In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

"The Dogs of War" of 1974 is an early third world action film that combines several themes. A tyrant is in control of the fictitious African country of Zangaro. The local people are oppressed. A British mining company eyes the country for its deposits of a rare mineral. A rebel leader in exile has designs on a coup and taking over the rule of the country. The industrialists and he strike up a deal. The mining group hires Jammie Shannon to organize and lead a mercenary force to overthrow the reigning tyrant, and install the new tyrant who will be friendly to the money mongers. Shannon goes to the country to scout it out and he is tortured by the leader's henchmen. So, he also has a personal score to settle. Christopher Walken plays Shannon, and he assembles a group of former fellow mercenaries. They do the job, but it's not quite how the exiled rebel leader, the mining moguls or the reigning tyrant expected. For all of their killing and mayhem, the mercenaries have something of a code of ethics. The personal danger in films like this is that a person may find oneself applauding or favoring the killing of many people. However bad they are, this is violence on a large scale. Walken and the entire cast do very well in this action thriller. It was filmed in Belize. The movie is based on a novel by British author Frederick Forsyth (born Aug. 25, 1938). He is one of the more popular authors of crime-suspense-thriller-action stories on whose books movies have been made since the third quarter of the last century. Two other such authors are John le Carré and John Grisham. Forsyth had considerable experiences and background in the milieu in which his novels are set. Forsyth was an RAF fighter pilot during the Cold War, and is a former newspaper reporter and spy. He joined Reuters news service in 1961 and the BBC in 1965. During that time, he served as an assistant diplomatic correspondent. He had covered the Nigerian civil war in 1967 when the BBC decided to end its coverage in favor of the growing coverage of the Viet Nam war. So, Forsyth quit the BBC and returned to Biafra on his own. He spent two years reporting on and observing that civil war as he wrote his first book. During that time and for some 20 years, he worked as a spy for M16 British Intelligence. Several of Forsyth's books have been made into movies – some with considerable alteration. His books have sold more than 70 million copies. The fictional country in this movie is based upon Equatorial Guinea, which once was a Spanish colony. Among Forsyth's other best- selling novels that have been made into movies are "The Odessa File" in 1974, "The Fourth Protocol" in 1987, "The Day of the Jackal" in 1997, the TV movie, "Icon," in 2005, and "Avenger," another TV movie in 2006.The expression "dogs of war" may first have been used by William Shakespeare. It appears in a line from his 1599 play, "Julius Caesar." In Act III, Scene 1, Antony bereaves the murder of Caesar and says loudly toward the end, "Cry 'Havoc!' and let slip the dogs of war." Another film, about WW II, used part of this same line. "Cry Havoc" of 1943 was about the Army nurses on Bataan who were caring for the Allied wounded and who became prisoners of the Japanese.

Frederick Forsyth's book 'The Dogs Of War' is one of his best, well-written books with unbelievably detailed descriptions of what it might take to carry out a coup d'état. Apart from a fantastic story, there's a level of detail and knowledge of arms, procedures of acquiring them that make the story seem very real and intriguing.I watched this movie recently, and for the first time. I had high expectations going in, as I'm a huge admirer of all literal works of Frederick Forsyth. It could have been a great movie, given the source material. I understand that book adaptations are not easy and a lot of detail is expected to be lost, plots have to be reduced to fit in the entire story in a space of 2 hours. I was also excited because it stars Christopher Walken in the lead and he's just brilliant.The movie made deviations from the book and in the beginning, they were OK. The setting was different, the characters' back stories were different but then the movie started chopping down everything, skipping on incredibly important elements of the story - the entire thread of the discovery of precious metal reserves worth over $10 billion, leading to corporate interests in overthrowing President Kimba of fictitious country Zangaro in West Africa, was reduced to a 10 second telephonic conversation.The sub-plot with the ex-wife was an unnecessary deviation as well and it was probably done to give a more 'human' face to mercenary Jamie Shannon. A big part of the book was spent in describing how the team of mercenaries prepare for an assault on Clarence, the capital of Zangaro to overthrow Kimba. That part in the film felt really rushed through, with everything covered in about 10 minutes. That aspect of the book was one of the entertaining bits and makes for the perfect buildup to the climax. In the movie, it could have done wonders if done well.Then came the final assault itself, bereft of any suspense and so ridiculous that it could have been out of any Chuck Norris action movie. Here's where the film especially failed the source material. Hardly any buildup or thrill and then, when the dust settles down, it all ends too quickly. In summary, the movie had all the ingredients to be a classic but just messed up the recipe. Walken is fantastic, but the other characters barely leave an impression. If you've not read the book, its still good enough for a Saturday afternoon watch. But, the fans of the book will know a great opportunity has been missed.

Christopher Walken plays ruthless mercenary Jamie Shannon, who is hired by a British mining company to lead a revolution in an African nation to overthrow the dictator, so that they can install their own leader, who is friendly to their interests. Things go wrong and Shannon is captured and beaten, though manages to escape, and vows to return, seeking vengeance, though again this doesn't go as planned either...Based on a novel By Frederick Forsyth, this adaptation falls short of his other two films("The Day Of The Jackal" & "The Odessa File"). Characters are unsympathetic, and action scenes are pretty routine, though the acting is fine, film is just mostly forgettable.

Around the world there are countries which rise and fall to the sound of bullets and bombs. Some countries are so unstable they are called LP records as their countries have a revolution every 33 and a 1/3 minutes. Thus the work of the mercenary is never finished. This movie is called " The Dogs of War " and stars one of the best dramatic actors to date. Many recall his work in ' The Deer Hunter.' In this story Christopher Walken is James Shannon an experienced soldier of fortune and Mercenary for hire. Although he is visibly disenchanted with his work, he takes his doctor's medical advice seriously. The doctor has warned him after his last torturous encounter with the enemy, he has taken a lot of years off his life. To that end, he hopes to take on one more job which may give him enough money to retire. This film tells the story of a group of greedy but traitorous wealthy financiers who hope to stage a Coup d'etat to overthrow president Kimba (Illario Bisi Pedro) of Zangora and replace him with Col Bobi (George Harris) an equally despicable character. Entrusted with the job, Shannon assembles his elite mercenary team which includes Tom Berenger as Drew, a moderate candidate called Dr. Okoye (Winston Ntshona) and a well trained Cuban force of Zangora rebels. If they fail and be captured, they will all be shot and killed. The film is well directed by John Irvin and written by Frederic Forsyth. There is a well charged atmosphere and Walken gives a most stirring performance, together the end result is nothing short of a war Classic. Well done! ****