Customer Reviews

The Pretender 2001 / The Pretender - Island of the Haunted

5 star:		(57)
4 star:		(27)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I was ecstatic when I found out that these two films would finally be released on DVD, not only because I am a big fan of 'The Pretender' and this would be my first opportunity to see them but also because I was hoping to see this wonderful series' multiple plot threads neatly woven together into a finished tapestry.

Unfortunately there was no such luck. 'The Pretender 2001' answers a few questions of where season 4 left off but leads to even more unanswered questions. It was a very entertaining film, much in the same vein as its episodic predecessors, so it is definitely worth watching for any 'Pretender' fan.

'The Pretender - The Island of the Haunted' is even more puzzling and complex than the preceding film, which is frustrating to no end since there is no real resolve. What began as an enigmatic series headed by the altruistic protagonist and the ambiguous hunters, namely Ms. Parker, Broots and Sidney, ends up in much the same way, with simply a few more pieces of the puzzles but far from having a complete picture of Jarod and Ms. Parker's legacies. The movie itself is well directed with an eerie yet appealing ambience on the island that's riddled with mysteries, and the story is clever, as usual. Nothing is left desired acting wise, the cast delivers great performances, especially by Jarod and Ms. Parker, who hint at something beyond mere mutual respect and an unspoken comradery.

All in all, this is well worth getting as it is a slightly better conclusion to the series than the season 4 finale cliffhanger, but nevertheless, I along with all the other fans of 'The Pretender' want answers to the questions that remain from the numerous arching storylines, such as who exactly is Jarod's mother, will he ever get to spend time with her and settle down, what became of Jarod's dad, who murdered Ms. Parker's mother and why, what is the fate of Ms. Parker's newly found half brother, besides Mr. Lyle, what will happen with Mr. Parker and Brigitte's newborn son from season 4, what will happen to the Triumvirate, The Centre, as well as the new questions from both these new, final films.

I implore the producers of this excellent series to please make an ultimate film that will once and for all answer the burning questions that have haunted not just Jarod and Ms. Parker but the fans as well for so many years. I sincerely plead to both the TNT and NBC channels that they produce a fitting end to 'The Pretender' saga. Not only would this be a sound business investment given the large fan base the world over who would buy the film, but also it would please everyone who's dying to know how this amazing journey ends. Thank you for your time and consideration.

After NBC cancelled "The Pretender", reruns showed up on TNT. Between the good ratings and fan pleas, the cable net decided to make these two television movies. It was originally planned as four films, but TNT's lack of support in promoting the second led to bad ratings and therefore no further movies.

"The Pretender 2001" - Reunites the cast and creative from the series, in fact picking up where the cliffhanger of season four ends. Jarod (Michael T. Weiss) makes it a point to reveal even more disturbing facts about The Centre. At the center of everything, as always, Miss Parker (Andrea Parker) fends off her disfunctional family in her futile quest for truth. Of the two, this remained truest to the series' tone.

"The Pretender: Island of the Haunted" - While there were appearances by most of the original cast, this was a battle of wills between Jarod and Miss Parker. They find themselves trapped on a small island in New England where Jarod tracks down his long lost mother. From there, it seemed to go off in a quasi-supernatural direction which was completely foreign to the show. Since the same creative team was in place, it's hard to fault them for changing their creation. Probably with the hope that TNT would see series potential in the altered Pretender reality.

Overall, "2001" puts a nice cap on the series. "Haunted" is a worthwhile diversion for fans. Michael T. Weiss and Andrea Parker worked very well together, and "Haunted" is one of the few times they got to work face-to-face for any length of time.

The Pretender was a show that intriged and interested me. It was the Fugitive, part Quantum Leap (without the Leaping) and part Soap Opera/mystery plot.

These two TV movies,both made especially for TNT network in 2001, are, in my opinion, a expanded version of the TV show episodes. The original cast is all here, and It seem like the shows was almost never canceled

These two TV movies answer a few questions and asks more, leaving the door open to future TV Pretender movies which never came to pass..and that is too bad

If you are a fan of this series, these two movies will enhance your collection. If not, the Prentender 2001 will bring the whole four season show (all available on DVD) into hazy focus.

Either way, these two movies have quality...rare in TV movies these days

Bennet Pomerantz AUDIOWORLD

Fans of the pretender have been waiting for years to have these movies released. Thankfully, its finally happening. These movies have only been aired on TNT. They were made after the series of the Pretender ended and they picked the plot right up where it left off. If you're a fan of the Pretender, this is a must have DVD. I highly recommend it!!

Finally! The two movies that we, the fans, made happen. After NBC maliciously cancelled the series, the fans cried out virtually with online petitions, and pleas to cable networks like TNT, USA, and more. TNT heard us, and picked up the show, and re-ran all 4 seasons of the Pretender.

***SPOILER ALERT***
(apparently not everyone has seen these movies, yet)

Then, the most amazing thing of all. . . they allowed two feature-length movies to be made. The Pretender 2001- with some of the funniest lines from Broots, and The Pretender; Island of the Haunted.

The Pretender 2001 brought all of our favorite characters back. It tied up a few loose ends, but mostly asked more questions. There were some fantastic lines from Broots in this movie, as well as some great scenes with Parker and Jarod.

Then came The Pretender, Island of the Haunted. My only complaint is that if Jarod were really on an island, standing on the shore, watching a boat take his mother (who had just been shot) away from him. . . HE WOULD HAVE SWAM AFTER HER! But there are a lot of great scenes between Jarod & Miss Parker.

It will be nice to finally have the complete collection on DVD. Seasons 1-4 have been quite lonely without the additional movies.

Perhaps (after enough people have signed the online petition at [a website that Amazon won't let me mention] ) there will be one final movie to add to this collection!

~Mags

if yor a prtender fan of the series you need to get this it ties up the 4th season cliffhanger and the second movie island of the haunted goes more into the parker family and the relastionship between jarod and miss parker overall i think they did a good job but in my opinion need to make one more to tie up loose ends storyline is great enjoyed it a lot and if your a fan of the series you wont be disappointed

I enjoyed getting another taste of Pretender with the movies, but wish the producers would have put closure for a future made-for-TV movie,once they knew they wouldn't be coming back. Although Crossing Jordon went on hiatus, but came back. P2001 was better than Island of the Haunting - I hate it when series get's too into non-reality, especially when the show's premise was not. However, I will always be a die-hard Pretender fan, and think Michael T Weiss, Andrea Parker, & James Denton (now on Desperate Housewives) are great actors. It was a cult hit, and a sleeper, regardless of what the critics say. It was truly entertaining.

These movies have all the elements that made the series so successful: great writting, brilliant acting, good storyline and... keeping the viewers guessing. They are, in my option, to good at this and that is what cost it some of the fans.
They didn't answer all the questions in season 4, then the show got cancelled, but the fans fought and got them another shot, but along with the answers that were given in "Pretender 2001" came a whole bunch of new questions. And with "Island of the Haunted" they did it again-they left us hanging.

But I understand that originaly a '3 movie' contract was signed - so they thought they had another movie to work with. That is why i am still hoping, along with all the other Pretender fans, that the people that can make it happen, will give us a thrid movie - so that a show that had such a GREAT start can have a great end as well.

I saw these movies when they were originally broadcast. While the first was intriguing, it brought more questions than answers. The second was all over the map, and we were left hanging with so many storylines unfinished that it was worse than not having a movie. I own and love seasons 1 through 4, but I don't think these two movies are worth it unless you have to own absolutely every piece of the series. It would be SO much better if the movies had tied up loose ends. Not only that, but they are charging the same price for two television movies as they did for each season of the regular series.

I just bought and received the two movies: Pretender 2001 and The Island of the Haunted. I advice everyone to buy it! The second movie is wonderful and I wish it could have lasted forever! Please make more of these movies!!!!