Customer Reviews

Impossible Spy

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is an amazing true story about one of history's greatest spies. And, I love this new Janson Media DVD (Collector's Edition) of "The Impossible Spy" because it includes many important "extras" such as critic's reviews, trailer, and an on-location report featuring behind-the-scenes interviews with the stars, John Shea and Eli Wallach about what it is like to be a spy. Also, there's a very good photo gallery, star
filmographies, and a time-line of all the major Arab-Israel conflicts that led up to Elie Cohen's incredible mission, and how vital it was for the outcome of the June 1967 Six-Day War.

The story is exciting and compelling. It's about an Israeli agent who was sent to Syria, via Argentina, in the 1960's and was so successful in infiltrating the Syrian High Command, that he was nominated to be their Deputy Defense Minister--and 3rd in line for the Presidency. Unbelievable. And, all true.

Also, this new Janson Media DVD looks great when used with a video projector onto a large screen.

They say truth is stranger than fiction...and the saying holds for this amazing story about an Israeli secret agent who penetrated the top levels of the Syrian government.

As the U.S. government debates the value of human intelligence vs. whatever they collect from calls, email, etc., this story demonstrates what one well-placed spy can do. Check it out.

This is a video enactment of the true story of the famous Israeli spy, Elie Cohen, who was reluctantly recruited by the Mossad to infiltrate the Syrian High Command. He successfully did so by befriending and subsidizing (with Israeli government money) the the then outlawed Baath Party of Syria. He made his first contact with a Baath Party representative in Argentina. When the Baath Party eventually came to power in Syria, Elie Cohen followed. Being Syrian born, and raised in Egypt, this devout Jew, fluent in Arabic and at least four other languages, rose from a job as a lowly accountant at a grocery chain, to nearly become the deputy minister of defense in Syria. Before being discovered, probably because of his false overconfidence in transmitting Morse code messages to Tel Aviv, he became, and still is, one of the most celebrated human intelligence figures in world history. The information he provided was instrumental in the astonishing victory by Israel in the Six Day War.
Highly recommended for those interested in middle east politics and espionage.

Eli Cohen is an unlikely Israeli Spy - With his cover of as an Egyptian furniture salesman he penetrates to the highest levels of the Baath party in Syria for the Mossad before the 6 day war launched by Israel. He tours the Golan Heights making mental notes of bunkers (usually located under trees for shade). Passing on of all this information gave the Israeli's stategic advantage in the '67 war as they knocked out Syria's Golan defenses. Did Cohen finally get out? Thus the added suspense of how it all ends. Anyone with any interest in Israel or mid east policy must see this film. It is an incredible true story.

This video has somewhat B-rated quality, but it's very old (& says it was made for British TV or something)so you aren't going to get the greatest quality. It starts out with hokey film-tactics, but then gets better.

The generic content/story is very good....gives you some perspectives about how others work at their jobs & contribute to society around you and do things so that "the rest of us can go on with life as normal as possible." This is a pretty clean movie from what we noticed the first time watching it, safe for families & individuals in a general way. This is not a religious theme movie at all, outside of the generic theme of Land being a homeland to the Israelite people.

This is an enjoyable film, based on a true story, and helps you understand some of the pressures that countries & their defense departments/agents must go thru. Also, the "human side" of a relationship between opposing sides is presented --the immovable difference between an Arab & an Israelite who are competing for the same piece of Land. Men are seen developing "mutual" respect and certain feelings of "friendship" towards each other. It's a sad thing that men must fight, indeed.

My family enjoys historical films that show more and more puzzle pieces about the Land of Israel and the people of Israel. This film focuses on the Syrian-Israeli conflict, through the life of a new spy. The newly inducted spy incidentally makes choices that destroy his marriage due to "practical abandonment" you might say -without the wife having any inkling of this being the chosen path. Personally i believe there's a difference between a man who joins the army, then gets married with his wife understanding the ups & downs of an army marriage beforehand ....VERSES a man who marries his wife and sneakily joins the army and sees her and their newborn only a handful of times in several years...which means the wife and child have been unnecessarily hurt. "Greater Good" themes are toyed with in this marital struggle.

Being a Bible believer, i'm reminded that until Israel's neighbors accept the role that Israel is meant to have within the Covenanted Land.....and until Israel walks in true Torah the majority of the time....& seeking to be a light to the nations, the opposing parties will never get along nor benefit each other. May Moshiach Return quickly, even in our days.

The one exception to us recommending this film, is going to only strike a positive/helpful note with few people (we realize), but nevertheless....the problem we have with this film is that real live human beings with real life families (husbands, and/or wives, and/or children) are being intimate with other people outside of their family all for the sake of "it's just a job, it's acting." We personally don't believe that God will every approve body-close-holding and smooching, as "just a job so it's okay" when it comes to non-married people. You simply won't find that kind of behavior ever supported or condoned in the Bible. As i said, we realize this won't be a popular stance, in a Media-soaked culture, but nonetheless...it's the flat truth. So we cannot recommend you actually buy this film. There ARE films on the market, few though, that have actual actors who are husbands and wives being intimate on screen...or that have husbands and wives pictured who aren't married outside the movie but BARELELY touch in any intimate way (like FireProof, Facing the Giants, Time Changer, Flywheel, and others). We recommend you just place your own family member in the actor's spot, and see how you'd feel watching your partner or child doing the intimacy with a complete stranger (IN FRONT OF THEIR CHILDREN OR SPOUSE). Thanks for "listening." :)

The Impossible Spy:
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As a grandson of Eli Cohen's cousin, i was very excited to see this film.

Most recommended!

This film, made on location in Israel, presents a seemingly impossible story that is all too true. Well worth owning and recommending to friends.

This is a true story that I had heard about a few years ago. The movie seems authenic from what I had heard. The movie holds your interest, but some of the acting is nothing special. The locale helps to give the story creditability. It was worth watching, but of average quality.

This is an amazing true story about one of history's greatest spies. And, I love the new Janson Media DVD
(Collector's Edition) of "The Impossible Spy" because it includes many important "extras" such as critic's reviews,
trailer, and an on-location report featuring behind-the-scenes interviews with the stars, John Shea and Eli Wallach about what it is like to be a spy. Also, there's a very good photo gallery, star filmographies, and a time-line of all
the major Arab-Israel conflicts that led up to Elie Cohen's incredible mission, and how vital it was for the outcome of the June 1967 Six-Day War.

The story is exciting and compelling. It's about an Israeli agent who was sent to Syria, via Argentina, in the 1960's and was so successful in infiltrating the Syrian High Command, that he was nominated to be their Deputy Defense Minister--and 3rd in line for the Presidency. Unbelievable. And, all true.

EXCELLENT MOVIE - 5 STAR. BASE ON THROU EVENT
EVERYBODY MUST SEE IT

as an israeli, i can tell you that this is a very special movie
it all based on thru events
Eli Choen - seceded to reach to be in the therd highest position in SYRIA in the years before the 6 DAYS WAR. (you can also purchase a documental dvd about the SIX DAYS WAR under movie search in amazon.com)
Eli Choen saved so many life with the information he send, and this information halp't the ISRAELI ARMY to WINN THE WAR !!!
there is something that you don't see in this movie, but here in ISRAEL we all know about it, and it is about the way Mr. Eli Choen halp't the ISRAELI ARMY to recognize the TARGETS OF THE SYRIAN ARMY IN THE GOLAN HIGHT'S: well - first he recommend the syirian's high command to plant trees in all them baces in the golan high's. he tall'd them: why your soldier are suffer in the sun ? and he convinced them to plant trees all around them baces in the golan hight's mountains. so when the six days war arrived, the israeli army knew that where ever is trees.. there the syrian targets are! very simple. and the israeli army distort them.
another point that is not on the movie is - that the mosad betray eli choen . the ask him to transmit too much with-out necessary need until his bean captured and hang's. see story.
eli choen has a phenomenal memory that help him to remember all information with-out note it.
defiantly one of the best spies in the world ever!
thank you