Sorry, this movie sucks

Am i the only one who thinks........Average?

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

In Netflix's recent TV adaptation of Lemony Snicket's A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS an Uncle of three children explains that, like books, movies have an outer layer of entertainment, but an inner layer of philosophical brilliance. This best applies to Ronald Neame's HOPSCOTCH which, while truly delightful, is less consciously more about getting old and having one last bit of fun before the latter part of your life gets the better of you. All these moments are organized to the music of Mozart, and, ironically, the screenplay is like a symphony. Director Neame and writer Garfield crafted a film so suspenseful, so hilarious, and so intellectually wise that it is hard to believe critics dismissed it as just another okay comedy. They seemed to have missed what was hidden in a shallow layer of sand — the message of Shakespeare's "undiscovered country," or more commonly known as death. This is usually conveyed through images, but with this film, satire is the choice. You actually never see a word of Kendig's revelations about the CIA. Could it be so truthful that it's terrifying? Full of such lies that the agency could be ruined for nothing? We don't know. 10/10.

The '70s had seen a number of movies dealing with suspicion of the government ("The Parallax View", "Three Days of the Condor", etc), and so "Hopscotch" plays it for laughs. Walter Matthau plays a CIA agent who decides to rat on the CIA, KGB, etc. Much of the movie has the CIA chasing him all over the place, while he outwits them at every turn. And there's a lot of great classical music every step of the way, as well as some great scenery. I wouldn't say that I had a specific favorite scene, but I did like Matthau's escape in Georgia.It's just a funny movie, and I really liked it. Also starring are Glenda Jackson, Ned Beatty, Sam Waterston and Herbert Lom (the police chief in the Pink Panther movies). Director Ronald Neame also directed "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" and "The Poseidon Adventure".

Walter Matthau is as clever as ever in this 1980 film. The problem with this that after the plot is announced, the movie becomes tedious at best.Matthau is the zany CIA man who is demoted and decides to write a tell-all book which is quite damaging to the agency. He meets his match in acting with Ned Beatty as the head of the bureau. Beatty knows how to use that salty language and whoever made his hairdo should have received some sort of award. His hair is arranged as if it's in a flower pot.Glenda Jackson, already a 2 time Oscar winner by the time this picture was made, plays his ex-CIA girlfriend who aids him in his attempt to allude everyone.There are some funny scenes but there is only so far you can go with such a plot.

I doubt anyone will read this far into the reviews, but for the record I felt I had to contribute. We all of us watch many, many movies, and some of us feel motivated to review some or all of them no matter the quality. I HAD TO REVIEW THIS, despite the fact I seldom bother, for I genuinely feel it was a delight. Previous reviewers will provide the details, and for example, the first review by dbborroughs has it completely right: wholesome, intelligent fun that is so seldom achieved by more "modern" movies that seem compelled to add gratuitous violence, explosions, one-liners, etc. There are shortcomings that could be improved, of course, but in the end they don't matter. The viewer is left with a smile that didn't depend on potty jokes or shock tactics for stimulation. Brilliant. The overall work is a true gem. Enjoy!