Eye of the Needle

Rating:
Summary: Great movie - different versions
Review:
A great many people have already pointed out why Eye of the Needle is such a fantantic thriller. I wholeheartedly agree and will therefore not repeat what has alreadly been stated before. I only would like to add that there exist two versions of this film - or more precisley to different endings of the same film. I don't know about USA, but the version shown on television in Europe has Ian Bannion tranported to the remote island by helicopter. The current DVD-version does not feature the aforementioned helicopter sequence. My question for Amazon and MGM is, would it be possible to include the alternate ending in a future DVD-edition of this first class nail biter?


Kind, Chris

Rating:
Summary: The encounter of two different natures!
Review:
Consider the possibilities : a super cold German Agent stranded to an unknown territory and a sexually frustrated and orphan love will meet in this state of things.

Magnificent and towering acting of Sutherland.


Rating:
Summary: Donald Has a Difficulty
Review: Donald Sutherland goes through hell in this DVD, directed by a man who was so talented in his field and who was taken away from us too soon, a man who could make the phone book seem suspenseful, Richard Marquand. By the way there are some good anecdotes about Marquand in Joe Eztherhas's memoir of screenwriting, HOLLYWOOD ANIMAL.

And whatever happened to Kate Nelligan? So good, so convincing in this film, a few years later she had dropped off the star map for good, although maybe losing out the part in PLENTY to her arch-rival Meryl Streep had something to do with that.

In this film, she plays an average, everyday housewife who, due to the twisted mind of the screenwriters, has it within her power to alter the course of D-Day and the entire Sceond World War, even though she is pretty much abandoned with her child on a single, picturesque and storm-tossed island with only her own strength of will to see her through her travails. And Sutherland is just as good. (Perhaps his last good part in a film?)

Rating:
Summary: A PIERCING NEEDLE
Review: Donald Sutherland has tended to be one of our finest actors, overlooked and dismissed by many critics. Sure, he's done some floppers (e.g. Virus), but in this movie he shows why he's such a riveting performer. He plays the Needle, a cold, psychotic killer, who is a German spy and holds the key to knowledge of the D-Day invasion. He ends up shipwrecked on a lonely island, inhabited only by a reclusive cripple and his devoted, if lonely, wife. Kate Nelligan (so good in "Dracula" with Frank Langella) is perfect as Lucy, the woman whose need for love leads to an affair with the Needle. Christopher Cazenove turns in a good performance as her husband, whose bitterness over his auto accident, has turned him into an uncaring, selfish man. Director Richard Marquand keeps the movie moving at a leisurely pace, but packs some powerful suspense scenes; the score by Miklos Roza is admirable, and the scenery is lush and beautiful. I havent' read Ken Follett's novel, but this is a great movie and hopefully did it justice.

Rating:
Summary: A PIERCING NEEDLE
Review: Donald Sutherland has tended to be one of our finest actors, overlooked and dismissed by many critics. Sure, he's done some floppers (e.g. Virus), but in this movie he shows why he's such a riveting performer. He plays the Needle, a cold, psychotic killer, who is a German spy and holds the key to knowledge of the D-Day invasion. He ends up shipwrecked on a lonely island, inhabited only by a reclusive cripple and his devoted, if lonely, wife. Kate Nelligan (so good in "Dracula" with Frank Langella) is perfect as Lucy, the woman whose need for love leads to an affair with the Needle. Christopher Cazenove turns in a good performance as her husband, whose bitterness over his auto accident, has turned him into an uncaring, selfish man. Director Richard Marquand keeps the movie moving at a leisurely pace, but packs some powerful suspense scenes; the score by Miklos Roza is admirable, and the scenery is lush and beautiful. I havent' read Ken Follett's novel, but this is a great movie and hopefully did it justice.

Rating:
Summary: A Le Carre' Quality Show
Review: Eye of the Needle is an ingenious complex work of a spy story and a romance all woven nicely together with the work of an excellent director and cast. Donald Sutherland is at his finest as he displays the cold-hearted, ruthless, cunning and intelligent German spy who will stop at nothing to deliver critial information to the Fuhrer. Stranded on a remote island off the coast of England while on his way to deliver the message, The Needle, (Sutherlan's code name)is caught in a web of romance between the local dissident Lucy and her ever crazed ex-RAF pilot husband. Eventually The Needle destroys Lucy's husband and tries to continue with his mission. But could a spark of passion for Lucy destroyed this spies killer instincts? Of course not. You must find out for yourself in this excellent portrait of war, romance and danger, In Eye of the Needle.

Rating:
Summary: A butchered classic
Review: I have read the book twice and it is just about the greatest ever, but the movie did it no justice. If you have only seen the movie, you probably have no idea who Godliman or Bloggs is because they were basically cut out of the movie. You can't just cut out 2 main characters. Plus, the movie spent way...WAY...to much time with the love triangle and not enough on the badass spy that is sneaking his way across the country. I wouldn't waste my time with the movie, just read the book.

In the movie's defense though, I watched it with someone that had never read the book and she seemed to enjoy it.

Rating:
Summary: Good 70's thriller
Review: I rented this after having read the book, so my opinion is biased toward the excellent book. But this actually follows the book closely. The VHS quality was typically washed out somewhat, so the DVD would be a better experience. Donald Sutherland does a good job portraying the Nazi spy. The story is fast-paced and suspenseful. Another example of good suspensful, political/war thrillers from the 70s. While not on par with the book, it's a pretty good way to pass a couple hours.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Greatest Spy Movies of All Times
Review: In the early days of WWII, a notorious German Spy, The Needle (Donald Sutherland) travels abroad and collects vital information for the wehrmacht. In 1944, the tide is turned; and Germany now finds itself in a defensive posture. The Germans are convinced that the allies are planning an invasion of France. -- but where?

The Needle uncovers critical information to indicate that the Allies are planning an invasion of Normady. Unfortunately for the Needle and Germany, on his way to delivering this vital information, he gets stranded on a remote island. At this point in the film, director Richard Marquand shows his cunning and artistic talents at convincingly weaving a supberb spy thriller and a romance movie together as one.

The Needle has to deliver his critical information to Germany. However, he cannot do so while stranded on the island. To complicate matters, the Needle now has romatic interests which causes him to delay his mission. But, at the same time, causes The Needle great anxiety because he knows he has to relay his information to Germany. The Needle knows that the fate of Germany rests in his hands.

Sutherland plays the part of a notorious, ruthless, and cunning German spy to absolute perfection. You also see Sutherland struggle with himself to complete his mission, and save Germany. Kate Nelligan magnificently plays the role of a woman torn between "romance" and "duty to her country."

This is not your typical James Bond or Matt Helm flicks with all the well-shaped, beautiful women; fancy gadgets, and explosive action. Instead, Eye of the Needle is a good, old fashioned (dare I say it!) "Hitchcockian" suspense thriller that will keep you at the edge of your seats.

This is an excellent movie. . . well worth watching more than once. This film rates more than a five. . . Its a perfect 10.

Rating:
Summary: Happy Petersen
Review: MARVELOUS, keeps you rivitrd to the story. One of my favorite Follrt works. ZThe book is sensational. I edon't have a DVD