L'espion bionique

I found this older movie streaming on Peacock. I watched it for two reasons. The first was a very young Sandra Bullock in her very early career. The second was because years earlier I had enjoyed the TV series this is based on.

Lindsay Wagner is Jaime Sommers, the Bionic Woman, while Lee Majors is Steve Austin, the Six Million Dollar Man. The two of course are very close and by the end of this movie it seems they will get even much closer.

It is a cold war story of spying and espionage. The latest person to get the medical treatment to turn her into a super person is 25-yr-old Sandra Bullock as Kate Mason. She ends up being entered in a track and field competition with athletes from the USSR, running the 400 meters.

This is not a great movie but entertaining as a slice of how TV movies were made back then. When the various characters went into super speed mode they simulated that by slowing them down, basically into slow motion, but it works!

Fun viewing.

Was I glad to see some more of Steve and Jaime. I just loved the 1970's series. However I missed two things in all three reunion movies. First of all, I missed the 1970's look (furniture, clothes, cars, etc.) since I believe the 1970's was the ONLY decade that had style and taste (I hated the 1980's). But most importantly, where were the Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman theme music? It was a mistake not to include the themes. In fact, almost all remakes/reunion movies used the theme of the original shows. Just look at Mission Impossible, The Saint, The Wild Wild West, The Avengers, SWAT, etc. They all used the themes of the shows those movies were based upon. It wouldn't be James Bond without the James Bond theme. Yet sadly in none of the SMDM-BW reunion movies the theme from either show was present.

Bionic showdown was by far the best of the reunion movies. I grew up watching Steve Austin and Jamie Summers. When the first reunion movie came out, telling the story of Steve's son becoming Bionic, I had mixed feelings. It was great to see my childhood heroes again, but I didn't like the idea of yet another loved one of Steve's becoming Bionic. But Kate Mason, as played by Sandra Bullock, was much more unique, Not a recycled story, but one of a handicapped young lady, being helped by Bionic technology. I thought Sandra was great in this role. It's too bad the series didn't sell, I would have loved to see Kate's story. As long as Sandra Bullock played the part!

This being the second of three specials over a period of 7 years, probably ranks as my second favorite, mainly because of Sandra Bullock!!!! She really had a great role and her sexy outfit didn't hurt either! It was good to see Lee Majors and Lindsey Wagner, the originals return as well to show they too still are the best.

Overall rating 3 out of 5

I must admit, when my hubby told me this was going to be on last night, I laughed out loud. Sandra is/was/will be very cute & perky, & she does a good job no matter how bad the script/storyline is. The 2 hours I spent in front of the TV was well worth the laughs I got from the sound & visual effects. I miss the old Bionic sounds from the TV show!!!

If you have the opportunity to watch this, I'd say do it, but don't expect too much. Instead, just expect a cute story with a bit of a love line & a bit of a spy line.