Good heavens I'm not sure I watched the same movie as these other guys. True, it had bags of potential and an interesting story line but someone forgot to edit it and it really would have benefited from the deft removal of a good hour from the almost 3-hour run time.
Omar Sharif, Timothy Dalton and Marg Helgenberger did a fair job somewhat against the odds, but supporting scenes were poorly scripted, acted and directed and some of the 'mercenaries' looked more like I.T. guys who did a bit of T.A. at the weekend.
I can't help but also observe it seems to have been made for the American market, thus much potential for rich cultural background has been stifled - at its most basic level this includes protestors marching through Paris - at least I think it was Paris - with placards all written in English!
Much might be forgiven, but the film's fundamental flaw is that it totally failed to explain the metamorphosis of Nigel Havers' character from a sensitive and considerate friend and altruistic doctor to a snivelling wife-beating homicidal lunatic. We understand he was coerced and duped into betraying his friends; but his subsequent behaviour is a complete non sequitur.
OK, made for TV, we didn't expect too much. There's still quite a bit to entertain. An 'A'-movie it is not.
Omar Sharif, Timothy Dalton and Marg Helgenberger did a fair job somewhat against the odds, but supporting scenes were poorly scripted, acted and directed and some of the 'mercenaries' looked more like I.T. guys who did a bit of T.A. at the weekend.
I can't help but also observe it seems to have been made for the American market, thus much potential for rich cultural background has been stifled - at its most basic level this includes protestors marching through Paris - at least I think it was Paris - with placards all written in English!
Much might be forgiven, but the film's fundamental flaw is that it totally failed to explain the metamorphosis of Nigel Havers' character from a sensitive and considerate friend and altruistic doctor to a snivelling wife-beating homicidal lunatic. We understand he was coerced and duped into betraying his friends; but his subsequent behaviour is a complete non sequitur.
OK, made for TV, we didn't expect too much. There's still quite a bit to entertain. An 'A'-movie it is not.