Search - 12:01 on DVD

12:01 - I've been waiting a loooong time for this dvd.

H. Bala | Carson - hey, we have an IKEA store! - CA USA | 09/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There's just something so cool about this movie's concept. Yes, it's very similar to Groundhog Day and also Ken Grimwood's novel Replay, yet 12:01 has its own identity. This film is sharp, funny, and romantic. It also throws a bone to the sci-fi fanatics. And, unlike Groundhog Day, 12:01 doesn't get mired in the muck of existentialism. I've only seen this once - I guess, 13 years ago - when it originally aired on television in 1993. But, it's stayed in my brain. I was very disappointed when I checked on this site months ago and realized that this dvd hasn't been put out yet. Well, the excellent news is that now, there is a release date: November 28, 2006. Believe me, I pre-ordered this sucker pronto.

Barry Thomas (Jonathan Silverman) is an office drone languishing in his stuck-in-a-rut job while crushing on this beautiful, brainy research scientist Lisa, who is seemingly way out of his league. A typical humdrum day at work ensues and ends; then, shockingly, Barry witnesses Lisa brutally get shot down to death. Overwrought, he goes to a bar and drinks. Later that night, a storm causes a lamp to shock Barry, exactly at 12:01AM. He wakes up the next morning to find that he's been caught in a time loop, where the same day keeps repeating. Now, armed with certain knowledge of predetermined events, Barry attempts to prevent Lisa's death and escape the time trap.

Jonathan Silverman stood out in my mind as being particularly charming in a lovable loser role. He carried this film. Throughout 12:01, I cheered for him to get things right, save the girl and win her heart. Helen Slater was very sweet here, her performance nicely meshing with Silverman's to create a nice, easy chemistry. We also got to see co-stars Jeremy Piven and Martin Landau.

This was a fast-paced, unassuming but vastly entertaining, little film which contained, at the heart of it all, a sweet romantic storyline, while also serving as a competent thriller. But the giddy sci-fi premise is, undoubtedly, what made it so captivating in people's eyes. The fact that this dvd is being touted as a "special edition" makes me hope that it would come with some decent special features. Let's hope.
"

A Clever, Funny and Tender Story.

Jonathan Wilkin | Sunny Florida | 05/11/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am a fan of Science Fiction and I disagree with all the negative comments below. This story was never meant to be as heavy as 2001 or even Ground Hog Day. The actors are not preforming Shakespeare. They do a very good job in this light drama, perhaps more a kin to a tv movie. Helen Slater gives a very subtle and nuanced portrayal of a woman who is deeply lonely and yet still open to a man who sincerely cares about her. The story focuses on the characters and their interaction and does not spend an inordinate amount of time on explaining the cause of the time displacement. This is one of the best science fiction movies I have ever seen because it is honest, simple, and done with care. I doesn't bother me that it obviously had a low budget. Besides, the whole thing essentially takes place on one floor of an office building."

I want this on DVD

Fox Mulder | 07/27/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Conceptually similar to "Groundhog Day", this made-for-cable movie goes that film one better. In Groundhog Day, Bill Murray's character lived the same day over and over, and learned lessons in life in the process. In 12:01 the hero witnesses a murder. Once he realizes that he is living the same day over and over, he spends each recurring day trying to prevent the murder. I found this film thoroughly entertaining. I hope that it will become available on DVD."

History behind this movie

Fox Mulder | OH,USA | 06/16/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"12:01 was originally based on Richard Lupoff's short story 12:01pm, he wrote the story around 1972-73 it was published in Dec 1973's edition of Fantasy & Science Fiction.

In 1989 a 30 minute film was made by director Jonathan Heap.
In 1993 the 12:01 movie was made with Helen Slater and Jonathan Silverman.
Then Hollywood got a hold of the movie and did a remake, I never found out what they called the movie but Richard Lupoff basically called them a pack of hollywood thieves.

I thought at first it was Groundhog Day but Lupoff states they changed the name but not the story so it couldn't of been Groundhog Day as the story was so different. So if anyone knows what the Hollywood release was called please tell, as Lupoff doesn't state in his book what they named it.

To read the short story you'll have to buy the book by Richard Lupoff called Before...12:01...and after. There are 23 short stories in the book 12:01pm being one of them.

Anyway, I think this movie is great, some may say its cheesy but hey I like cheese sometimes. I like Helen Slater and Jonathan Silverman I think they work well together in this movie. Plus i've always been interested in anything that involves time changes, like time travel, parallel universes etc.
It does make me think what I would actually do if I got stuck in a day that was repeating, I would only hope it wasn't a work day..lol

I have a copy on VHS but I wish they would release the DVD. It was a dissapointment to find them advertise a release date then the day of its release say it was not available."