Truly Dreadful Film

The Age of Commercialism

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

This film has very little to recommend it. Its basic premise, a potential German invasion of Britain in the early twentieth century, may have been electrifyingly relevant at the time of the original novel's publication, but is somewhat dated now. What little action there is is of Boy's Own variety: the heroes turn up just in time to overhear the spies divulge their secret plans in a "rhubarb rhubarb, invasion, rhubarb rhubarb, weapons, rhubarb, England," sort of way.Apart from that, the script and cinematography are not great. The script is rather clunky, even beyond its source matter, and seeks to over-explain what's happening. For instance, when the crew walks out on deck one will say "its foggy again" even though the fog is obvious. The occasional voice-over narration (by Michael York)adds little to the story but rather detracts from it. Seeking to explain in words what we should be seeing on screen is antithetical to cinema, and is particularly irritating when the end is told rather than shown to us.Much of this narration seems to be caused by budgetary restraints rather than artistic choice. Certainly a lack of money, especially during the very few action scenes, makes them even more underwhelming than they might have been. The crashes between boats (which is most of the 'action') looks as exciting as seeing two toy boats have a slight hit on a puddle.The film in general has the look and feel of a 70s TV movie. Nice enough to watch, but certainly no classic. The theme music, however, is rather good and deserved a better movie.

The book is an absolute classic, but it is not a very easy one to adapt at all. While not quite succeeding, Riddle of the Sands is a very solid film. It is quite slow in places and the actor playing Kaiser is very wooden. However, the film is beautifully shot, with striking locations, interesting fashions and exquisite photography. Howard Blake's haunting score compliments the mood of the film brilliantly and the story and the script are very interesting. The sailing scenes are excellently done, and there is a fine cast, excepting Kaiser. Michael York and Simon McCorkindale are excellent, actually in regards to McCorkindale I don't think I have seen him this good before, while Alan Badel is appropriately sinister and Jenny Agutter provides an emotional weight that wasn't there in the book but was welcome here. So all in all, solid and worth watching. 8/10 Bethany Cox

It's a great old sort of thriller based on a well known and loved Erskine Childers novel.The cast are excellent and the feel for the time and place, with what was to come are of an older world Don't expect action but prepare to either love it or hate it.Michael York at the height of his gameSimon Macorkindale was also never better And Jenny Agutter reminding us all what a beauty and fine actress she is.I'd love a return to old style thrillers based on great stories without relying on special effects.

Coming 3 years after the even more insipid 'Logan's Run', Micheal York and Jenny Agutter are paired-up again in more conservative dress, but this time they're in the past instead of the future.Under wicked Kaiser Wilhelm, the Germans are plotting a covert sea-borne invasion of Britain. An English holiday-maker accidentally stumbles upon their scheme whilst sailing.It's a very slowly evolving drama, played almost as shallowly as the waters they navigate. Fay Mr York may be handsome in an artist's model sort of way but never passes for an action man. His effeminate voice certainly doesn't help. Jenny Agutter does her usual pose of fresh-faced innocence with which she was invariably been typecast. I met her a few months ago in Camberwell, and apart from a few eye-lines hasn't changed all that much.Unlike most of the genre, ie; spying, sabotage, etc; the pace is largely unhurried, with none of the untimely shocks or bloody murders one usually associates with the genre. The relaxed and rather light-hearted way in which the story unfolds seems to hark back to a more civilised time. The whole production is reminiscent of 'The Railway Children', as though primarily aimed at kids. It's not just as if the plot is set in the early part of the 20th century, but is being narrated from the same perspective. That's cleverly done (if it was intended) but even for 1979 vintage the style requires a little getting used to. It's constantly on the edge of becoming boring - which is what sailing is like if you're used to powerboats. Though it usually manages to right itself before complete capsize.Photography is sympathetically worked, giving an excellent sense of obscurity. And combined with the reflective music score together they lend the movie a 'water-colour' feel.Compared to modern productions with their frenetic cut-and-cut-again editing, confrontational in-you-face drama, and flair for the overstatement, the movie really does seem like a postcard from the past. But that's not to say it isn't engaging and a pleasure to see.If it's on the telly (typically Saturday afternoon) and I've nothing else to do then I can't help watching it. Though I'm never quite satisfied with it at the end. It seems to lack something, but I don't know quite what. Maybe I've just watched too many 'action' movies.