everything you have heard about this movie is true.

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

This movie has two of my absolute favorites: quietly intense and sexy Pierce Brosnan and beautiful, exciting Hong Kong. It is set during a time in Hong Kong's history that is nervous with China breathing down its neck ready to absorb the wealth, class and beauty of the colony. Noble House is in between the ritualistic past and growing wealthy present. Brosnan, one of my preferred James Bonds, is featured driving, wining and dining American business execs who barely comprehend what Hong Kong is about. The problem I find in this film, based on a novel, is I suspect the same problem in the novel: the author throws in predictable plot beats, lots of action visual tricks--fire, flood, sex, the usual--so that overall it is cheap plot. Easily predictable and almost stale. But then there is Hong Kong and Pierce Brosnan's handful masterful presence. Worth the trip. The difference between the main women characters hits you in the face - one American the other Eur-Asian. That feels honest though a bit dated. The acting is fine and to be congratulated.

I have watched this movie several times on VHS. But, I want to have it in the DVD mode. I cannot find the DVD version in the United States. It is available in Australia, shipped to the USA, BUT, they have a RED flag, saying that it can not be viewed, or played with Canada, or USA sold DVD players. Can you help me here, or, at least point me to someone that can enlighten me as to why the USA, does not have it available in the DVD Format. I appreciate any help that you may offer. I have spoken to several other viewers of this movie and they would also like the DVD version. The problem is, we do not know where to go, or whom to contact. I feel that this e-mail, is an excellent review on this Movie. I like to view such excellent movies again and again.Perry Paradise

I still remember looking forward anxiously to seeing this miniseries when it first aired -- I had considered "Noble House" James Clavell's masterpiece, even greater than "Shogun." I had come away from reading the book with the sense of knowing the characters as if they were real people, and missing them when the book was finished.In some cases, the characterizations in the miniseries hit the mark. Pierce Brosnan does an excellent job as the supremely self-confident Ian Dunross, John Rhys-Davies gives a truly inspired performance of charming villainy as Quillan Gornt, Burt Kwouk is very convincing as the compradore of the Noble House, and Gordon Jackson did a fine turn as the committed, conflicted Superintendent Armstrong. I also thought Julia Nickson Soul really heated up the screen; she was much better than a young Tia Carrere (in her pre-"Wayne's World" days).Unfortunately, I thought the American performances were weak. Deborah Raffin was OK as K.C. Tcholok, but I would have preferred it if they had stuck to the story and not had her wind up romantically involved with Ian Dunross. The weakest in my opinion, though, was Ben Masters as Linc Bartlett. While Mr. Masters may be a good actor, I didn't think he carried this role off very well. In the book, Bartlett is a cool, calculating, and yet personable man who comes across as opportunistic but respectful of Hong Kong business and cultural traditions. Clavell wrote him as a friendly, likable man who moves easily into the circles of power in the Colony but who is an unknown, unpredictable quantity to all of the vying factions. I thought that Mr. Masters overplayed the part as too cocky, too brash, and too shallow to be a likable or sympathetic figure. In the novel, I thought Bartlett was an intriguing character on a par with Dunross. In the miniseries, I generally thought he was just a jerk.That aside, while the miniseries has to trim a lot of the interesting sub-plots in the interest of time, it does a good job of remaining true to the spirit of Clavell's novel. I'd agree with the observation that you should watch the miniseries, then read the novel to see what the story was REALLY about.

We all know the wonderful Pierce Brosnan as agent 007 of her Majesty's Secret Service. Perhaps no actor has grasped Bond as well as Brosnan, excluding the magnificent and underrated George Lazenby.In "Noble House" Brosnan has not fully developed his current brilliant acting "chops" but his performance is a tour de force nonetheless. His portrayal of Ian Dunross, the new "taipan", is nothing short of astouning. Dunross is a formidable character both in and out of the boardroom, and bedroom for that matter as the dazzling Deborah Raffin learns later on (Casey). With an elegant arch of an eyebrow Brosnan conveys more emotion and feeling than most actors dream of in a career. Most impressive is Brosnan's golf swing on the links.Speaking of Links, Linc Bartlett is one of the more enjoyable characters to grace the silver screen as he romances the devishly seductive Claudia Chen. Hong Kong has not seen fireworks like this since the British gained control of the economy.Perhaps the most pleasant surprise is the work of Gordon Armstrong as gruff Superintendent Jackson, a gruff Scotland veteran who has seen too many capers to know that in high stakes market of Hong Kong, a big gain is usually followed by a huge loss in human life.Ooh I almost forgot the magnificent work of the always captivating John Rhys Davies who commands the screen like a Roman General, and I quote "The Ho-Pak, a smaller bank....let me offer you a chance to see how the market works, Casey....."Noble House is an instant classic that ages as well as the incomprehensible Brosnan. KUDOS TO THE ENTIRE CAST!!