Codename Icarus (1981– ) User Reviews

Code Name: Icarus

[Steve_Walls183 · 6/10 · 2 June 2006]

A British school for brilliant minds, secretly brainwashes their students, and programs them to build bombs for the government. The main character Martin, is in fact one of these brilliant minds, who has no clue what is happening to him.

They showed us this film in my grade 8 English class. We watched it in 3 parts- and had to write reports on it. Although it is rather dated, I found this film interesting! From what I remember, the acting is good and the storyline is full of suspense!

If this is what gifted schools are all about, I'm glad I was just a regular dumb kid- hahaha Although- it would be kind of neat to build a bomb!

from the BBC

[blanche-2 · 6/10 · 1 September 2016]

Made in 1981, Code Name: Icarus looks like it was done on the cheap, and I would have guessed it was made earlier. It had a '60s/early '70s look to it.

A gifted boy, Martin Smith (Barry Angel) receives an offer to enter a prestigious school run by the Icarus Foundation. It's a full scholarship but it will separate him from his family. He decides to attend.

The place is filled with other students who are brilliant in different fields. In the rooms are buzzers, one of which is for room service 24/7. Martin is also given a tutor.

When Martin sees birds fly over a laboratory on the grounds and crash to their deaths, he becomes concerned about just what is going on at Icarus. He suspects that all of the students are being used for their brains, and their work is combined with the work of other Icarus schools around the world. Barry realizes what he is working on is the quark bomb.

This series could have been much more exciting than it was. The lead actor, who was 19 at the time, gave a static portrayal. Simon Locke and John Malcolm were appropriately sinister.

Just so-so.

gave it a seven for nostalgia , however...

[gb901 · 7/10 · 16 May 2019]

The lead actor is so wooden and the ending such a disappointing anti climax its little wonder I cant remember it being broadcast back in dec 1981 as part of bbc childrens telly here in the uk. Interestingly, unlike most series it was shown twice weekly so the five episodes played out barely over weeks - which probably also accounts for it hardly registering?