Rating: 
Summary: Escape From Planet Earth
Review: My favorite road movie of all time. I think this is a better film than Easy Rider. Barry Newman's subtle non-machismo performance is the perfect contrast to the awesome muscle car which carries him to his vanishing point. I just listened to the dvd commentary track by director Richard C Sarafian, where he claims his choice for Newman's role was Gene Hackman. I don't think Hackman could have done a better job, in fact the balance of the car and the driver would not have been the same. Gene Hackman is an incredible actor, but Barry Newman was, in my opinion, ideal for this film. A work of great beauty, and the haunting loss of a freer epoch. Incredible handheld cinematography by the late great John A Alonzo, married to an uplifting and deeply poignant soundtrack. This film can be viewed on many different levels from an exciting car chase movie to a true American existential classic. I never get tired of works of art and Vanishing Point is such a work. I can't understand why 20th Century Fox failed to put out a soundtrack album. "Another Soul Goes Free"
Rating:
Summary: "This radio station is named Kowalski..."
Review: Vanishing Point is one of the great existential counter-culture films of the 1970s. Like the similar-minded films, most notably, Two-Lane Blacktop and Duel, this car chase movie features an anti-hero protagonist who equates the open road with freedom and staying in one place for too long with death. For years we have had to suffer with pan and scanned VHS copies but now it has finally arrived on DVD in its original aspect ratio.Fans of Vanishing Point are in for a real treat as both the US and UK versions of the film have been made available on DVD. The UK version runs seven minutes longer and features a scene where Kowalski picks up a female hitchhiker. Director Richard C. Sarafian contributes an engaging audio commentary. So little has been written about Vanishing Point and it is great to hear Sarafian talk at length about his experiences making the movie. Also included are vintage TV spots and a theatrical trailer that features wonderfully kitschy ad copy: "Everyone wants a piece of his hide!" Vanishing Point is a cult film that has endured over the years. UK music group Primal Scream named their 1997 album after the movie and even recorded a song entitled "Kowalski" that features samples from the movie. Audioslave took their love of the film even further and brilliantly recreated and condensed the movie into a music video for their song, "Show Me How To Live." The video incorporates actual footage from the movie and replaces Kowalski with the band. After years of obscurity, Vanishing Point has finally been given proper DVD treatment with an excellent transfer and made both versions available for fans to compare and contrast.
Rating:
Summary: Charlotte Rampling appears at last!!!!
Review: In the mid seventies my father insisted that my family see this film with him, and in '84 Vanishing Point was the first film that I discussed with the man who would become my husband of over twenty years (a '71 Challenger driver/owner). How many times we watched it on Beta, stopping, rewinding, analysing, in a basement apartment in Normal, Illinois, while the snow mounded up against the frozen windows. There was an article in a Mopar Magazine in the early '90's that talked about the two sequences with Charlotte Rampling that had been cut from US distribution. I am still hoping someday to see the one with her in the black hat, where she hisses at Kowalksi and becomes the malevolent spectre of his imminent death. Until then, I am happy to have at last the hitchhiker scene. It adds a darkness and a texture that enhances the end of the film. I am sorry that it was cut. The Sarafian commentary adds a lot too. Finally! It is a good thing.
Rating:
Summary: There goes the Challenger!
Review: Absolutely the best car chase movie ever made! Ex cop, ex race driver Kowalski takes his 440 Dodge Challenger in a mad dash from Denver to San Francico for a reason only he knows! With the aid of blind disc jockey, "Super Soul" he outruns the "Big Blue Meanies" through 4 states, reliving his tortured past and meets an interesting array of people along the way! The movie is fast paced, helped along by one of the best movie soundtracks ever put together, with music from Kim Carnes, Jerry Reed, Mountain, and a whole lot more! The movie begins showing the almost ending and flashes back to Day One! Even when you get to the ending again, it leaves you wondering if there could be a sequal! Barry Newman as Kowalski, Cleavon Little, (Blazing Saddles) as "Super Soul are perfect! I saw this movie 25 times in the theaters in 1971, and still enjoy this movie on video as much today! I give it, 2 Thumbs Up and 2 Big Toes up!
Rating:
Summary: Vanishing Point on DVD.. Please !!!
Review: Someday this cult classic will make it to DVD, and my freinds if enjoy fast paced car chase action movies this is a must for your collection. Not only is it a great movie, but the soundtrack of songs from such artists as Delany & Bonnie, Mountain, and Kim Carnes (years before she did "Bette Davis Eyes") would be a great soundtrack if it ever was put together (Problem is back in 1970, movie soundtracks were rare, only musicals had them). The movie is basically about a driver name Kowalski who's trying to deliver a Dodge Challenger from Denver to San Francisco in less than 24 hours. It's filled with flashbacks and events that take place thoughout Kowalski's life all while he's speeding though the desert in the Challenger. Cops, Hippies, Bikers, Gospel Faith Groups, Kowalski meets them all during his journey. Read the other reviews to get more detail about the movie, but trust me, the music and cinematography are outstanding and you"ll really enjoy this movie.
Rating: 
Summary: The Point Vanished
Review: Not sure why so many people rave about the movie and give it 5 stars. It was mildly entertaining, but it was a forgetable B-grade drive-in movie. Main character has no redeeming qualities. No reason given why he "has" to get the car to SF in 15 hours. He sure pops a lot of pills, though. Not sure why the disk jockey thinks he's some sort of hero. The DJ's communication to Kowalski over the radio is silly. At times, there is long periods of dead air, which is a no-no on radio, then the DJ talks at just the crucial moments. And for such a small radio station, why would Kowalski be listening to it anyway (it's not that good), and he's in another state... Former surfer-girlfriend says she's going to try to catch an 8-foot wave and ride it in his honor. Only problem, waves at the beach are about a foot high. She subsequently drowns in a surfing accident. Right. Naked woman on motorcycle. Now that "has" to hurt. Also, the sound effects were a bit much. At one point in the desert, as Kowalski slowly drives away, the car is already in third gear at about 20 MPH. And at another point he is cruising on the highway, but grabs yet another gear to out-race a cop. And what was the purpose of his death wish? Don't know, because even though the cops tell us about him (Viet Nam vet, good cop, busted bad cop, motorcycle racer, etc) we really know nothing about him, nor do we care. DVD has American version and longer English version (he picks up hitch-hiking Charlotte Rampling and they smoke some pot), and an OK commentary by the director, who had not seen the movie in quite a while. Recommended only for fans of Dodge Challengers or Barry Newman.
Rating:
Summary: Still Incredible!
Review: I own over 1000 DVDs. Most I haven't gotten around to watch. In three days I've watched this one 3 times. Maybe this explains why when I was a kid I sat through this like a zillion times in the theater. A perfect film....
Rating:
Summary: A 70's Drive In Cult Classic
Review: Fast action, terrific photography, great period atmosphere, colorful characters and a first-rate rock soundtrack add up to a true drive-in classic that retains its "cult classic" reputation even after more than 30 years. This DVD includes BOTH the 97-minute U.S. print typically seen on cable and video AND the 105-minute U.K. version which includes a couple of flashbacks featuring Charlotte Rampling that for some reason were completely excised for U.S. release. The excised scenes add just a tad more insight into Kowalski's character; while not essential to the whole plot (such as it is), these scenes ARE interesting and definitely will be appreciated by hardcore fans of the film. Kudos to 20th Century Fox for making available both versions. Being a real fan of the era that this movie was shot in, it's a kick to hear director Richard C. Sarafian's commentary track. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Kowalski throws in the clutch
Review: Anti-hero Kowalski has had an eventful and troubled life as a Vietnam vet, policeman, motorcycle racer, and off-track racer. He is now reduced to the more mundane job of a car delivery driver. In his latest assignment - delivering a car from Colorado to California - he starts down a path of self-destruction for no apparent reason. The car, a supercharged Dodge Challenger with no equal, has given him the chance to begin his journey out of society and into the abyss. He outruns the police in several states, brooding all the way over his past, and digs himself deeper and deeper into trouble with the law. He also meets a variety of characters along the way. His exploits are reported by a funky DJ and he becomes a counterculture hero. Although Kowalski seems to drift through life with no purpose, like the protagonist in "The Stranger," he never loses his humanity. This is evident when he encounters a total jerk in a Jaguar who taunts him and engages him in a drag race. After the Jaguar driver runs off the road and crashes, Kowalski runs back to see if he is alright, putting himself at risk of being caught by the police, who are in pursuit and not far off. The movie ages well. The early 70's images don't come off as corny, but rather as a clear snapshot of the time, much like "Saturday Night Fever" gives a snapshot of the late 70's. This is not just another car chase movie with fruit stands being knocked over. It's a thoroughly enjoyable tale of existentialism and defiance that reflects the tensions of the period.
Rating:
Summary: Vanishing Point
Review: If you were a teenager in 1971, you probably saw this from the backseat of your VW bug. Windows steamed up, rainy friday night. Boone's Farm bottles hidden discreetly (next to the seat inside the driver door). Well now the video and audio are caught up to today's standard and the movie even comes closed captioned for us Jensen / Craig stereo owners playing Hair of the Dog full tilt! Remember...? "Now you're messin with a ..."
When you're 15 or 16, it just makes sense that a grown up, like ex-cop Kowalski wants to drive a supercharged Dodge from Denver, Colorado to San Francisco in 15 hours. The powers that be have done a great job restoring both visual and audio to this film. The late Cleavon Little runs a very close second to the car as the take over star. You get to see Delaney, Bonnie (Bramlett) & Friends including Big Mama Thornton. And let's not forget the naked blond babe in the desert.
Anyway I just was not getting the right memories sitting in my comfortable living room watching this classic so if you're missing the good old days, try this: Get some friends to help carry the big screen tv set and dvd player into the garage. Get your kids old swing set and place it between you and the screen. Put up those yellow bug light spot lights just to the right or left of where the screen is. Park your car at the bottom of the drive way. Run a bad sounding speaker out to one of the side windows. Remove one windshield wiper. Turn on sprinkler system so it simulates a heavy drizzle. About 30 minutes of the movie, run into the house and tear up a $20 bill. Bring back popcorn, nachos, cokes for the kids, cups of ice for the grown ups (still only a quarter each.) Forget napkins, and going to restroom. And go back and enjoy the movie! To add realism honk your horn, moon passers by, and flash headlights at screen!
Throw trash on your lawn and drive off with speaker still in your car. Watch broken glass as your leaving. Drive around for a few hours or stop to neck. Then sneak into your own house before your teenage children get home.
This is a "have fun" and enjoy movie. The bonuses are almost none existent (a 20 second TV trailer, a 1:00 minute TV trailer) and that sort of stuff.
Don't criticize this one by comparing it to the new ones, just smile shake your head and reminisce. I still want that Challenger and Bullitt's Mustang AND CHARGER. No sissy toyotas in my movies!!!
John Row
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