The Avengers

Rating:
Summary: Forgettable
Review: As a big fan of the original TV series (I saw them all in reruns), I was extremely disappointed by this movie. Fiennes and Thurman are fine actors individually, but together in the roles of John Steed and Emma Peel they lacked any chemistry whatsoever. They just didn't capture the flirtatious, twinkle-in-eye relationship of Steed and Emma. The plot was forgettable and rumor has it, Connery, who played the villain, didn't want the movie to be released once he saw how it bad came out. If you're the curious type, and I was, you'll sit through Avengers The Movie, but don't have high expectations.

Rating:
Summary: embarressing at best!
Review: This film is a horrific insult to any and all Avengers fans!
The acting is God-Aweful and embarrassing to say the least,
by Uma and Ralph! And i normally adore them! The script writers should have been shot on the spot for such offensive butchering of cliche's, wit, and character. In fact they were in no way shape or form John Steed and Emma Peel. It was nothing short of a mockery! It is even painfull to sit through a moment!
Besides, there really is not point in rehashing something as elegant and un-imitatable as the original, true Avengers. After all, it was Patrick and Diana's personalities and genius that infused the characters they played! They didn't have to put anything on!

Rating:
Summary: "Mrs. Peel, we're STILL needed...."
Review: What a mess. I was so disappointed by this film (especially since I invited a group of friends out to see it). There's got to be a story behind how this movie self-destructed.

And it's too bad, because, when it came out, THE AVENGERS could've out-sluethed both Austin Powers and James Bond. It could have had the bizarre Avengers flair with the 007 intrigue and thrills.
Personally, I thought Uma Thurman was a mistake as Mrs. Peel, only because the built-in audience (those familiar with the popular British TV show) would've expected an English girl.
Ralph Fiennes is a great choice and Sean Connery should have been the ultimate villian.
But the movie is incomprehensible.
I'd read that the director was relatively new, having directed only a couple of small, independent films. Was he overwhelmed by the massive production or did the studio take it away from him to cut it to pieces? What makes me wonder if it was the former is that Sean Connery's first scenes have him talking with weird, exaggerated tics and such--and then they're gone. Connery just walks through the rest of the film. I've always heard that Connery did not suffer fools on a movie set: did he turn on his young director?

I've read the script (which is available online) and I'm still wondering just what in the world happened to this film.
"Mrs. Peel, we STILL need you!"

Rating:
Summary: Good Fun, Really
Review: "I thought you lived on the edge Mrs. Peel. Is this as fast as you can go?"

I much preferred this movie to most of the James Bond movies. For one, the wit is wicked, Uma Thurman (Mrs. Peel) was born to wear a catsuit and Ralph Fiennes is a most dapper John Steed. This movie has style, yet the backdrop is a special effects surreal dream. If you love storms moving in on a beach, rainy days or just gothic style weather, this is for you.

While drinking tea most often, these two secret agents fight crime in style while resisting the impulse to drown in more than a hands-off sexual chemistry. I could watch these two play mind games for hours. In one scene John Steed is discussing Dr. Emma Peel's profile and states:

"After all, according to your file you're a psychopathic personality with schizophrenic delusions, suffering from recurring amnesia, based on traumatic oppression leading to outbursts of antisocial and violent behavior."

Then, he states that she is just his style. Of course, she is not the type of woman he needs to save from herself or anyone else for that fact and more than likely he is describing the other Mrs. Peel who seems much more violent. This Mrs. Peel can take care of herself, thank you very much.

So, what is the diabolic plan they must thwart? Ah, yes....the evil aristocrat, Sir August DeWynter. He plans to threaten the world with his fantastic high-tech weather machine. He is capable of threatening mankind with raging ice storms, scorching temperatures and mechanical insects. The special effects in regards to the weather are seamless and spectacular.

The script is delicious, the chemistry drips over the edge of the mind into a pool of absolute surging tension and visually, The Avengers is very compelling. You will love the fencing scenes, intelligent script, British humor and tongue in cheek capers.

Diabolic Villainy vs. Stylish Heroes who never lose their cool.

I rather liked it.

Rating:
Summary: One of the few movies I'd recommend avoiding.
Review: I'm giving this movie 1 star only because Amazon's rating system won't allow 0 stars. Everyone's entitled to an opinion, I'd be the first to say that. I won't tell you NOT to see this movie because I don't want to rob you of forming your own opinion about it. But, for heaven's sake, don't buy it till you've rented it! If you saw the previews, you saw the few good parts. It's a rambling mess of a film, more so than the '60s spoof "Casino Royale." It's painful to see Sean Connery in arguably the worst movie he's ever been in. Connery has always seemed to bring some saving grace to any film he's been in--until now. Before you ask the actors what they were thinking when they agreed to be in this film, ask them at what point they knew what they were getting into.

Rating:
Summary: Seeing Is Believing Or The "Eyes" Have It.
Review: I have seen this movie at least a dozen times and I am trying to understand the hostility it has generated. I am old enough to have seen the original TV series the first time around and while I remember it fondly it is definitely a product of its time. What makes this film so enjoyable for me is that it is not merely trying to copy the old series but to reinvent it. That is probably why so many people have a problem with it. Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman are John Steed and Emma Peel this time around. No they aren't Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg nor should they try to be. They have created their own version of the characters and they work quite well together. Their overwritten dialogue is overplayed with just the proper restraint. Sean Connery as Sir August, the principal villian, seems to be underplaying his role until you notice his eyes. Watch the eyes of all the characters. They are an important motif throughout the movie. Jim Broadbent's liquid eyes as "Mother" are full of knowledge and sympathy while Fiona Shaw's traitorous "Father" is literally blind to everything. Patrick Macnee (the original John Steed) has an important cameo as an invisible man. He holds the key to the mystery but he cannot be seen. Director Jeremiah Chechik (BENNY AND JOON) has created a modern day fairy tale out of the old series while retaining the droll humor and the surreal touches (the brightly colored teddy bears are a good example). Much of the look of the film resembles the illustrations of modern day children's books especially THE POLAR EXPRESS. My only real complaint with the film is Eddie Izzard's use of the f-word. It is totally out of character with the rest of the film and was added solely to get a PG-13 rating. I was hoping the DVD would include the half hour cut from the film before its release but no cigar. Sources close to the film say that it would clarify a number of points including the two Mrs Peels. Perhaps we will see it in a future reissue. So for the meantime put away your preconceived baggage and try and take the film on its own terms and you may be pleasantly surprised as I was. After all seeing is believing. Tea anyone?

Rating:
Summary: UGH!
Review: I really, really, really hope that Patrick Macnee, Diana Rigg, Honor Blackman and Linda Thorson didn't see this abortive attempt to recreate the cult British series from the 1960's. Even with the considerable talents of Sean Connery, Uma Thurman and Ralph Finnes, this film is just about unwatchable. Poorly edited, poorly scripted and badly directed, films like this are what make movie goers shudder whenever a studio announces they are bringing a beloved TV series to the big screen. For every adaptation like The Fugitive, there are dozens of bombs like My Favorite Martian, The Mod Squad and this dud.

I am actually one of the few unlucky people to actually see this "film" in the theater. I fell asleep. So just to be fair and to have a complete impression of the film, I rented the DVD. I fell asleep twice more before I saw the entire film. It was so bad it made me wish I had fallen asleep a third time.

What makes my dislike of this film so disappointing is that I so wanted to enjoy it. Sean Connery is one of my favorite actors and I was looking forward to seeing him as a villan. Uma Thurman is one of the sexiest women in movies today and I wanted to see her take on Diana Rigg's Mrs. Peel. And Ralph Finnes has been in several of my favorite films, including Schindler's List and Quiz Show. However, they all fall flat in this film (although Thurman looks great in her Mrs. Peel leather outfit).

The film tries to recapture the odd flavor of the series (the Connery board meeting in which all the participants are dressed as teddy bears, for example), but falls flat every time. Finnes is miscast as John Steed (too young) and he and Thurman have none of the chemistry that Diana Rigg and Patrick Macnee had in the original series.

Do yourself a favor. Instead of buying this waste of precious natural resources, buy the DVD set of the Emma Peel episodes of the original series. Then rent the DVD of this film -- you'll quickly see that newer, in this case, is definitely not better.

Rating:
Summary: Avenge Garbage!
Review: One of the worst movies ever made. Watching Sean Connery in a bear suit while running around was ugly. The pair (Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman) have no chemistry what so ever and talk like their English. Horrible. He fights people with an umbrella and she can't fight at all. Mechanical bees chase their car and it was so exciting! Not! I hated this movie and Sean Connery lost any respect that I had for him. Don't ever drink tea again and eat your muffins somewhere else!

Rating:
Summary: arg!
Review: i give this film two stars because although you have to question why three good actors such as these would even consider this script, they still acted well with the poor amount they got. but still, how could great actors such as these three accept such a terrible script? what were they thinking?

Rating:
Summary: Right Idea Wrong Thinking
Review: Okay, this is not the best movie in the world. The same can be said for the TV show because it is a cult classic. Now I do admit that I am to young to understand the better parts of the show, I'm 24. Yet in terms to the movie it was not to bad. The acting could have been better, yet the costums were cool and had that over the top feel that the orginal show had.

Although the toung and cheek humor was a bit lame in the movie and could have been developed a bit more. Uma Thurman did do an okay job playing Mrs. Peel, yet more could have been said about her and personality because she does differ from the TV show. It would have been better of the movie to keep her with the same persona as the orginal Mrs. Peel then add to it to make it more 90's. The same for Ralph Fiennes. He does seem to lose his temper more in the move in contrast to the show. There are plot holes but what movie doesn't have at least one. Most people are right in that some things needed to be explaned better. The editing is really bad in the move.

The Art Department did an amazing job for the look and feel of the move. The same with the FX too simple great. Also with the Visual Effects were stunning.The cinematograph is another thing that saves this film from being a total bomb.

This move seems to wanna reach the post 60's crowd and apeal more to the teens of the 90's. with that in mind this really is not a really bad movie. For the die hard 60's kids this will be painful, but the new generation this is a pretty good flick. Yet for those who don't know about the orginal TV show by the DVD's and watch the true Emma Peel act like no once else can.