Nick Knight
|
Our Price: $32.56 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $7.93 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Canada
Movie Reviews of Nick Knight
Movie Review: He Wants to Repay Society for His Sins....
Summary: 4 Stars
In the 1989 TV flick NICK KNIGHT, rocker (1981's Grammy-winning "Jessie's Girl") and soap-opera star (GENERAL HOSPITAL, 1981-1983) Rick Springfield portrays Nick Knight, a homicide detective on the night shift who has a reputation for being a loner and a maverick. But he's a good cop, and he's hip. He drives a cool vintage Caddy, looks good in black leather, and has a soft spot in his heart for the homeless (he often checks up on them when he's out on his "beat"). Oh, yeah--and he's also a guilt-ridden vampire in quest of a cure for his supernatural malady. Solving crimes, specifically homicides, is sort of his way of paying penance for the murderous, blood-sucking sins of his past.Though often neglected or overlooked, NICK KNIGHT is an intelligent, skillfully written, and well-acted TV film that was actually the original pilot for the popular cult TV series FOREVER KNIGHT (1992-1996). One reason that this film is nearly forgotten might be the fact that the same story was re-shot with the TV cast and subsequently aired as the series' two-part opener. While the cast of the series does a fine job-the excellent cast is, of course, one of many reasons that the show quickly became a cult favorite--NICK KNIGHT is in many ways superior to the two-part remake, and it is therefore unfortunate that the series has eclipsed the original film and pushed it into near obscurity.
The acting in NICK KNIGHT is superb, especially considering that it is a made-for-TV flick. In the titular role, Springfield delivers a strong, convincing performance and has great chemistry with the rest of the cast. Also intriguing is Laura Johnson, who plays museum curator Alyce Hunter and Knight's love interest. Not only is she a good actress and quite attractive, but Ms. Johnson and Springfield really sizzle together when they share screen time. Genre fans might recognize Michael Nader from his role as Nicolas Pike in TV's short-lived 1990 series THE FLASH, but couch potatoes are more likely to recognize him from his long-standing role as Farnsworth Dexter on TV's nighttime soap DYNASTY. Here he plays Nick's longtime nemesis, Lacroix. (Nader does a good job in the role, though he is admittedly not as compelling--nor as accomplished an actor--as Nigel Bennett, who assumes the role in the series.) As the film's comic relief, John Kapelos is hilariously entertaining in the role of Nick's annoyingly self-absorbed partner Don Schanke, and he often steals the scenes he is in. Interestingly, Kapelos is the only actor in the film who returns to reprise his role for the TV series.
The film itself has really stood up well over time. Aside from the 1980's pop tunes in the soundtrack and a few cheesy special FX, there isn't much that reveals NICK KNIGHT to be a product of late-1980s TV. The script is tight and interesting, the characters are likable and realistic, the directing is top-notch, and, as mentioned before, the acting is excellent. All in all, the film is a forgotten gem that, like its vampire characters, deserves to rise from the dead and live forever.
And thanks to the folks at Anchor Bay, NICK KNIGHT has been resurrected on DVD. True, he offering is a bare-bones disc--i.e., there are no extras or bonus features--but the digital transfer is drastically better than the previous VHS releases of the film, and the sound quality is pretty good. And being a telefilm, it is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.33:1.
For fans of the TV show FOREVER KNIGHT who did not see this pilot film prior to the creation of the series, it might take a little time to warm up to the alternate actors and the character variations. But if viewed an open mind, any fan of the TV series should enjoy NICK KNIGHT, and any fan of the vampire genre will want to add the DVD of this excellent film to their collections.
Definitely worth amazon.com's reasonable price of admission.
Movie Review: Vampire on the Night Shift
Summary: 4 Stars
I remember watching this when it premiered on television. Network television was going through one of its periodic obsessions with police procedural shows and the introduction of a vampire to the night shift of a metropolitan police force had a certain amount of appeal. The show that finally ran (Forever Knight) was quite a bit different and therein lies some of the appeal of watching this movie-- the chance to compare and contrast. I had just recently bought the first season of Forever Knight so I had a prime opportunity here.
This version is slicker, with an 80's rock background that has a certain retro appeal. It was obviously shot in a warmer climate. Rick Springfield has a lean and hungry look that contibutes to his tortured vampire character as he runs the gamut of emotion from tormented to tormented. While probably a better actor, Geraint Wynn Davies who played the character in the series, has to fight against his sleek, blond appearance. Somehow it is easier to look as if you have a brooding, soul-destroying secret if you are a brunette.
I also really enjoyed the contrast between Nick's starvling, blood junkie pose and Alyce Hunter, the Mayan scholar, constantly stuffing herself with junk food. I also enjoyed her look since Wardrobe apparently dressed her from Banana Republic back in the good old days before BR became a mall shop.
Anyway, the movie is not bad at all if you are in the mood for some vampire mind candy with a bit of retro.
Movie Review: This is RICK as Nick not the Forever Knight series
Summary: 4 Stars
This " Nick Knight" Vampire Cop was aired on CBS in about 1990 or so.
This movie was set up to be a pilot that didn't make it starring Rick Springfield in the title role.
Alas, poor Rick I am such a big fan, but TV shows have not treated him well.
I have seen the reviews and understand where the confusion might come in between this and Forever Knight
I think if I remember correctly that it was CBS who first retooled this to put on their late night crime series
and they got rid of most- but kept some- of the actors from this and added others like Geraint Wyn Davies in the title role,
instead of Rick Springfield and renamed it "Forever Knight" then I believe that the SYFY channel picked it up.
Now as I've written I am a huge Rick fan so when this came out I watched it and I know this is campy but it's kind of fun and Springfield fans love to see him but take it for what it is.
And I also watched when it was revamped and I really liked the Forever Knight series too.
So for those who want to watch a good campy vampire-cop movie starring Rick Springfield this is for you. BUT if you are a die hard fan of the
Forever Knight series, tread lightly this may not be for you.
To all of my fellow Rick Fans enjoy the ride in Nick Knight's Cadillac because it's fun.
Thanks for reading
Movie Review: All Good Things Must Begin Somewhere
Summary: 4 Stars
I saw this movie when it first came out on TV as the pilot for the somewhat popular Forever Knight series. I remember that I loved the pilot at the time and didn't realize that this was a pilot an not just another made for TV movie. Then about two years after I saw Nick Knight, Forever Knight came out. I was much disappointed that they had not kept more members of the original cast and had chosen to reshoot the pilot and air it like Nick Knight had never been. It took me the whole four years that Forever Knight was on TV to warm to the cast and I absolutely hated the cheesy flashbacks! I didn't need to be beat over the head to know that Nick was obviously older than he looked! I mostly watched the series out of loyalty to the original pilot and hoped that the series would get better with time, but obviously they must have replaced the original director and writers to come up with the sloppy mess they put out for the series. All in all, the original Nick Knight was the best of the bunch and I recommend this movie to anyone who is not yet biased by the trash that came out in the series.Movie Review: A Prelude to Angel
Summary: 4 Stars
My husband rolled his eyes and laughed at me for buying this and Hard to Hold for my birthday! However, I am a HUGE Rick Springfield fan, but sorry to say that I missed this in 1989, probably because I had just graduated from high school and hardly was home to watch tv! I purchased this not only because it starred Rick, but also because it was a 'vampire making amends-Angel kinda story'. I absolutely love Angel and Buffy,(...Blade, Van Helsing, Lost Boys, Interview with a Vampire...etc) and this has such a similar storyline to Angel, I couldn't resist. Although cheesy and lacking in the special effects area at times, it's pretty good for 1989, (compared with how special effects have improved drastically since then...can you say DIGITAL?) Rick looks as GORGEOUS as ever, great butt in those jeans! I wouldn't even have minded if he broke into song! I guess the country just wasn't ready for vampire TV yet, it was just about a decade too soon! If you're a Rick fan, it's watchable, if not go straight for Angel/Buffy/Blade...etc. :)