d858thompson

This is a really good film and one that I've enjoyed watching several times. Michael Caine's awesome as always. Michael Caine has received kind of a reputation for taking any role in any movie no matter what the quality or lack of same but he does a good turn in playing Sidney. From the start it's so well written. Who would have thought that Ira Levin who wrote such creepy stuff as The Boys from Brazil and Rosemary's Baby could write something this witty. Let's face it - Michael Caine, Chris Reeve, Dyan Cannon, Henry Jones... how are you going to go wrong with a cast this good directed by Sidney Lumet.

I'm really reticent to go on because if anyone were to give away anything about this film it would be a crime. Just watch it and adore it.

I watched this film because I liked the first two seasons of the series. I liked the casting, the amazingly un-scary monsters, the bad special effects and the really good music, especially the second theme song that they used. I liked the casting of Matt LeBlanc. I thought Lacey Chabert was just pretty much annoying, which is strange because I was a big "Party of Five" fan but she brings nothing to the table in this film. Her part could have been played by anyone. William Hurt seems more than a little bored in the film. He looks like he's thinking "Is it five o'clock yet? Can I go home now? Who's got my check?" Gary Oldman is very, very good as Dr. Smith. Then again, Gary Oldman is always very, very good - this guy needs an Oscar for something. He should have been nominated for Supporting Actor for "Murder in the First." I can't remember much about the kid that played Will, which is a bad sign.

The music's great. The sets are great. The scenery's great. June Lockhart is really good. The first half hour of the film is fantastic and totally memorable. That's really the best part of the film. And a good story. But there's too much about this film that just drag it down by being average or sub-par.

So, a decent movie to see but you can do much better.

This movie has several moments to it - unfortunately it has way too many moments - it goes on forever! Fortunately it's interesting and enjoyable. But I think the length is Alistair MacLean's style. I've read some of his other books and for novels of action they're kind of slow paced. But I admire that in a way. It's almost Stanley Kubrick-ish in that he lets the story develop.

So here are the good points and the really good points. Richard Burton - okay, now who decided to put him in an action movie again? He's more convincing when he's doing the acting or throwing off pithy lines. I think they hired Richard Burton because Clint Eastwood, love him as I do, his acting chops weren't quite developed yet when this film was made. He pretty much runs around shooting people and looking menacing.

The scenes at the fortress are the best. The scenes on the tram are incredible. I've probably seen this movie three times and they still have me on the edge of my seat every single time. Pretty much from the tram scenes to the end is great - definitely the better part of the film.

Also, the music is great - thundering almost - although you hear it over every scene. Yes, it's great but it ain't Mozart - could we have one scene without it? Oh, but getting from the start of the movie to when they're getting up to the top of the meeting. Slow. I mean like getting frozen syrup out of the bottle slow or at least that's how I remember it.

So, over all, a good movie. Watch it on a rainy day. Then if you want to see Richard Burton in a really great movie, watch "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf."