From my favorite movies..

The movie runs out of plot and jokes well before the end of a two-hour running time, long for a light comedy.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

(68%) Before the days of the Expendables movies came this all-star action adventure featuring a cast on the more ripe end of the life line. This really is a red blooded slice of beef of a film meaning there's tons of action that doesn't shy away from the blood and guts of combat and there's a great feel of one of those old war comic books about it. Despite the really strong cast this is a film you watch more the action than the performances and the fact that it tells its simple plot so effectively. Without doubt this is one of the better men on a mission movies and well worth tracking down for all true action film fans.

I first saw this movie with my Dad in 1978 when I was twelve and when it first came out in the theaters in the US; and, to this day...I still love it! It's a very radically and racially-driven movie of a time that most Africans, and, people in general, wish to forget (Apartheid); but, it's also a movie that tells about how all of the 'rich people' in the world, along with governments, took advantage of, and, preyed-upon, Africa and her people and resources. Much like in China in the early 1900s - ("55 Days at Peking;" "The Sand Pebbles;" etc.).This is a movie, 'no matter what anyone may think,' that simply shows how 'outside' interests in the resources of a nation or continent in turmoil can so-easily be taken advantage of when they are most vulnerable. No one 'in power' cared about the rescue of President Limbani, even the rich British banker (Stewart Granger...a great actor) who paid for his rescue, unless it paid-off. That was just an excuse...a dupe, to make himself look good' and, if it worked, to also make himself even more rich! All that the rich banker cared about was getting hold of the copper concessions that he could acquire by rescuing this President. But, once another deal was struck, the banker dissolved 'everything.' leaving Colonel Faulkner and his men stranded in Africa and at the mercy of the now-government he'd invaded.Sure...Colonel Faulkner (Richard Burton) cared so much so long as he's paid to lead the 'mercenary' rescue (but...he cares GREATLY for his men); Lieutenant Shawn Fynn (Roger Moore) took this job to get out of Mafia trouble, but, he has a good heart and cares for and protects people; Lieutenant Pieter Coetzee (Hardy Kruger) also has a big heart, an open mind, and, despite political views, made friends with President Limbani, and, they came to trust one-another; Captain Rafer Janders (Richard Harris) is and always was a great supporter of President Limbani, and, a great and honorable man and soldier.This movie is of political and worldwide 'life,' then and now; and, in a thousand years from now! It's GREED without empathy or sympathy, no matter the stakes or losses to others! It's a world with only greed! A world that has no room for soft feelings, especially for other people!?!? This movie is a must-see, no matter how sad it is politically or ethically...it's true in it's depiction of callous politics and the bloodthirsty rich! :(

I remember trying to watch the Wild Geese in the past and finding it not particularly interesting or rewarding to watch. However, when I saw it recently on TV, I found it thoroughly gripping and surprisingly realistic. What has changed? Certainly by comparison with modern action movies, with their emphasis on big budget CGI special effects and bare-chested muscle bound bellicosity, a film like this which attempts characterisation and some political exploration is a breath of fresh air. Or perhaps, now I am older myself, I can feel greater sympathy to the aging cast of dinosaurs.The film starts badly with the awful and jarring theme song along with images of Africa which seem lifted from a Save The Children advert. Not the best way to start an adventure and action film, but then The Wild Geese does present itself as having a social conscience.The interaction between the characters is convincing throughout. Some of the lines seem tailor made for the actors, such as Burton riffing on his fondness for alcohol for instance. It does the film credit that it manages mostly to avoid stereotypes. Yes, the gay character is played a little too campy for my tastes, but he is shown as being capable and heroic, as indeed is the 'token' black guy. Maybe the somewhat racist South African is too easily swayed by the noble African leader by this is a film after all, and it does manage to put a reasonable amount of subtle conversation between the two.The action is at times brutal and quite realistic.

Irrestible boy's own in the mould of "Where Eagles Dare" and "The Guns of Navarone", has an enviable quartet of actors (Burton, Harris, Moore and Kruger) teaming up to free a captive political prisoner and Prime Minister (Ntshona) from a rebel stronghold in central Africa. Things go awry however when their escape route is blocked, and the elite team of somewhat ageing specialists must improvise an exit through treacherous terrain.Stewart Granger co-stars as the swarthy financier who convinces Burton to take on the supposedly straight-forward mission, while among the quartet's faithful crew are stalwarts Kenneth Griffith, Jack Watson (as a barking sergeant-major), Ronald Fraser and Percy Herbert. Watch closely and you'll see beauty Valerie Leon as a casino dealer, Barry Foster as Granger's right-hand man, and even Jeff Corey as a mob boss. It's an eclectic cast of serious depth.Spawning two sequels, and headlined by a James Bond-esque eponymous theme song, "The Wild Geese" is an easy-viewing, uncomplicated action-war movie with a couple of sentimental moments (e.g. Harris' agreement with Burton, or the budding friendship between Kruger and Ntshona) and plenty of good old-fashioned up the British heroics. It also puts to bed any notion that elite soldiers of fortune can't be played by a "Dad's Army" of forty and fifty-somethings who can still get the job done and not embarrass themselves in the process. If only they could've found roles for Oliver Reed and Peter O'Toole, we'd have had a very well-stocked bar.