April 18, 2007
Gratuitous Llama Netflix Movie Review
Okay, I'd never seen it before. Dayum, what an excellent movie, though - action, adventure and the whole thing shot through with an excellent sense of humor. And, of course, you've got Connery and Caine paired off as the heroes, so I really don't see why I should have been all that surprised.
On the literary front, watching this flick I was suddenly seized with the desire to do a little Kipling (ha ha). While I've got his Just So Stories and a collection of his early verse, I've never read most of his other works, including the short story on which this film was based. In this, I believe I've neglected a great pleasure and resource, as from what I have read, I have a great deal of sympathy for Kipling's outlook on the world. To nip over to the devil's website and order a copy of The Portable Kipling as a starter was, for me, the work of an instant.
Posted by Robert at April 18, 2007 10:26 AM | TrackBackRobbo, this has consistently come up as a recommendation for me at Netflix for months.
You pushed me over the edge. It's now in my queue.
Posted by: Gary at April 18, 2007 11:09 AMIt's a good one. Particularly the retreat sequence at the end.
I don't blame the natives, either. At some point, who hasn't mistaken Connery for a god?
Posted by: The Colossus at April 18, 2007 11:57 AMJust buy the frippin' DVD. What a great movie. I got to see it during its original run -- gues I was ten. Perfect age to see an adventure movie. Fortunately I've stayed the same age (at least mentally).
Posted by: rbj at April 18, 2007 11:59 AMI'll add my meaningless agreement to everyone else's comments. I first saw TMWWBK when I was to young to realize how evil and reactionary it was, but I've re-seen it four or five times and that movie really holds up. I shudder to think what the inevitable remake is going to look like.
Posted by: utron at April 18, 2007 02:22 PMWow, that's a blast from my childhood. I saw this in the theater when I was a kid. It's always been one that I remember fondly. I think I'm going to have to add it to the queue.
Posted by: jen at April 18, 2007 04:46 PMA great one. For a good Connery jingoistic jaunt, check out 'The Wind and the Lion'. The best non-Connery scene is when the Marine captain initiates his rather direct negotiating tactics at the palace of the Bashaw.
Posted by: TDP at April 18, 2007 06:28 PMLoved that movie. The Alexander the Great reference is clever, considering how like a Greek tragedy it is in its treatment of hubris.
Posted by: Boy Named Sous at April 19, 2007 10:29 AMIf you can find it: "Maugham's Choice of Kipling's Best"
Or at least, a short story from that, "The Village That Voted the Earth Was Flat"
Posted by: mojo at April 20, 2007 10:22 AM
Image courtesy of the lovely and talented 