51 replies to this topic

[DLibrasnow]

I was chatting to a colleague of mine here in the office and we got talking about The Saint TV series. My colleague said that as much as he liked Rogers performance, he preferred Val Kilmer in the movie version. I don't know if he was kidding or not (because I hated the movie) -- what are peoples thoughts on the Val Kilmer movie?

[homerjbond]

The movie was rubbish - regretfully, I never watch the TV series, but I have a feeling the movie has nothing to do with the series...

[DLibrasnow]

It's based on the same character.

[BONDFINESSE 007]

roger moore is the better of the two, no contest

[Simon]

Originally posted by DLibrasnow
It's based on the same character.

Well, it's based on the same name.

Nothing more and nothing less.

Indeed, the main character could and should have been called something else. It was a blatant case of selling a movie on a familiar name with no respect given to the source.

They even had Robert Baker (from the Moore days) as an Exec Producer, but he was quoted as saying it pointless him being there.

[Mister Asterix]

I have a preference for Ian Ogilvy myself, but Roger was fantastic. Val’s ‘Saint’ sucked rocks.

[Simon]

Val's attempt was probably due more to the entire story than his performance per se. In terms of what he was given, he did OK.

The root source of the trouble was, I believe, Noyce the director who was guiding how this movie should be. Unforgiveable pap, he only redeemed himself in my eyes with that Australian "Fence" movie - the name escapes me.

[Jaelle]

There's absolutely ZERO comparison between the two. Kilmer has no style, no class, no panache, no grace, no wit, no charm, no presence, no charisma, zilch, nada, zip. Plus the movie sucked in its totality.

Moore just has to stand there and look at grass growing -- he's genetically wired with all the above qualities. And then, of course, he's got THAT VOICE!

[JimmyBond]

I'm going to look it up myself, but I've never seen the Saint tv show with Moore (did see a TV movie though) and I'm not sure of the differences between the two entities (the movie, and the show, that is) aside from the fact that they are different.

[killkenny kid]

It's Roger Moore in a land-slide.

[1q2w3e4r]

Roger's without a doubt.

However, the film The Saint is really a prequil to the television series in the sense that the main character isn't really Simon Templer till the end of the movie. It's Noyce way of explaining how Roger managed to have no job or foreseeable income and stay in lavish hotels spend money like no tomorrow and solve mysteries in his free time.

The film was good, its really a depiction of a character's journey to turn himself into something better. But no doubt still Roger.

[4 Ur Eyez Only]

well I never saw the tv show.. but I did see some of the movie on HBO and I thought it was really really bad! I just turned it off

[4 Ur Eyez Only]

wow .. I just read in the IMDB that Roger was in The Saint move.. as a "voice"

he was "Voice on Car Radio "

Did anyone catch that?? I didn't see the whole movie, when did that happen... maybe I'll rent it for free at the library and fastforward to that part

does anyone know ??

thanks:cool:

[1q2w3e4r]

Yeah he is. I forgot all about that. Haven't watched it in a while. He plays the radio annoucer who talks about cold fusion. It's the last 30 seconds of the film while Kilmer is driving the Volvo

[Jaelle]

George Sanders is the only other actor who rivals Roger Moore as The Saint. He made a series of films in the 30s. No one was ever as suave and cool as George!

[DLibrasnow]

Originally posted by 4 Ur Eyez Only
wow .. I just read in the IMDB that Roger was in The Saint move.. as a "voice"

he was "Voice on Car Radio "

Did anyone catch that?? I didn't see the whole movie, when did that happen... maybe I'll rent it for free at the library and fastforward to that part

Yes, this got a lot of publicity at the time of the movies actual theatrical release - it was a nice touch!

[Turn]

Moore by a landslide. He is the Saint. Kilmer was just borrowing the title for his film.

[4 Ur Eyez Only]

Originally posted by Turn
Moore by a landslide. He is the Saint. Kilmer was just borrowing the title for his film.

yeah it kinda seemed like a Mission Impossible.. kinda sorta

[Tanger]

I'm quite a big fan of the television series The Saint and recently decided to see the film and was expecting a load of rubbish. I absolutely loved it, I thought it was great and in some ways just a feature length episode of the show. I think the Moore episodes and the Kilmer film deserve equal credit as they were both great.
I never really though much of Ian Ogilvy in that whole 'Return of the Saint' series and I haven't seen the Sander's films but I have know of their existance.

What do people find so wrong with the movie? I thought it was a nice little 'homage' to the series.

[Tanger]

I loved the way that they decided to pepper the theme throughout the score rather than use it all the time and then just have the Orbital remix at the end. That was great, although his car horn that played the theme was a little too much. Using the halo was good aswell. I was waiting the whole movie for that and they do it right at the end.

I remember at the beginning of the movie, I was thinking about Moore's cameo. I said to myself 'I know he's here somewhere but where?'. By the end I was so enthralled by the movie that I forgot to look and then at the end I heard the radio voice and immediatley knew who it was. Those are the best cameos I think, audio rather than visual as they're harder to spot for some people and i bet most people who've seen the movie don't even get that bit.
Yeah, on the whole it's a great movie.

[Dunph]

Originally posted by Simon:
he only redeemed himself in my eyes with that Australian "Fence" movie - the name escapes me

Rabbit Proof Fence. Great Film.

The only good thing to come out of The Saint movie wise was the Orbital remix, IMHO.

[Robinson]

Originally posted by 1q2w3e4r
Roger's without a doubt.

However, the film The Saint is really a prequil to the television series in the sense that the main character isn't really Simon Templer till the end of the movie. It's Noyce way of explaining how Roger managed to have no job or foreseeable income and stay in lavish hotels spend money like no tomorrow and solve mysteries in his free time.

The film was good, its really a depiction of a character's journey to turn himself into something better. But no doubt still Roger.

I never thought of the film that way.

To it's credit, the film's production design, costuming, locations, soundtrack and score were one of the best of the 90's IMHO.

And I'm getting that Volvo C70 (hardtop)before I get old:cool:

[Turn]

Originally posted by Tanger
I'm quite a big fan of the television series The Saint and recently decided to see the film and was expecting a load of rubbish. I absolutely loved it, I thought it was great and in some ways just a feature length episode of the show. I think the Moore episodes and the Kilmer film deserve equal credit as they were both great.
I never really though much of Ian Ogilvy in that whole 'Return of the Saint' series and I haven't seen the Sander's films but I have know of their existance.

What do people find so wrong with the movie? I thought it was a nice little 'homage' to the series.

I enjoyed the film for what it was -- an updated version of a brand name. It wasn't the disaster many television shows-turned-movies have been. Most fans are pretty hard on it, but it was a good time-passer I wouldn't mind having in my DVD collection.

But it was pretty predicatable in a lot of spots and seemed more focused on trying to be like Bond than The Saint. Kilmer's brooding character was nothing like the devil-may-care Saint Moore played and was less fun. Therefore, the film can't compete with my enthusiasm for the classic Roger episodes. As I said in another thread, the film was fine as a one-off, but The Saint would work best in a television series revival.

[Tanger]

Turn if you are interested in the DVD check out Play.com it's only

[goldengun]

Originally posted by Jaelle
George Sanders is the only other actor who rivals Roger Moore as The Saint.  He made a series of films in the 30s.  No one was ever as suave and cool as George!

Was George Sanders the same guy as in "All About Eve"?

Was he also the guy who played Mr. Freeze on the good Batman TV series?

ALso, I like Val KIlmer's movie. Interestingly, the ending credits song was done by a later version of Duran Duran (a little side note to DLS).

But I like Roger Moore's version, he was calm, cool, sophisticated, and of course, smack in the middle handsome.

[Jaelle]

Originally posted by goldengun
Was George Sanders the same guy as in "All About Eve"?
Was he also the guy who played Mr. Freeze on the good Batman TV series?

Yes to both. He usually played villains. Brillian man, Sanders. Knew several languages, a very talented writer, he was a genius in some ways.

ALso, I like Val KIlmer's movie.[/B]

I just couldn't work up any interest in the Kilmer movie. It doesn't help that I just don't like Val Kilmer, so that pretty much prevents me to get any enjoyment out of it.

But I like Roger Moore's version, he was calm, cool, sophisticated, and of course, smack in the middle handsome.[/B]

Well, my mom and I fell madly in love with Roger in The Saint. He'll always have a place in my heart.

[DieAnotherDay57]

Well i like the movie the saint and I even own it on dvd , but I like the tv series as well. So i dont know which one i like better .

[Simon]

Originally posted by Dunphboy007

Rabbit Proof Fence. Great Film.

The only good thing to come out of The Saint movie wise was the Orbital remix, IMHO.

That's the fella, yes it was a good film.

And yes, the Orbital track was good. Did you get the CD single with Sinner included. That was a bruiser of a track - very good. Not used in the movie.

Otherwise, if the film had been called Thief or something like that without the Saint connections, it probably would have been classed as a good stand alone film. I'm sure the ambivalence (at best) is down to the confusion over what was being sold to the audience.

[Tanger]

Simon could you give me more information on 'Sinner'. It sounds interesting and something I'd like to get hold of. Is it another re-interpretation of the Saint theme or a different track all together?

[Simon]

It's a long track, from memory 10mins or so, different entirely but which does include elements of the Saint theme.

That may sound confusing. Whereas the other track is a reworking of the Saint theme, Sinner has its own identity but is recognisable with Saintly elements.

It is powerful and thumping without being overbearing. To be honest, I can't remember whether I still have it as my flat was burgled some time ago - all they took was CDs (!!)

I've just checked Amazon and you can buy it there from the exorbitant fee of just 0.70p.

Erm, I'd say it was worth it. Let me know how you get on.