6 replies to this topic

[tim partridge]

I adore this John Landis comedy, which satirizes the Star Wars program and Reaganism in general. Yes, it's crude and slapstick for the most part, with Dan Ackroyd and Chevy Chase as a mid 80s Crosby and Hope, but there's some witty bits and pieces in here that I think summed up the feelings of the late Cold War 1980s pretty well. There seems to be nothing but contempt for Reagan himself, as we see an excerpt from Reagan performing in the movie musical SHE'S WORKING HER WAY THROUGH COLLEGE, we also see the Star Wars program depicted as a pinball game in outta space, US foreign relations are visibly at a low point and throughout the president and his likeness are used for general comic effect.

There are endless amounts of cameos from beginning to end of SPIES LIKE US. Everyone from Ray Harryhausen, Derek Meddings and Terry Gilliam to Frank Oz and Sam Raimi are in here.

There are several links to genuine 007 here, from Derek Meddings' largely invisible visual effects work (some of the best of his career) and Peter Murton's typically pretty production design (shot at Pinewood, no less) to Paul McCartney's fun title track (which I doubt anyone remembers and it's produced by past Bond name Phil Ramone http://www.youtube.c...feature=related )! I'm also pretty sure the "Russian" actors in this were probably used in a few Bond movies. Even Bernie Casey pops up as a military instructor.

MICHAEL APTED also makes a brief cameo!

Any other fans of this film out there?

[ACE]

I saw it at the cinema!
Not really a fan of the film but it was good fun.
Yes, and the cameos are funny!
Remember, John Landis also wrote a treatment for SWLM.

I remember the Macca theme song - makes the Frog Chorus sound like Vivaldi.
"Ooh, ooh, whadaya do?"

And what about Condorman?

[tim partridge]

Condorman deserves it's own thread!!!!!

[Professor Dent]

I enjoyed this movie - just good fun. It is in desperate need of a good DVD release, though.

[tim partridge]

Agreed (although I think it'd look rather rough on Blu-Ray).

Some of the best moments in the film involve that command base underneath the drive in movie theatre. The various miniature shots of that locking up and unravelling the laser pulse gun and board are astonishingly convincing. As I mentioned before as well, Peter Murton's design work is very inspired (although most of the army training scenes are quite clearly Black Park and the Pinewood backlot).

I wish Charles McKeown did more acting roles.

[TheSaint]

I, too, saw it in the theater-big Chevy Chase fan. Not as good as some of his other films but it had its moments. Loved the theme song by Paul McCartney. The only cameo I caught was the obvious one-Bob Hope. Didn't realize it was so chock full of cameos. I heard that it was originally supposed to be an Ackroyd/Belushi pairing.

[Blofeld's Cat]

Also love the McCartney tune, but love the score by Elmer Bernstein as well. Can't remember much about the actual movie though. I feel guilty, sorry.