There really aren't any twists and turns or other surprises, 25 August 2017
A terrorist plants a bomb on a train carrying military explosives. Officials call in an ex-Army bomb disposal expert, Peter Lyncort (Glenn Ford), to help with the situation. The first hurdle is locating the bomb. The train is carry several cars, each loaded with ten or so mines. Lyncort's got his work cut out for him just finding the device. To make matters worse, the bomb is outfitted with a timing detonator. If he can't find it in time – BOOM!
Overall, Terror on a Train was a disappointing experience. My rating would seem to indicate that I found the movie about average, but that rating is a little misleading. The plot here is horribly dull. There really aren't any twists and turns or other surprises to make things interesting. It's all presented in an incredibly linear fashion. There's a bomb, there's a bomb disposal expert, Lyncort looks for the bomb – that's about it. All the extra plot bits involving Lyncort's wife are so unnecessary to the film. These scenes felt like little more than padding. And at less than 75 minutes in length, you must not have much of a plot if you need filler.
What I liked and what elevated Terror on a Train's rating from being below average was the English countryside slice-of-life. I love this stuff. Sure, it felt like more filler, but it was enjoyable filler. The policeman making tea in the evacuated pub, the senile old man wanting to see the train, the old woman being evacuated from the hospital, the interesting 1950s era locations – that's what I enjoyed.
5/10
Never really utilizes most of Mundy's assets, 25 August 2017
Mundy is sent into a foreign, hostile country to assist an operative in an information gathering mission. Their target is a woman who may have knowledge of military secrets that she may have passed on to the foreign government. Mundy's partner injects the woman with a truth serum that leaves her basically comatose. However, before they get the information they need, the other man is killed. Mundy is left literally holding an unresponsive woman and without the knowledge he came to gather.
I think the other reviewer on IMDb hit the nail on the head when he said that When Boy Meets Girl isn't bad, but it's not great either – or something like that. Part of the problem is that this episode follows on the heels of It Takes One to Know One (Episode 2). That episode is so cleverly written and so carefully plotted that the following episode was bound to look bad in comparison. Also, this episode never really utilizes most of Mundy's assets. I'm convinced that almost any SIA agent could have handled the mission better than Mundy. He's a thief, not a spy.
Despite the criticisms, it should be obvious form my rating that I found the episode entertaining. There's plenty here to enjoy. Watching Mundy with the casket at the airport or carrying the lifeless body or sparring with the local authorities are all bits that I found hugely enjoyable. David Hurst's Captain Kovich is a nice foil for Robert Wagner's Mundy. They worked nicely with each other. And the bit with the bear and the cage was a nice touch. I didn't see it coming. It think my above average 6/10 rating is about right.
6/10
A whole lot of fun, 23 August 2017
Instead of stealing something, Mundy's mission in It Takes One to Know One is to stop a theft. Mundy is sent to a small country whose only real source of wealth is its crown jewels. SIA has knowledge that Soviet operatives intend to steal the jewels, sending the small nation into a panic – and quite possibly into the Soviet Bloc. Mundy must spot the thieves, gain their trust, and put a halt to their plan.
It Takes One to Know One is a fantastically entertaining episode. If all the episodes are this good, I'm in for a real treat. Once again, the casual, breezy style of the writing and of Robert Wagner's acting are a real plus for the episode. Both are a big reason these episodes are so much fun. I've always been a fan of heist movies with their impossibly intricate and detailed planning. It Takes One to Know One doesn't disappoint on this front. The plan here is as incredible as any I've run across before – especially for an hour long television show. It's a real hoot. Throw in a mesmerizing supporting performance from Susan Saint James, the always dependable Mark Richman, an alarmed floor that go off when you step on it, an Indiana Jones style counterweight, Mundy carrying on a conversation while hanging upside down from a chandelier, and a harpoon gun and you've got a real winner.
After seeing Susan Saint James in the first two episodes, I had my hopes dashed when I discovered she's only in a couple more. I would have loved to see her playing some sort of regular character throughout the series.
8/10
I enjoyed the series, but consider it a missed opportunity for something great, 23 August 2017
So far, I've enjoyed every one of the Marvel/Netflix efforts. Some more than others, but overall, they're an entertaining bunch of programs. Since it was announced, I have been anxiously awaiting The Defenders. I had high hopes that by combining the four heroes, you'd end up with something amazing. You'd end up with the best Marvel/Netflix program yet. And though I think The Defenders is better than about 90% of what's classified as entertainment in today's world, it's most likely the weakest of the bunch.
As my rating indicates, I liked it – but it's far from perfect. Instead of going into what worked for me, I'll instead focus on two things that really hurt the show. First, there are too many secondary characters. With only eight episodes, there's no way Trish or Clare or Malcolm or Karen or any of the others were ever going to get the same screen time they got when introduced. Instead, the makers of the show decided to cram them all in at the same time. And putting them all in the police station may have been convenient, but it's ridiculous. It doesn't work at all. None of these characters gets a chance to shine. Second, the baddies are extremely weak and bring nothing new to the series. The best example of this is Sigourney Weaver. What does she really do other than talk, eat, and get her head cut off? Answer – Nothing. I kept waiting for her to do more, but it never happened. And we've seen The Hand before and know exactly what to expect and what they're capable of. Other than Goa's really cool fighting abilities, they're the same old villains we've seen any number of times in the Marvel/Netflix world. I wanted something new and different.
So, overall I enjoyed the series, but consider it a missed opportunity for something great. If I had to rate the Marvel/Netflix series today, this is the order I would put them in: Jessica Jones (the Purple Man was just so cool); Daredevil - S1; Luke Cage; Daredevil - S2; Iron Fist; The Defenders
7/10
- Requiem per un agente segreto
"We have only one possibility in fighting these S.O.Bs: one-up-manship.", 23 August 2017
I just finished writing about the first episode of the television show It Takes a Thief and I could almost take that plot synopsis and use it with Requiem for a Secret Agent. Tired of seeing agents killed one after the other in Morocco, a spy agency decides to think outside the box and send in a specialist of sorts. They hire a mercenary (and major bastard) named Merrill (Stewart Granger) to get to the bottom of what's going on in Morocco.
Again, as with the episode of It Takes a Thief I just watched, I enjoyed Requiem for a Secret Agent up to the last act. It seemed that the film sort of loses its way and runs out of steam. The ending doesn't really work with me. Too bad, because after the first two acts, I was really enjoying the movie. Sure, as others have pointed out, it's misogynistic and violent – but so are a lot of other spy-type films from the 60s/70s, including the much-beloved James Bond. I think the big difference is that here, Granger is our hero, but his Merrill doesn't always act as we have come to expect. Smacking women around and using them the way he does isn't a very heroic quality. However, Merrill treats everyone horribly – men and women. I'm not defending him – he's really is a bastard. But he is a bastard that gets the job done. And in the world in which he operates, that seems to be all that matters to him and the people who hire him.
Highlights for me include: the Moroccan locations, the title song, the unusual opening (two characters that I assumed would play a large part in the movie are killed in the first 15 minutes), Peter van Eyck (what a baddie!), and the cat and mouse game played by Granger and van Eyck. As far as negatives go, beyond the poor final scenes I've already mentioned, my biggest complaint is with Daniela Bianchi's role – it's not big enough.
7/10
I'm looking forward to the rest of the series, 23 August 2017
Noah Bain, a big dog at the spy agency known as SIA, is tired of seeing his field agents killed one by one. He's convinced that a foreign power is behind the assassinations and the key lies in a special, heavily guarded briefcase. Thinking outside the box, Bain decides that the best way to steal the contents of the briefcase might be to employ the services of a real thief. He has master thief Alexander Mundy paroled from prison for the job. Can Mundy succeed where others have failed (and been killed)? To stay out of jail, he agrees to put his special talents to use for the government.
I've seen the odd episode of It Takes a Thief over the years, but it's been so long, I couldn't tell you which ones I've seen. I watched Episode 1 last night and really enjoyed it. For the most part, the writing is clever and the show has a nice pace to it. I enjoyed the breezy feel I got from Magnificent Thief (or is it A Thief is a Thief). Highlights for me included the scenes on the airplane (very funny) and the airport chase. Robert Wagner has a laid back style to him that works in a "light" show like It Takes a Thief. He would have made an excellent American James Bond in the style of Roger Moore. The supporting cast was both strong and interesting, with Senta Berger (she's good in just about everything), Susan Saint James, and, especially, John Saxon. There are several recognizable actors with bit parts. I got a real kick out of the confused passenger played by Wally Cox. My only issue comes with the final act. I didn't really care for the final shoot-out. I would have preferred to see the episode end after Mundy eludes the baddies at the airport. Still, Magnificent Thief was a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.
7/10
