22 replies to this topic

[The Girl With The Golden Gun]

Hmm, doesn't have the same ring to it as "Bond...James Bond", does it?

Did anyone else see the tongue in cheek action/adventure film "North Sea Hijack" (to give it it's US title, "Folkes") on ITV last night? I thought it would be a laugh to see Roger Moore playing against type as a cat-loving woman hater, (and sadly to see Tony Perkins again pigeonholed as another forgettable, generic madman villain) but then realised how many subtle similarities between Bond and Ffolkes there actually were, such as the strict sense of discipline (Bond thrives on action and Ffolkes runs a crack team of divers), taste for alcohol (Ffolkes drinks neat scotch while Bond has the obligatory Vodka martini shaken not stirred, and in those forms only) and even sexism! :eek:

I even spotted a few cast from previous Bonds, such as David Hedison (Felix) and George Baker (Sable Basilisk).

One more thing, has anyone seen Michael Powell's 1960 shocker "Peeping Tom"? If so, then they might find it ironic that the guy who played Inspector Gregg (Jack Watson) was being hijacked by America's answer to Mark Lewis, Norman Bates (aka Tony Perkins)...

Sorry to ramble on, but despite its cheesiness and predictabllity i thought this was such an interesting film - brainless fun, with a few interesting points along the way!

[Dunph]

I thought it was a fun film, Roger Moore on occasion at top comedic form, helped me while away two hours nicely. I mainly watched it for the good cast and the few who were from Bond. Like you said, fairly brainless fun.

And wasn't George Baker Sir Hilary Bray?

[scaramanga]

Originally posted by Dunphboy007

And wasn't George Baker Sir Hilary Bray?

Yes, but Sable Basilisk was his title at the Royal College of Arms. George Baker was also Captain Benson in The Spy Who Loved Me.

[Dunph]

So Sable Basilisk was a title and not a name?

[Bryce (003)]

Ffolkes rocks. Damn good fun and Rog is soooooANTI-Bond.

Folkes: You can brief me while we have a drink.

Admiral: Bit early isn't it?

Folkes: It's been 4 hours since breakfast...That's late.

CHEERS!

[Xenobia]

I gotta rent this movie...it sounds like fun. What sort of extras does the DVD have.

-- Xen

[DLibrasnow]

I love this movie....it's one of my favorite Roger Moore pictures...

The DVD doesn't really have any extras to speak of Xen, but its definately worth a rental...

[The Girl With The Golden Gun]

actually, i don't think it has any extras at all! it's just been released on DVD here in the UK and there are no details as to what extras are encluded.

Glad to see someone else likes it, i was watching it for Tony Perkins (interesting actor) myself, but Roger was great all the same!!

[DLibrasnow]

It's always been a favorite of mine TGWTGG

[Genrewriter]

I think the R1 edition is the standard MGM catalogue release with just a trailer. Soon as I can get a bit more money in the account, I might grab it. I remember seeing it once or twice as a kid and enjoying it.

[DLibrasnow]

Originally posted by Genrewriter
I think the R1 edition is the standard MGM catalogue release with just a trailer.  Soon as I can get a bit more money in the account, I might grab it.  I remember seeing it once or twice as a kid and enjoying it.

I don't believe that "Ffolkes" is an MGM release.

[Genrewriter]

You're right, the film was a Universal release but I'm almost certain I saw it was going to be an MGM dvd release. Maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me, a definite possibility.

[DLibrasnow]

Originally posted by Genrewriter
You're right, the film was a Universal release but I'm almost certain I saw it was going to be an MGM dvd release.  Maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me, a definite possibility.

I know that here in the United States that Universal Studios is releasing the DVD.

[The Girl With The Golden Gun]

hmm, Ffolkes is certainly a universal release, i wonder if they have any links with MGM's distribution companies?

[trs007]

I don't know but I am glad it is not MGM resurrecting old movies and then releasing the DVD in FULL FRAME!!

Ffolkes is a fun film and the R1 DVD can be found quite cheaply (under $10US) through varied online retailers.

[The Girl With The Golden Gun]

hmm, i've just looked up the region 1 DVD on various websites and can't seem to find any extras aside from interactive menu's and a trailer. Look the film up on the "movies" section of www.cduniverse.com - the cover looks all mean and moody, not fitting for the tone of the film at all! i wonder, did anyone go and see this film when it was released at the cinema or remember how it was marketed?

[Tanger]

I caught this as I was flicking and it was somewhere in the middle. From what I saw I liked it and it was definitely one of Moore's stronger performances. I did notice that his character was called fFolkes and wondered if this was the same one that has been mentioned here several times. I'm definitely going to see if I can rent this so that I can see the whole thing.

[Genrewriter]

Thanks for the info, I was thinking that I made a mistake. Darn night shifts!

On another note, am I the only person who finds it amusing that interactive menus are still sometimes listed as extras? That's a little like buying a carton of milk and having the clerk tell you the carton is a bonus feature to go with the milk itself.

[Dunph]

Lol, true Genrewriter. One of the most appallingly lacking DVDs have to be the Batman series, none of which feature even a trailer! The best they can muster is production notes. DVD is meant to herald new things with the home entertainment industry.

I was thinking of buying North Sea Hijack on DVD simply for Moore's performance, does it only have a trailer as an extra?

[Genrewriter]

Unless you count the interactive menus.

[DLibrasnow]

Well in the early days of DVD, the Walt Disney company had a habit of listing the artwork on the discs themselves as a bonus feature.

Possibly the worst DVD release is the original "A Few Good Men" DVD, no special features AT ALL! Nothing, no production notes or trailer -- and the picture was terrible also...Thankfully they revisted it with a "special edition" a couple of years back!

[The Girl With The Golden Gun]

hmm, what did they add to that, "interactive menus" as a special feature? lol

[DLibrasnow]

I think they added an audio commentary....but anything was an improvement on the original bare-bones release.