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Royal Flash [DVD] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
Our Price: £7.12 (subject to change)
Good books, crummy movie Review date: 2010-08-22 Rating: 4 out of 10
I am forced to cast my vote with those in Amazon US who regard this movie as a failure.
To me, the film fails on two counts. The first failure relates to the general approach. How in heaven's name did G. M. Fraser, the author of the wonderfully amusing black comedy novels about that magnificent anti-hero of anti-heroes, General Sir Harry Flashman, come to write such a feeble, would-be action comedy and lowly farcical screen adaptation for this movie?
The other failure, and vastly the worse of the two, is the utterly appalling miscasting of Malcolm McDowell as Harry Flashman. The Flashman of the books, a man who cheerfully admits to no virtues whatsoever, is widely admired as a staunch and true hero of Little Vickie's Empire entirely because he looks just like a hero ought to look. Malcolm McDowell most emphatically does not. He looks like ... well, Malcolm McDowell.
First-rate books, third-rate movie. Too bad and two stars.
ReviewsA GOOD FILM BUT...Review date: 2010-06-30 Rating: 8 out of 10This film is beautiful to look at.The sets and scenery are stunning and it is full of cameos from some of the finest British actors of the time,look out for Our 'Enry Cooper as John Gully.I'm afraid Malcom McDowell ain't Flashman and Alan Bates does'nt put on a convincing Rudy.If you have'nt read the books you will love this film,but for hardcore fans it falls well short.A lot better than nothing, but not as good as it could have beenReview date: 2009-04-20 Rating: 8 out of 10As a long time fan of the Flashman books, I was happy to find this was available, although only as a Region 1 NTSC disc. The film itself is enjoyable, but differs from the original novel in having far more moments of pure slapstick farce - something that I understand George MacDonald Fraser (the author) was not entirely pleased about. But as he also wrote the screenplay for the film, maybe he should have insisted more strongly that it was true to his book?
There are definite similarities in style to the Musketeer films, on which he also worked with director Richard Lester, with set-piece comedic sword-fights, strange mechanical contrivances and appearances by a number of well-loved British actors - Alastair Sim, Bob Hoskins and David Jason to name but three.
So, to sum up, it's a shame that it isn't more like the book, but as it is the only Flashman novel to be made into a film (so far), we have to be thankful for what we can get.Hilarious romp!Review date: 2007-08-11 Rating: 8 out of 10Glad this film has finally arrived on DVD. Malcolm McDowell is excellent as Harry Flashman and the rest of the cast is star-studded. Bob Hoskins, Alastair Sim and David Jason have small roles but Alan Bates and Oliver Reed have larger parts to play in a conspiracy plot.
Includes the classic line from McDowell: 'Never hit a man when he's down - he may get up!'ONE OF THE GREAT LOST 1970's BRITISH FILMSReview date: 2007-05-21 Rating: 10 out of 10THIS FILM WAS OVERLOOKED ON RELEASE BUT IS A GEM. A FABULOUS CAST FROM THE STARS LIKE ALAN BATES AND MALCOLM MCDOWELL, OLIVER REED AND JOSS ACKLAND, BRITT EKLAND AND HENRY COOPER, MICHAEL HORDERN AND LIONEL JEFFRIES, TO THE CAMEOS FROM DAVID JASON AND BOB HOSKINS IN THEIR EARLIEST ROLES. DIRECTED BY RICHARD LESTER AT THE PEAK OF HIS POWERS. IT'S A ROMP, A HISTORY LESSON AND A BLOOMIN' GOOD FILM.
Product Details/SpecificationsActor(s): Malcolm McDowell Alan Bates Florinda Bolkan Oliver Reed Tom Bell Creators: Malcolm McDowell (Primary Contributor) Alan Bates (Primary Contributor) Geoffrey Unsworth (Cinematographer) John Victor-Smith (Editor) David V. Picker (Producer) Denis O'Dell (Producer) George MacDonald Fraser (Writer) Thomas Hughes (Writer) Director(s):
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Recording label: 20th Century Fox Manufacturer: 20th Century FoxEAN: 0024543425410Binding: DVDNumber of items: 1Format: Colour, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC, Release date: 2007-04-03Universal product code (UPC): 024543425410Number of discs: 1Aspect ratio: 16:9 - 1.85:1Audience rating: Parental GuidanceRegion code: 1Running time: 102 minutesLanguage: English (Original Language)
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