The Saint (1997)
DIRECTOR: Philip Noyce
CAST: Val Kilmer, Elisabeth Shue, Rade Sherbedgia, Valery Nikolaev, Michael Byrne, Henry Goodman, Alun Armstrong, Charlotte Cornwell
REVIEW:
An adaptation of the 1960s television series, which was itself an adaptation of Leslie Charteris’ series of novels, The Saint is a fairly lightweight and insubstantial international spy caper that comes off a bit like second-rate James Bond (an irony on multiple levels, as Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels were in part inspired by Charteris’ Saint novels, and the television series starred future 007 Roger Moore). The Saint is an enjoyable enough diversion, but doesn’t make much of an impression alongside higher-level spy thrillers. Continue reading
DNA (1997)
DIRECTOR: William Mesa
CAST: Mark Dacascos, Jurgen Prochnow, Robin McKee, Tom Taus
REVIEW:
DNA is the product of two special effects technicians—-director William Mesa and screenwriter Nick Davis—-who developed loftier filmmaking aspirations while seemingly lacking the talent (or originality) to chew what they’ve bitten off. DNA is a patchwork quilt shamelessly derivative of other, better movies (most blatantly but not limited to the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger sci-fi action flick Predator). Its producers Interlight Pictures——heard of them? Me neither—-rather hilariously oversold it as “Alien meets Indiana Jones”. That said, DNA is still a fun little diversion (if one can forgive it for practically plagiarizing swaths of Predator along with bits and pieces of other flicks along the way including Jurassic Park) with a humble 97 minute runtime that doesn’t overstay its modest welcome.
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