The Prisoner of Zenda, Inc.

Probably kind of silly reviewing a super old movie like this, but with the power out and nothing else to do I decided to watch it on my phone on YouTube. As the other reviewer said it's not that good but it's not the worst either. Couldn't decide if it was supposed to be a dramatic comedy or what? The three kidnappers were very mindful of the two bad guys in the Home Alone movies. Bumbling idiots. The storyline had some moments, but it was almost like a Disney film, in that it was very predictable. The worst part about it was whoever the director was. If that's all the better he can do. I hope that was the only filmy directed. William Shatner was in it, and it certainly wasn't his best work either, although a lot of that I attribute to the Director. Anyway, if it's a boring evening, with nothing else to watch on TV, you could give it a try if you're into this genre. And your kids might like it.

My sister used to have this obsession with Jonathan Jackson, so when she found out this movie was on, she taped it. I was bored one day, so I put it on and watched it, and it's not the greatest movie, but it's not the worst either.

Jonathan Jackson plays Rudy. a very rich child and head of a business that he inherited from his father after he died. When Rudy is kidnapped, a friend of his father's, Professor Wooley finds a boy named Oliver (Rudy's doppelganger) to run the buisness for him and lead Rudy's life.

Watch it if it comes on TV one day, but don't waste your time looking for it. 6/10

It looks like a silly idea at first glance. At second glance, too. Take a well-known classic and cut it down for young people. In this case it's 1894's THE PRISONER OF ZENDA by Anthony Hope. And coming out in 1996, it's the only centennial tale of that yarn available.

ZENDA has been made into two classic moves that are virtually identical, the best starring Ronald Colman. If you don't like to read, that version does an excellent job of bringing the classic story to life.

But more of the 1996 version. Rather than a Prince going through a coronation as king (something late Victorian England was looking forward to and which we know from our own lifetimes) it's about a young man about to take over his father's corporation, conveniently called "ZENDA, INC."

The bad guy is his uncle Michael (William Shatner) who kidnaps him and holds him prisoner. Some of the young heir's handlers and advisors (including Don Davis from "Twin Peaks" playing a variation of Hope's Colonel Sapt, Colonel Zapf) run in a lookalike ringer to hold the fort until the real youth can be rescued from his wicked uncle's hands. But several complications entice the young phony into staying in his new role and leaving as soon as possible.

THE PRISONER OF ZENDA is one of my favorite novels and I approached this version with trepidation. Is it good? Well, that depends on what you expect from it.

However, when I was a kid I read "Classics Illustrated" comic books, with genuine versions of classical books reduced for kidos. And I was a big fan of "Wishbone" which ran at the same time this movie was made. Of course, "Wishbone" had an that almost preternaturally intelligence Jack Russell terrier. No one in this movie is that cute.

Whatever exposes young people to classical literature stories is A-OK with me. You never know what might encourage (or trick) them into reading, and reading something worthwhile.

As an adult when this movie first appeared I may not have been in sync with the young characters, but I appreciated what the filmmakers were trying to do. Okay, they were attempting to make a payday out of a story in public domain, but let's give them credit and say they were introducing young viewers to a classic novel.

Though one reviewer ahead of me called it "a super old movie." Ouch. And here I am, Methusaleh, recommending Ronald Colman. Even Wishbone will be ancient history to people today and that's a shame. I don't remember precisely, but Wishbone may not even have had a cell phone.