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List Price: $9.98 | | Label: 20th Century Fox
Salesrank: 25308
Released: September 7, 2004 |
| Our Price: $4.28 |
| Used Price: $2.66 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
In this riveting, tension-filled psychological thriller, a young woman (Sandra Bullock) mysteriously disappears, sending her boyfriend Jeff (Kiefer Sutherland) on a years-long quest to find her. Not even a new love (Nancy Travis) can keep him from his obsessive search. All the while, the calculating psychopath (Jeff Bridges) who kidnapped his girlfriend stalks Jeff, ultimately taking him through the exact same steps that led to the crime. In order to find out what happened, Jeff must put his own life in the hands of this devious stranger.
Description of The Vanishing:
It's not unusual for Hollywood to remake European hits. What is unusual is the director of the original getting the chance to helm the new version with an American cast, which is what happened with this film based on an intensely creepy Dutch film of the same name (both directed by George Sluizer). Kiefer Sutherland and Sandra Bullock are on vacation when, while stopped at a crowded rest area, she disappears. He devotes the next several years to discovering what happened to her, ruining his life in the process. When he does get a clue, it leads him to Jeff Bridges, who plays a bizarre and highly organized individual whose motives are almost as strange as he is. Bridges is spooky, but Sluizer ultimately is undone by Hollywood's demand for a happy ending, which makes this film affecting but far less unsettling than the original. --Marshall Fine
The Vanishing Reviews:
A Must for Jeff Bridges Fans 
2009-09-08 - I'll make this short and sweet. If you enjoyed "The Big Lebowski" and want to see a different but equally potent side of Jeff Bridges' acting, buy this movie. It is very suspenseful the first time around, and it is great to watch this movie over again for the comedic elements. The only shortcoming in my opinion is that the ending is too abrupt.
The Search for a Missing Woman 
2009-05-18 - A young man and his girlfriend have some squabbles. They stop at a highway store for gas. Diane goes to buy a drink, but she never returns. The film shows a lone man who put a cast on his right arm to appear crippled. Diane's disappearance is advertised but there are no replies. Jeff continues with his life; he is a writer. Rita investigates his computer and finds some secrets. Jeff explains his actions. Rita works on the problem. Jeff makes his decision. He gets a letter from the man who says he kidnapped Diane. Will they meet? Will Rita be disgusted and leave? [Nobody locks their doors?]
Barney shows up for suspense. Jeff meets him and displays his feelings. Will Jeff follow Barney after being promised a meeting with Diane? Rita goes back to check on Jeff and gets the license plate number of Barney's car! Barney tells how he lured an unsuspecting young woman to his car. Jeff and Barney converse. Will Jeff do something foolish? Will Rita take that metal box? It is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. There is conflict again. Rita has spunk, she is a fighter. She revives Jeff for a happy ending. "We don't drink coffee anymore."
This is an interesting story about a clever murderer who is a seemingly respectable college professor. You may find fault with parts of this suspense story. "Beware of a friendly stranger who wants to do you a favor" said Confucius. That is the moral of this story. Don't cooperate with a crazy killer either.
Worst. Movie. Ever. 
2009-05-17 - Laughably bad. I can't believe that anyone has given this more than one star; I'd give it a zero if I could. These are good actors but the plot, the script and Jeff Bridges' ridiculous accent are so bad they're funny. I would say that this is one of the five worst movies I have ever seen in my life. Makes "Howard the Duck" seem Oscar-worthy.
Fun Film
2009-04-10 - I like movies that highlight actors early in their careers who later become major stars. This suspense thriller stars a pre-24 Kiefer Sutherland and Sandra Bullock (a minor role) a year before Speed (Widescreen Edition) threw her into the spotlight. The anchor is Jeff Bridges, who plays a disturbed villain so well that he keeps the film from becoming a melodramatic hash.
Another underrated film that help made careers is Freeway (Widescreen Edition), again starring Kiefer Sutherland, but this time with an early-- and very gritty--Reese Witherspoon.
The Vanishing can stand on its own as an interesting thriller, but watching these stars break out adds to the fun. A superior movie with a similar theme is Breakdown, with Kurt Russell and Kathleen Quinlan. These veterans make a better movie, but I presume they were paid commensurate salaries.
I collect career making films because they always have something extra that propelled the actor into stardom ... and they're inexpensive.
great service 
2009-02-02 - the service was great got my movies right away. this is my first time
buying any thing on line so i'm not real sure about what i'm doing
but you walked me right through it and i never had any problems. thank you
