Kane & Abel

I have read and re-read this masterpiece of a novel many times in the last twenty years. My Mom gave me the book when I was recuperating from a bad car wreck, knowing that I would enjoy a novel that mixed actual world history in the storyline. Living in Lowell, Massachusetts and knowing Boston very well it was entertaining to see such familiar names and landmarks mentioned. Abel's early life in German-occupied Poland was more fascinating. When the miniseries came around I had to see it. Good casting and acting...that is about it, I felt I had an advantage over the casual viewer, having such intimate and detailed knowledge of the book. I could not help but silently critique it, but in the end I felt it was a very entertaining effort and enjoyed it. It was worth the watching, although the reading was better. Isn't it always that way, and rarely vice-versa? I give it a 7-plus out of ten.

If you take on one of the most successful books ever, there's not much room to mess up. However, this un-even mock-up manages to fall at the first hurdle.

Peter Strauss and Sam Neil fail to portray the two ruthless Financial American giants created by Jeffery Archer. These two are the solid underpinning of the entire story. Yet they can't just can't capture them.

Sam Neiil mostly looks ready to burst into tears. Or uses two other facial expressions - a rather perfunctory smile and an attempt to look serious with a clamped jaw. Acts like a carrot and looks like puffed wheat.

Strauss completely left Archers' well-shaped character character somewhere on a boat. After a while his rigid accent grates as he attempts to mouth a tormented soul.

But if you missed the book, there's enough juicy story lines to carry you through.

As a huge bonus, the visuals are fabulous! Sail away in luxury and furs. Rumble along in magnificent cars.

But don't expect much heavy metal clash of Titans. Such a pity.

a Biblical suggestion. great cast. clever script. and a long battle between two men each with his way. a legendary series who seduce again and again. not only for acting or story but for special care to create its atmosphere. a film about success and self - definition who impose Peter Strauss and Sam Neail in two powerful roles. and the science to explore each detail of character, the air of 1980 years, the music, the dialogs, the costumes, the mark of different societies and the inspired direction are keys for an admirable work who use the drama nuances and the soap - opera tricks, who impose the dream as possibility and transforms the rules of fairy tale. a film about a competition. or a kind of war.memorable scenes and nice memories.

It must be more than ten years ago that I saw this mini-series. Probably a period that I loved very dramatic films and books. But I can never forget this series. It was film so 'smooth' and 'rich' and especially the music was dramatic. I'm really curious what I would experience if I would see it these days. It's funny that the bible-borrowed title of the series announces that the clash between Kane and Abel will be very dramatic. That's very smart of the creators, I think.

Pete Strauss makes Abel a character living on the broadway stage, over dramatic body language and speaking way. Can't belieive he is capable of giving speech lessons. Though his look at his 40s is ok, too old for his 20s. I wish it's the Russian captain actor acting the character of Abel.