A chase through Hamburg, 23 January 2017
A supervilian (who may or may not have been named – I have no idea) has created a mind-control drug and demonstrates its effects on an unsuspecting army officer. The officer is gunned down before the drug "forces" him to launch a nuclear missile. An antidote has been developed to counter the drug's effects, but the Professor responsible is assassinated. Now, the only sample of the antidote is in a briefcase held by his pretty assistant (played by Vivi Bach). The Americans, Russians, Chinese, a jewel thief, and just about everyone else wants the briefcase and the woman carrying it.
I love a good Eurospy movie as much as anyone. At one time, like a lot of people, I knocked these movies for being James Bond rip-offs without really giving them much of a chance. I no longer do that and consider many to be really enjoyable (the Ken Clarke films for example). But Electra One is a real stinker. The main problem is the plot – it's as thin as tissue paper. It's an unintelligible mess. If you want to see a movie where people chase each other for no reason you are likely to understand or care about, this is the movie for you. It's chase, chase, chase but nothing seems to get resolved. There is also a subplot about the relationship between an American agent and a Russian agent that is out of place and adds nothing to the rest of the movie.
I suppose that star George Martin is okay, but really isn't given much to work with other than being smarmy. I was initially excited when I saw Rosalba Neri's name pop-up in the opening credits, but she literally has nothing to do. The other female lead, Bach, isn't overly memorable either. The real standout in this mess is the Hamburg shipping docks. The docks get more screen time, are better shot, and come out looking better than any of the human stars.
Also, I don't understand how the mind-control drug in Electra One is supposed to work. You take it and suddenly you're an unstoppable machine, bent on pushing a nuclear launch button. How does that work? There's no suggestion or other direction given to the victim – just an unnatural desire to push a button. It's beyond ridiculous.
I love a good Eurospy movie as much as anyone. At one time, like a lot of people, I knocked these movies for being James Bond rip-offs without really giving them much of a chance. I no longer do that and consider many to be really enjoyable (the Ken Clarke films for example). But Electra One is a real stinker. The main problem is the plot – it's as thin as tissue paper. It's an unintelligible mess. If you want to see a movie where people chase each other for no reason you are likely to understand or care about, this is the movie for you. It's chase, chase, chase but nothing seems to get resolved. There is also a subplot about the relationship between an American agent and a Russian agent that is out of place and adds nothing to the rest of the movie.
I suppose that star George Martin is okay, but really isn't given much to work with other than being smarmy. I was initially excited when I saw Rosalba Neri's name pop-up in the opening credits, but she literally has nothing to do. The other female lead, Bach, isn't overly memorable either. The real standout in this mess is the Hamburg shipping docks. The docks get more screen time, are better shot, and come out looking better than any of the human stars.
Also, I don't understand how the mind-control drug in Electra One is supposed to work. You take it and suddenly you're an unstoppable machine, bent on pushing a nuclear launch button. How does that work? There's no suggestion or other direction given to the victim – just an unnatural desire to push a button. It's beyond ridiculous.
3/10
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