This is a very simple straight-forward action flick, in line with these early Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone movies with lots of violence. There is nothing wrong with watching and enjoying such a simple action flick from time to time.
It's a kill first, then ask questions type of movie in which former hit-man Charlie Bronson is hunting a Mengele like doctor, who makes a living out of torturing people for crooked governments. Sort of funny how Bronson always played already retired persons who get drawn back in to business, from already pretty early on in the '80's, right till his death in 2003.
It's actual a real simple made movie, with a story that is very little interesting but it's just simply a movie that entertains through its very same simplicity. And well it's a Charles Bronson movie, directed by J. Lee Thompson, so obviously it's still better than the usual '80's genre attempt. But yes of course its simplicity also prevents this movie from being a really good or truly memorable genre movie.
The movie is perhaps also too lack-lusting for that. Although the movie is featuring some graphic violence, it isn't featuring an awful lot of action and I expected and was hoping for some more shooting (OK that sounded evil.). It's of course also mostly predictable and formulaic which makes this movie a bit tiresome to watch in parts. I was also hoping for some more fireworks at the ending.
Enjoyable enough to watch it but no, it by no means is a must-see obviously.
This movie was a rather odd viewing experience. The movie is obviously based on a play. Now I'm sure that everything in this movie works out just fine in a play but for in a movie it just doesn't feel terribly interesting enough to watch. The movie is way too 'stagey' and they didn't even bothered to change some of the dialog to make it more fitting for a movie. Instead what is presented now is an almost literally re-filming of a stage-play, with over-the-top characters and staged dialog. Because of all this the storyline really doesn't work out and the movie becomes an almost complete bore- and obsolete viewing experience.
It takes a while before you figure out that this is a comedy you're watching. At first you think its a drama you're watching, with quirky characters in it but as the movie progresses you'll notice that the movie is more a tragicomedy, that leans really more toward the comedy genre, rather than the drama genre.
The characters and dialog are really the things that make this movie a quirky and over-the-top one that at times really become unwatchable. Sure, the actors are great; Peter O'Toole and Susannah York, amongst others but they don't really uplift the movie to a level of 'watchable enough'.
The story feels totally disorientated. Basicaly the story is about nothing and just mainly focuses on the brother/sister characters played by Peter O'Toole and Susannah York. But what exactly is the story even about? The movie feels like a pointless and obsolete one that has very little to offer. Like I said before; I'm sure the story is good and interesting to watch on stage but as a movie it really isn't fitting and simply doesn't work out.
The editing is simply dreadful and times and it becomes even laughable bad in certain sequences.
More was to expect from director J. Lee Thompson, who has obviously done far better movies than this rather failed, stage-play translated to screen, project.
Sometimes I really miss adventurous WW II movies being made. Movies such as "Where Eagles Dare", "Kelly's Heroes" and "The Eagle Has Landed". They were always carefully made with lots of eye for entertainment and had a star-filled cast, with wonderful actors. This movie is right up there with the very best and most entertaining adventurous WW II movies. The sentence; 'they don't make them like this anymore', certainly applies here.
The movie has a wonderful adventurous and heroic story about a small group of Allied soldiers who are send on a mission to destroy two enormous guns at a small Greek island, in order to make the evacuation by sea of 2000 fellow Allied soldiers at a nearby island succeed. Of course lots of things go wrong and lots of action occurs. They get into some serious situations but often also manage to get out of it, thanks to some often unlikely but always entertaining occurrence. Yes, the story is certainly one of the biggest reasons why this movie is a very great and especially memorable one. The story is based on the novel by Alistair MacLean, who of course knew how to write an entertaining, adventurous WW II story.
But probably the main reason why this movie is regarded as being an absolute classic, is due to the cast. There are some impressive and much respected names out of the business present in this movie. Gregory Peck was one of the best actors who ever lived and further more the movie has Anthony Quinn and David Niven in the most significant roles. Every actor in the movie plays an interesting character. The story is mainly set around the small group of 6 Allied soldiers whose mission it is to destroy the guns of Navarone. Every character is deliciously stereotypical and has his very own specialty. The characters suit in perfectly with the adventurous and entertaining story. The actors that portray them make their characters even more enjoyable and great to watch. Gregory Peck is a great leading man and he has some great chemistry with especially Anthony Quinn. David Niven plays the sort of comic relief and his character has got some of the best lines of the movie.
It's sort of too bad that the movie had two prominent female characters in it. Nothing wrong with female emancipation in war movies but the characters need to serve a significant purpose. The movie could had easily done without the female characters and to be honest it makes the movie perhaps drag a little on at points, due to some needless slow sequences. Basically this movie is one of those typical ultimate man movies, in which female characters should have no part in. It just didn't feel fitting. No offense ladies, I still love you!
The movie is long but the pace is high, thanks to the nimble editing and lots of action filled sequences that are present in the movie. It makes "The Guns of Navarone" a delightful 158 minutes that provides almost non-stop entertainment and action.
The movie has some great looking settings and the action sequences are well directed and brought to the screen. It gives the movie a sort of an epic feeling overall. The unforgettable musical score by Dimitri Tiomkin also certainly does add to the movie its epic and adventurous feeling.
One of the earliest- and also best and most entertaining WW II movies.
