Photo By Alan Zenuk
Photo By Alan Zenuk
Title:
Painkiller Jane
Stars: Emmanuelle
Vaugier, Richard Roundtree, Tate Donovan, Eric Dane, Venus Terzo, Zoran Vukelic,
Walker Howard, Richard Harmon, and Callum Keith Rennie
Writers: John
Harrison, Don Opper, and Gerry Gold
Based On The Event
Comic Created By Joe Quesada and Jim Palmiotti
Director: Sanford
Bookstaver
Executive
Producers: John Harrison, Don Opper, and Gerry Gold
Running Time: 106
minutes without commercials
Media: SCI FI
Pictures Original (NTSC DVD Screener)
World Premiere
Saturday, December 10, 2005, at 9pm (ET/PT)
Network: SCI FI
Channel (Check your local cable/satellite listings for channel)
TV Rating: TV-PG-L-V
Reviewer: Mark A.
Rivera
Emmanuelle Vaugier plays Captain Jane Elizabeth Browning AKA “Painkiller Jane,” who mysteriously survives a Special Forces operation in Chechenia where her team fell victim to a bizarre viral outbreak and were executed to contain the infection. Jane soon finds herself as an unwilling participant in a secret government observation facility where scientists are trying to determine why she survived and how she has developed miraculous healing powers as well increased dexterity, strength, sight and hearing. Realizing she is likely never to be set free, Jane escapes in an effort to seek the answers out for herself no matter where they may lead.
This film was co-written and executive produced by John Harrison (Frank Herbert’s Dune) and Don Opper (Critters). Richard Roundtree Costars as Jane’s Commanding Officer. This TV movie feels more like a backdoor pilot for a possible series, but is really not that interesting or original. The action is rather mundane and Vaugier is not believable as a Special Forces Captain. In the film she sports a long haircut five days after her exposure to the mysterious biological weapon. Now unless the virus causes rapid hair growth, in which case I don’t want to imagine where she might need to shave, is it even permissible that a female military leader on a covert mission would grow long hair? I mean how practical is that when you are in a life and death situation and it doesn’t take much to knock the helmet off of anybody…
The story is
pretty predictable too. Overall, I was not particularly impressed by this SCI FI
Pictures Original, but I am not familiar with the comic series this is based on
and no one likes everything they see so I urge SCI FI Channel viewers to give
this a try anyway if only because even if I was not crazy about it, does not
mean you will not enjoy it. “Painkiller Jane” premieres on Saturday,
December 10, 2005 at 9pm (ET/PT) on SCI FI.
© Copyright 2005
By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.