Ffolkes-3's Reviews

The Saint (2017 TV Movie)

1/10

17 January 2019

Simon Templar must be one of the most unlucky fellows in film industry. Since Roger Moore's super popular TV show from the 60s, the following screen incarnations of the character were real failures. It took almost a decade for the Adam Rayner project to take off, and he wasn't even producers' first choice for the role. Over the years many names have been attached to the planned reboot of the series, including actors Dougray Scott and James Purefoy, and directors Barry Levinson and Simon West. The Levinson-Purefoy duo left half way and launched their own project, The Philantropist, with a leading character looking suspiciously like the Saint. It managed to survive only for 8 episodes. A Saintly curse maybe?

The 2017 flick is also seems to be cursed alas by the god of boredom and uninventiveness. It'a mish-mash of cliche TV action in the worst 90s mode. Maybe it's because it was originally filmed in 2013 and then partly re-shot four years later with additional story quickly glued to the original teleplay (and a beard that Adam Rayner couldn't cut as he was waiting to be involved in another season of Tyrant). The premise of the story - Saint getting involved in the kidnapping of a rich man's daughter - lacks drama and gets lost in the midst of useless stuff like Simon Templar attempting MMA (WTF???!!!) or Patricia Holm spending tons of time behind computer trying to look like an IT expert.

Look, we've seen it all before. It's nothing more han a cliche of a cliche of a cliche. On many levels the film even borrows from the notorious Philip Noyce/Val Kilmer venture from 1997. And to be honest I proffered the latter. At least it had some visual quality, better acting and a much more solid story to tell even if it was miles from what we expected at that time. The producers of the 2017 film seem to be totally unaware of the great step that television shows made in the last decade (hello, has anyone seen True Detective?). And it hurts especially when you're a fan of the one and only Simon Templar.

As for the man himself. Sorry, but Adam Rayner just doesn't know what to do with the role. He tries imitate the Cary Grant formula but it's not enough to put a smile on your face and blurt out occasional one-liner. It just doesn't feel natural. Ian Ogilvy mastered the formula much better but that's not exactly what the audience wanted even then, in the late 70s, so why go back to it? I'm sorry to say that, but Rayner's not the man for the job. What the role needs is of course not so much acting but a personality of an actor, his voice, his looks and all hat's behind it. So, how to rate it not to hurt anyone involved? I guess it's best to leave it unsaid, pretend it never happened and wait for the next Saint to come, hopefully not in 20 years time.

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Final Score (2018)

7/10

Relax and enjoy!

24 October 2018

"Final Score" is exactly what you expect it to be, and a bit more. The story is tight and simple, and the pace of action is fast. The idea of taking hostage a whole stadium of football fans is both current and real. In fact, making a film about it might seem as a safety valve as it will hopefully discourage anyone wanting to implement such a plan.

The added quality of the film is Amit Shah as Faisal, a bit clumsy, but extremely nice chap. He makes a fantastic Laurel to Dave Bautista's Hardy. That is if you take the film tongue-in-cheek. Bautista is, however, well cast. He's a charming big man with enough authority to convince the audience (and Ray Stevenson's villainous character!) that you don't mess with former US Army men.

Pierce Brosnan, fully bearded for "The Son", has a cameo role. It's always nice to see a household name supporting small films like this. Enjoy.

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Urge (2016)

3/10

Not enough, sadly.

12 October 2018

The film has a very contemporary premise which could make "Urge" a really interesting movie, had it been executed more wisely. Sadly the balance between the vulgarity of a teenage flick and the almost fellinisque vision that "Urge" comes close to in an impressive club sequence is in favour of the first.

The film is stylishly photographed by Lyle Vincent and features inspired performances by Eric Davis as The Red Bastard and Pierce Brosnan as a mysterious man whose true identity can be discovered long before it is revelaed in the story. And that's basically it.

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Taffin (1988)

10/10

Low budget gem that will take you back to the 80s

17 August 2018

It's been 20 years since I first saw TAFFIN. I re-watched it recently and enjoyed it tremendously. The film features a solid story which revolves around an important social theme. Typically British and I guess that's what makes the it interesting even today - a good balance between the action and the story. Of course aesthetically it's very much a retro piece. There's no fast editing, sudden close-ups and CGI and that's why it has so much charm. It allows you to concentrate on the story and the characters.

TAFFIN was one of Brosnan's first leading roles in a feature film. He's got a good presence and fares well along the late great Ray McAnally. Contrary to the literary source, Brosnan's Taffin is a bit of a Byronesque character but it only serves the story. The cast also features Alison Doody in her first substantial role. She is well cast as an obvious love interest for Taffin but also a strong woman who in the end turns out his only ally.

A perfect film for a lazy Sunday afternoon. Preferrably for Pierce Brosnan fans but also if you're interested in stories set in Ireland.

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Flawless (2007)

10/10

Intelligent, well acted, engaging

13 July 2018

"Flawless" isn't your typical heist movie. There's much more to it than pure entertaiment. This is mainly due to leading characters' psychological background which is very well captured by Demi Moore and Michael Caine.

Moore's Laura, a woman who has already achieved a lot in a male-dominant 1960s society, is well aware that even though she works more than her male colleagues, she will always be at a disadvantage.

Caine's Hobbs, an elderly jaintor, one of those people whose presence always meets with indifference, has that kind of common man's sensitivity that makes him a far more better human being than other people. He sees the world around him in a much wider perspective. In fact, his motto is that 'it's a remarkable world out there...'... and many people don't realise that. A very subdued performance by Caine makes Hobbs a truly moving character.

Michael Radford, a very talented director, somehow overlooked in the last decade, is definitely an actor's director. "Flawless" also proves his great sense of restraint. The usually presented as a very glamorous decade, the 1960s in "Flawless" are very stylish but not overly "shiny".

Verdict: if you want something more than just a 'Catch me if you can' story, you'll love it.

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The Witness for the Prosecution (2016)

1/10

Blurry, gloomy and...

12 June 2018

Had it been an original story, not based on an Agatha Christie novel, I would rate it 10/10. It's a beautifully executed drama of a man who loses everything with a top performance by Toby Jones. It's well written, well acted and follows the highly popular although slightly annoying slow-cinema-inspired pace (plus adequately blurry vision that sometimes is really troubling because you can't see what's actually happening on sreen, but hey - that's what critics love, don't they?).

Sadly, the film also follows a now already well domesticated trend on television to mix Agatha Christie with kitchen-sink drama. This means you can't watch Agatha Christie with entire family anymore because you get at least two sex scenes and some explicit language (the sex scene between John Mayhew, the leading character, and his wife is particularly kitchen-sink, and pretty awful to be honest). Now, why on earth do such a thing? Christie created a unique universe of her own, a world that never was but was ideally escapistic and therefore we'd immediately embraced it. Why not follow the pattern so many love and expect? There's place for both - I love a good Mike Leigh drama as much as I love classic Christie, but not when the two are mixed.

Will we every get an old school Christie again? I hope so, a very much hope so.

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The Foreigner (I) (2017)

9/10

A solid revenge story

7 March 2018

Watching "The Foreigner" proves why Martin Campbell was Eon's choice to reboot Bond franchise twice. He's probably one of the most skilful directors of action films that aren't only about action sequences.

The movie has a solid story of revenge. Yes, we've seen it all before and the premise of a naturalized Londoner of Chinese origins who gets to fight IRA may put a smile on your face but hey, that's why we love movies, don't we? And you know what? It really works.

The story is very well executed and never goes too far. Jackie Chan gives a solid dramatic performance and Pierce Brosnan is at the top of his game as a former IRA soldier turned British goverment's advisor whose past casts shadow over his current position. The growing tension between the two is very strongly discernible and that's what makes the film a really entertaining experience.

Action sequences are also more than what you might expect - well choreographed, not overblown, actually pretty real, and even funny (Chan's escape from boarding house is really great).

"The Foreigner" is Brosnan's second joint venture with Martin Campbell. No wonder they decided to join forces again, but this time in an adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's "Across the River and Into the Trees". I'm really looking forward to their next project.

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The Presidio (1988)

7/10

Preferably for Sean Connery fans

1 March 2018

I haven't seen "The Presidio" for about a decade, so watching it again recently after so many years was almost like watching it for the first time.

Although it's definitely not a top class thriller, more of a low-key crime drama, the final twist in the tale makes it a decent picture. It's got fantastic setting. Peter Hyams, who apart from directing the film also holds a spot as director of photography, shots exteriors stylishly. The slightly cold colours correspond well with Sean Connery's characterisation as a strict man of principles.

In case of Connery it's always as much about the acting as it is about the looks and he looks really good as an MP officer, mostly wearing regular uniforms, prefferably dark blue. If he hadn't succeeded as 007 he would have definitely made a career as a character actor playing officers.

Mark Harmon takes over as an action man from Connery which is a nice change. The chase scene is quite impressive even by today's standards, well done! On the other hand the fight scene with Connery is also well choreographed.

My only complain would be about Meg Ryan's character. She seems too soft, too childish as for a person rised only by a father, who happens to be a rather tough guy, shy of showing emotions. Somehow her character doesn't convince me at all.

In a nutshell: you'll like the film if you like San Francsico and you'll love it if you like Sean Connery. No more, no less.

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I.T. (2016)

9/10

A well-executed thriller

27 November 2017

I.T. is exactly what it aspires to be, and thank God for that! It's a properly executed contemporary thriller that keeps you on the edge of the seat. It consists of all the usual components: modern technology, fast paced action, solid acting, lovely women and good score. There's suspense, there's violence, it's beautifully shot and nicely edited. It also revolves around a major (conservative) theme of a family man who has to face danger in order to protect his beautiful family. Pierce Brosnan (whose Irish Dreamtime co-produced the film) stars in a role that one would rather expect for Harrison Ford ("Firewall") or Mel Gibson ("Edge of Darkness"). A man in his early 60s Brosnan doesn't lose any of his boyish charm but at the same time he is surprisingly convincing as both, successful businessman and furious family man taking revenge. The climax of the film (NO SPOILER) may seem a bit overdone but again, it only confirms that it's a traditionally crafted thriller. In short: if you know what to expect (and you should know!), you will enjoy it.

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Spectre (I) (2015)

1/10

Sadly, a disappointment

17 February 2016

Warning: Spoilers

"Skyfall" offered a lot, even if you don't particularly like Daniel Craig as Bond, or even if you grew up on the old-school Bond films. First and foremost it had a good story to tell. It finally felt that the Bond franchise managed to go fully beyond its formula without losing own unique style. No wonder Timothy Dalton suggested the Academy should finally award Bond with Oscar. Well, it seems they lost their only chance as "Spectre" feels like a total disappointment when compared to "Skyfall".

The plot is very thin, to say the least. As a matter of fact there is almost no plot at all. Bond is going after Blofeld, who as it turns out hates Bond because... his daddy liked him better when they were both kids... No, seriously! Here we deal again with Freudian mambo-jumbo, and in a simplest possible way! The story centers around Bond going after Blofeld and sadly lacks either drama or suspense, because every single person in the audience knows that the man Bond is looking for...is Blofeld, even Bond knows that. All this makes rather boring and too predictable, even as for a Bond picture.

The subplot with C-section overtaking M-section could be a life-rescuing injection for the film but due to a terrible miscasting it is not. Unfortunately Andrew Scott as C can't shake off his Moriarty image and simply lacks charisma as a nemesis for Ralph Fiennes' M. Come on, there should be an actor of some authority to face Ralph Fiennes. I imagine the likes of Damian Lewis or Idris Elba in that role.

Okay, back to the main story: while looking for Blofeld, Bond meets two girls, actually, one woman and one girl. Woman being Monica Belluci who does her usual thing looking aloof. She's about 10 minutes on screen and does completely nothing for the plot. In a nutshell: Bond looks at her, saves her and spends the night with her, and all this happens on the day of her husband's funeral, which makes her character totally unbelievable. I understand producers wanted Belucci to boost publicity, but why did she bother? Really... The girl - Lea Seydoux - is supposed to look vulnerable, but sorry, it doesn't work at all. She just looks cold and we never get to understand what motivates her very sudden change... one moment she dislikes and doesn't trust Bond, and the next one, after changing her dress for a dinner, she's happy, and smiling, and ready for anything Bond wants from her... which is a kiss. Sadly there is no chemistry between Craig and Seydoux (they don't even come close to the fantastic chemistry between Bond and Vesper Lynd in "Casino Royale"!).

There's usually a lot of moaning about old Bond films, especially those with Roger Moore as 007, but when you compare Bond's affair with, say, Melina Havelock (Carole Bouquet) in "For Your Eyes Only", or his debut affair with Solitaire in "Live and Let Die", it just hurts how bad Craig and Seydoux turn out. In my humble opinion there is no comparison at all. But the lowest point of the film (not mentioning risky decision to recycle scenes from previous Bond films - must have been fun for John Logan and Sam Mendes, but the audience may feel deceived) is the climax of the story, again lacking suspense and excitement. The torture scene, although based on a good premise, would do with some Hitchcockian editing and in the final sequence with Bond looking for Lea, he finds her way too easily.

Any advantages? Very nice photography by Hoyte Van Hoytema (beutifully shot Mexico) and good performance by Christoph Waltz, who portrays Blofeld not so much as a cold-hearted villain but rather as a psycho. Still it seems a wasted opportunity as there could be more psychological tension between Bond and Blofeld.

All in all "Spectre" is definitely the least entertaining entry in Craig-era Bond series.

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Ian Paice: Not for the Pro's (2002)

10/10

A damn good stuff!

5 March 2006

I came across that one by a pure coincidence. It's Ian Paice at his best. There's so much on the DVD: unreleased live clips (filmed in a special camera angles), new studio recordings with Miller Anderson (guitars) and Colin Hodgkinson (bass)and an interesting drums-making special hosted by Ianhimself! We get over 2hrs of great music, mostly behind-the-scenes clips during Deep Purple concerts in the US in 2001 (still with Jon Lord). I recommend that DVD to all Paicey, Deep Purple maniacs and all others with all my heart. Oh, it was re-released a year or two years ago under the title "On The Drums". I haven't seen the latter but it's said to be exactly the same thing.

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The Fly Who Loved Me (2004)

10/10

The name's Christmas, Father Christmas.

30 January 2005

A charming short animation with great voice overs from both, Sir Roger Moore (ex-Saint and James Bond) and Olly Smith plus a great work from Dan Chambers. I was surprised to see Mr. Moore's face used as part of animation - a big surprise, really and what fun to watch. The plot of the cartoon is very funny too, good for children and ... for bigger children ("Oh, Cherry..." ;-) - I love that line! :) All the fans can treat it almost like a true, acting credit from Sir Roger, who, from what I've read, enjoys doing voice-overs to animations. Good work! Let's hope we'll get to see more in not too distant future. If we can't have any more feature films with Sir Roger, it's good to have him at least as an animated... Father Christmas :P

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Ian Gillan Live (1990 Video)

10/10

Awesome!

15 February 2003

A brilliant show indeed. Warmed up by a 1989 dates with The Moonshiners Gillan is at his best again hitting all the high notes. A topnotch performance. High quality musicians including Steve Morris on guitar and late Tommy Eyre on keyboards (wow!) make the show really attractive. I was really thrilled to hear stunning versions of "Demon's Eye" and "Living for the City". The magic fingers of Tommy Eyre will make your heart beat faster than usually. His soloing on both organ and the piano is awesome!!! Gillan's performance in "No More Cane On The Brazos" proves that he's one of the best rock singers ever. The video is very well directed and captures one of the most intriguing moments in Gillan's career. It's a definite must for every rock fan. The concert was released on DVD in 2001. The quality of it is very good and the sounding is great too. The new vhs edition contains few more tracks.

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Garth Rocket and the Moonshiners Live at the Ritz 1989 (1990 Video)

10/10

A good concert and a well made video.

15 February 2003

Garth Rockett & The Moonshiners was a short lived band fronted by Ian Gillan of Deep Purple fame back in the 60s. In 1989 Gillan collected some 2nd rate musicians plus his friend Steve Morris and did a 20-date UK tour. It was made for fun rather than for a good start to a solo career, as it was when Gillan was fired from Purple. The band does its best. It's not a 1st class performance but it's good to see Gillan having fun and performing some good oldies or old goodies. Steve Morris is a very fine guitar player, a very underrated one and Gillan's voice is in a good shape on that one though not as good as on the following video from the 'Naked Thunder' tour next year. A must see for all Gillan/Purple fans.

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Australia 99: A Band Downunder (1999 Video)

10/10

A great rockumentary.

8 September 2002

It's a definite must see for all Deep Purple fans because it includes not only stage performances by the band but also a lot of behind-the-scene and rehearsing footage. Ian Gillan is the main band member who is being interviewed through the entire programme and he talks about a lot of very interesting and not heard before stuff, like for instance why Purple don't want to appeal commercial in a popular meaning of this word. We can also enjoy Gillan's Rainforest walkabout at Fraser island - it's really lovely. Another very engaging material comes from radio and TV interviews with Gillan, Glover and Morse. Paice also talks but about the 1975 Sunbury festival during which the band performed. `A Band Downunder' is an extra video which follows `Total Abandon: Australia 99' film, which documents one of the Australian 1999 concerts. Lots of great and unseen stuff. I recommend it very much.

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Silver Bears (1977)

A good picture.

14 June 2002

It's a good crime picture with a star-packed cast. The plot is very engaging and not much complicated but also a clever one, which is a big advantage because you never get bored while watching it. Ivan Passer who directed the movie was amongst the leading directors of the new wave in Czechoslovakia in the early 60s but this picture is entirely different. Anyway, it's good in its genre and definitely well acted with the required *twinkle* in the eye from Michael Caine. The locations are very attractive as well as music. It's a very pleasant movie to watch in the evening. I recommend it not only to Michael Caine fans.

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Jane Eyre (1983)

Brilliant.

21 May 2002

There's not much left to say. This is definitely the best adaptation of Bronte's novel with brilliant performances from Timothy Dalton and Zelah Clarke. The pairing of the two in the roles of Jane Eyre and Rochester was a very good move. They both create realistic, believable and equally worth characters. Dalton's charismatic and inspired (but not overacted) acting is beautifully smoothed by Clarke's "light" beauty and the hidden powers of her character. It's impossible not to enjoy all the scenes where both Dalton and Clarke are in. They have created a rare ability of a mutual understanding between the actors - a real chemistry, I may say. A beautiful and touching adaptation even if a bit too severe.

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Get Carter (2000)

Rather disappointing.

15 May 2002

The movie has just opened in here and though I've read a lot of bad reviews of it I had to go to see it because Michael Caine has a small part in it and I loved the original "Get Carter" from 1971.

Unfortunately the movie is indeed a bad one. The script is a good material but with probably the worst performance by Stallone ever it is lost forever. The authors wanted to give some additional psychological aura to the character of Jack Carter but Stallone simply cannot render any emotions. His make-up and his beard are terrible and the suit he's wearing makes things look even worse. His mimic looks rather funny and makes you laugh out loud in the most dramatic moments.

The direction tends to be very fresh and praises the conventions of a music video but it's not enough and makes the movie loose any mood. Fast editing, lots of flashes and different types of cinematography do not help. Too much technic and too much loud music, which by the way is pretty good.

Mickey Rourke as Cyrus Paice definitely tops Stallone's wooden acting but he relates rather on exposing his muscles than playing and it's a pity. Alan Cumming is terrible, overacted and simply stupid as Kinnear.

The only highlights are Michael Caine and Miranda Richardson. They both easily make their characters believable and realistic. It's a pity their parts are so small.

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The Enemy (2001)

5/10

A bad movie!

11 February 2002

It's definitely not enough to say that the movie is bad. It's very, very bad. Its terribly predictible plot and a weak, amateurish direction doesn't help the viewers to get rid of the feeling that they were simply cheated. There are two good actors in it: Roger Moore and Tom Conti but even they can't save "The Enemy" from falling. Luke Perry can't save the day and so can't Olivia d'Abo. The pairing of the two doesn't work at all and that's because they're a fourth league performers who, even in a pseudo-erotic scene, can't afford expressing any emotions. I feel sorry for Moore and Conti that they appeared in such a crap. I hope their future projects will be much more watchable and less conventional.

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Crossplot (1969)

10/10

For Roger Moore fans only.

30 November 2001

'Crossplot' was Roger Moore's first attempt to return to the big screen after seven years in television as Simon Templar. Unfortunately, it all went wrong. The budget of the film proved to be much too small as for an action picture. It was also too old-fashioned and in a way too much television-like since entire crew consisted of 'The Saint' personnel. The result is a movie which today can be only suggested for Roger Moore fans. I'm one of them and so I enjoyed watching the film really much. The acting is pretty good. Moore is doing good job, trying to eliminate as many elements for which he was recognizable as the Saint as it's possible, but still it feels a lot like another 'saintly' adventure. The script is very predictable and its only great moments are when Moore is let to show his light sense of humour and prove that he does really great in such genres as for instance the 'romantic comedy'. The opening sequence (my favourite) is very much like if it was taken from all those 'lovely' Cary Grant movies from the 50s, with Moore at his best, having fun while playing a sort of a less distinguished Brett Sinclair. The film's weakness seems to be that it's not sure if it's a serious thriller, action picture or maybe a comedy. There are too many 'romantic' and 'funny' moments in it as for a true action film but on the other hand 'Crossplot's' script seems to be seriously dramatized since at least three people are to die during the film. Hm, not the best thing, but still worth seeing for Roger Moore fans.

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A Royal Birthday Celebration (1998 TV Movie)

8/10

Moore, Fry and Prince Charles in a truly funny sketch!!!

21 October 2001

I only saw some clips from the show and these included a song performed by Robbie Williams, taped greetings from Barry Humphries (Dame Edna) and brilliant sketch performed live on stage by Roger Moore, Stephen Fry and ... Prince Charles. It was really good. First Moore and Fry enter the restaurant as guests and are being served by waiters who look excatly like such celebrities as Madonna, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson and Humphrey Bogart. Moore doesn't seem to recognize anybody until Prince Charles approaches. Then Moore says, "Oh, I recognize who is he supposed to look like but he certainly must work on his voice." I liked the sketch so much that I wish Fry and Moore have collaborated in a movie or some more TV shows. Both have a great sense of humour and both enjoyed themselves tremendously. It's really worth seeing.

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Deep Purple: Scandinavian Nights (1992 Video)

10/10

A True Purple Dynamite!

5 June 2001

Recently I bought "Scandinavian Nights' video at last and I'm so very glad I did it, since I've been a Deep Purple fan for quite a long now. This show was recorded on March 1, 1972 in Copenhagen and is probably the only existing recorded full-MkII-concert. This is definitely a quintesence of a rock'n'roll spirit. All musicians are at their best. Gillan singing `Child in Time' so beautifuly and Paicey thundering around in `The Mule'. Ritchie also does some magic and gives a great Hendrix-like performance at the end of `Space Truckin'. The true dynamite to me is `Lucille', but I never could resist this song, especially the Purple version. The set: 1)Highway Star 2)Strange Kind of Woman 3)Child in Time 4)The Mule 5)Lazy 6)Space Truckin' 7)Fireball 8)Lucille 9)Black Night. The video is 100 minutes long and is really well recorded by Danmarks Radio. The picture is black and white but very clear. A definite must for all Deep Purple fans. Thanks to Simon Robinson and Connoisseur Collection for releasing `Scandinavian Nights'!

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Brigitte & Friends (1997– )

Saw a show with Roger Moore - it was really good.

15 March 2001

I only saw one episode of the show - featuring Roger Moore and I must admit that I was impressed and delighted to watch it. The interview was rather an elegant conversation between two friends; Brigitte asked Roger as well about his film career as about his charity work for Unicef. None of them seemed tense or tired so the conversation was very interesting, and Roger, who usually doesn't like to talk much about his private life, this time was very opened and talked about his family and marriage. He elaborated widely about his early acting days; about the three years spent in the army (when he was stationed in Schleswig in 1946, and used to go to Denmark to bring some food and brandy); about his first encounter with Elizabeth Taylor and Van Johnson in `The Last Time I Saw Paris' and the first bad review he got for `Diane'; about his Saint and Bond days (including many funny anecdotes, like f.e. saying: `My name is Bond, Brooke Bond' instead of the famous line, on the set of `The Man with the Golden Gun' at 3 a.m.); and about his most recent work for Unicef, as well as about some main problems against which Unicef fights - lack of water, lack of food, the use of land mines, and children sexual abusement. In the middle of the show somebody knocks on the door, `It must be champagne' - says Brigitte; `Let me get it' - replies Roger, opening the door and disappearing behind them. Suddenly we hear a very loud noise of two people fighting - Brigitte pretends she's very surprised and worried, and so was I. Then Roger, holding champagne in one hand, walks into the room and with THIS great smile on his face says: `Looks like the party's starting'. Now, that was really stunning, I just loved it. The show lasted circa 60 minutes, but it seemed like if it was much shorter - it was so very engaging. I don't know how about the rest of episodes but this one - thanks to Roger Moore - was just great.

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Salt Water Moose (1996)

Beautiful story + Dalton's very good performance.

18 February 2001

I have just finished watching the film and I must say that, though I wasn't too enthusiastic in the beginning, soon I found out that it really was worth the Children's Program Award (Director's Guild of America) it got. It's a great children show (both, Johnny Morina and Katherine Isobel play just wonderfully as for children), and thanks to smooth and enjoyable performance from Timothy Dalton (he should do more such films), it may also interest adults. The frame of the plot is very well known, but it doesn't matter as much as the beautiful story of a friendship between the nature and the humans. Good cinematography and a very engaging finale of the story. Great film for a whole family, for one of those Sunday mornings. No violence, no sex, no bad language - just a nice and interesting story.

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Red Eagle (1994 TV Movie)

10/10

A great film - reminded me of Dalton as Bond.

31 December 2000

I always liked Dalton and still think he was much better as Bond than Brosnan. So I was very pleased when I first watched "Lie Down with Lions" - it reminded of Dalton as 007. It's not a typical action movie, it's plot is much more dramatic and full of many interesting characters played by such great actors as Nigel Havers, Omar Shariff and Jurgen Prochnov. It's more "down to Earth", especially for people like me who live in the centre of Europe or in Far East. Locations are just beautiful and it's true that sometimes they may remind of "The Living Daylights". I would recommend that film not only for men but also for women, I'm sure you won't be disappointed. My grade is 9/10 (only because it's not a cinema movie - and it's a pity).

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