ffolkes

There’s a certain unabashed cheesiness to this late '70s action flick. It is, without a doubt, a product of its time—and thus comes to us today, if you have the right frame of mind, with a dose of retro appeal. Most of the production is, compared with modern action movies, remarkably low-key; perhaps even low-rent is a term that would fit. Mostly, this flick is notable the venue for as one of Roger Moore’s best roles. As the title character--a strange, misogynistic, cat-loving Scottish naval special ops soldier--Moore gives a fun, standout performance, smart and arch and entertaining through and through. The plot is almost irrelevant, except to provide co-star Anthony Perkins an opportunity to chew the nautical scenery as the lead criminal. Mostly, this is just an enjoyable ride from back in the day when the UK was still a great power and the idea of a gang holding its oil production hostage would have been considered a stage for heavy, international drama. They don’t make 'em like this anymore; it’s up to you to decide if that’s good or not. From this viewer's perspective, we’re not necessarily missing that time, but then again it’s nice to visit there once in a while. (Note: IMDB has this listed as "North Sea Hijack," without any reference to its original title. I distinctly remember it being named "ffolkes" due to the noticeable lowercase lettering and unusual double-f name--but you might find it under the other title if not the original.)