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Post by Prime etc. on Feb 12, 2021 2:33:37 GMT
Siskel called it rotten and Ebert said it was worse than Goin' Coconuts, a Donnie and Marie movie. Dog of the week is also featured.
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Post by politicidal on Feb 12, 2021 2:58:40 GMT
It's pretty silly but I did find it entertaining. It felt like a forerunner behind movies like The Expendables.
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Post by vegalyra on Feb 12, 2021 13:58:09 GMT
Ebert is so smug during that review it’s almost nauseating. I agree that the premise of Burton leading some mercenaries in his shape is pretty silly but outside of his physical condition these type of mercenary actions were happening quite a bit in the 1960s and 1970s. It’s a fun film, it’s not serious and obviously Burton was just doing it for the money but I thought it was a decent performance. Better than say his role in the Klansman. Moore and Kruger turn in good performances as well.
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Post by Prime etc. on Feb 12, 2021 16:45:29 GMT
It's a Euro-centric movie. There's no Americans (except Jeff Corey).
I think Siskel and Ebert were snobs about movies done outside of Hollywood or the art-house scene of Europe.
It's a Royal Shakespeare company version of a mercenary adventure.
Moore is good in the opening as a meaner James Bond--and even Burton is more sympathetic than average.
"Sandy!"
I like the medic, especially his final scene where he is surrounded by the soldiers.
I wonder if Nigel Green had lived, would he have been in it.
He was in BITTER VICTORY with Burton, a similar kind of story.
Hollywood would not have made this movie in 1978. It's not PC enough.
I'd rather watch this again than THE DOGS OF WAR.
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Post by teleadm on Feb 12, 2021 17:48:28 GMT
Wasn't one of the troubles that Allied Artists (the American co-producer) went bankrupt so it never got a proper distribution in U.S.A and Canada. It still was the 5th biggest moneymaker worldwide that year.
It's an OK action movie of it's era, and compared to Wild Geese II, even it Sir Laurence Olivier was in it, it was a great action movie of it's era.
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Post by Prime etc. on Feb 12, 2021 18:18:03 GMT
They also gave RITUALS their dog of a week award. I really like that movie.
One thing is that in those days
they took acting and script for granted on some things--so an exploitation movie--you would expect it to have certain professional qualities.
These days
we look back and think-wow-I cant believe they made this-the characters have ideas and personality.
We don't take it for granted anymore.
That scene with Harris talking about "I'll give it to emotionally, and then rationally.." It's BS but it's the acting and performance that makes it fun to watch.
One doesn't take it for granted now. Although Harris made some awful movies then--that one he did with Bradford Dillman as a gangster.
That was bad all around.
But who would rather watch GOLD 1976 or the movie Roger Moore made with Stacy Keach over the Wild Geese...
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Post by vegalyra on Feb 13, 2021 1:24:52 GMT
Just realized that the technical adviser for this film, Col. Mike Hoare, who participated in many mercenary actions, including the Congo in the 1960's, passed away at the age of 100 a few days ago: Col. Mike Hoare dies aged 100 - BBC News |
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Post by politicidal on Feb 13, 2021 1:35:40 GMT
Just realized that the technical adviser for this film, Col. Mike Hoare, who participated in many mercenary actions, including the Congo in the 1960's, passed away at the age of 100 a few days ago: Col. Mike Hoare dies aged 100 - BBC NewsShit, I thought he was dead. |
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Post by politicidal on Nov 4, 2021 0:47:33 GMT
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Post by moviebuffbrad on Nov 4, 2021 4:39:35 GMT
Whatever happened to Prime, did the cultural Bolsheviks get him?
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Post by vegalyra on Nov 4, 2021 10:35:32 GMT
Whatever happened to Prime, did the cultural Bolsheviks get him? Haven’t seen him in awhile |
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Post by politicidal on Nov 4, 2021 14:33:51 GMT
Whatever happened to Prime, did the cultural Bolsheviks get him? I’m pretty sure he was banned. |
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