10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
It's good to have Harry Palmer back!, February 28, 2002
This review is from: Bullet to Beijing [VHS] (VHS Tape)
In which a British agent is forcibly retired, comes out of retirement, nearly sleeps with a young Russian agent, does some espionage on a train, meets Burt Kwouk, and saves the world.
The first three Harry Palmer films were very much products of their times in that they were made during the 'cold war' and had much of their action set in Swinging London. They also benefitted from a young Michael Caine establishing himself as a screen star. The new films had to change approach. London now seems to be full of nothing but traffic, the cold war is supposedly over, and Caine's age meant that it became incongruous to have him in exactly the same role he played thirty years earlier.
This situation has been tackled before. Callan, James Bond, and Smiley have all come out of retirement, Glasnost has been tackled well in the later James Bonds, and the emphasis on London is seldom seen these days in British films.
So to some extent Harry Palmer's comeback is a cross between Never Say Never Again and GoldenEye and it all seems a bit familiar. Nevertheless Caine's watchability and charm keep the film moving and the rather slow opening soon gives way to classy chases, set pieces, and so on, all laced with the cynicism and intelligence that characterised the first three movies. The score by Rick Wakeman is good, being based on traditional Russian music, but in places it's inappropriate and undermines the action.
It's a bit of a shame these films weren't made in the 1970s or 1980s as the transition would have been easier, but all in all, it's good to see him back.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
In the true spirit of Len Deighton, June 9, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Bullet to Beijing [VHS] (VHS Tape)
thoroughly enjoyable. Caine is the aged Palmer in the spirit of Len Deighton's working class spy. Cliche, yes! but who would want otherwise.
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
underrated, enjoyable and a sting in the tail, May 31, 2002
A believable glimpse into the self-serving British beauracracy and the modern Russia.
Caine is Caine - superb. The younger Connery is obviously going places.
An informative romp through Russia with subtle nuances and ultimate treachery in store.
Well worth the few pennies for an excellent product.
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