, run far, far away...


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