Rating: 
Summary: Adventurous Eastwood...
Review: "The Eiger Sanction" stars Clint Eastwood as Jonathan Hemlock, a college professor of art, experienced mountain climber and ex-hit man for "C-2", an agency of the US Government. C-2 is headed by an albino named "Dragon", who wants two enemy agents "sanctioned" (killed). Hemlock agrees to perform the hit, going to Zurich to do the job. The execution is very messy, hardly what one would call "professional", but the job gets done. Dragon still wants the second agent eliminated, but C-2 is having trouble pinpointing the identity of the target. What is known is that the man will be part of an upcoming international climb of the Eiger, a mountain in the Swiss Alps. Hemlock needs to get in shape for the climb. His training takes place out west, at a climbing school run by Ben Bowman (George Kennedy) an old climbing buddy. Hemlock's training is complicated when Miles Mellough (Jack Cassidy) arrives on the scene. Mellough betrayed Hemlock years before, nearly costing him his life. This time Miles takes a trip he won't return from. Trained and ready, Hemlock arrives in Switzerland with Bowman, prepared for the climb, and his mission. The team includes three other climbers, one of whom is supposedly the target to be "sanctioned". One climber must continually ask silly questions any experienced climber would know the answers to, so the audience can become informed about the common practices of mountain climbing. Once the climb begins, we are treated to some magnificent scenes in the mountains. To my untrained eyes the scenes look very realistic, and are the best the movie has to offer, as they transition from climbing bare rock to snow covered rock faces. While they climb, Hemlock attempts to zero in on his target, and find the one he has to kill. The mountain does his work for him, as the Eiger proves to be too much for the team. Accidents and bad weather add up to disaster for all but Hemlock. C-2 is satisfied that the mission has been accomplished, but they don't know the complete truth. While The Eiger Sanction is not a great movie, Clint Eastwood makes an excellent Hemlock, and the scenes of mountain climbing, both in America and Switzerland do make the movie worth viewing. Eastwood should also be applauded for his efforts to bring realism to his role when it came to doing his own stunt work. He also directed this feature, which is another of the challenging films he did in the 70's.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the Manliest Movies of All Time
Review: All right. With tongue firmly in cheek, let me say that the other reviewers of this movie have got it all wrong. "The Eiger Sanction" has got to be one of the all-time great "guy" films (I refer you to the "Big Damn Book of Sheer Manliness" here on Amazon.com for more information on those two). Yes, for Saturday-night-with-the-boys viewing, this is one of the classics. Here are ten reasons why: 1. Clint the Glint...need I say more? 2. Incredibly realistic mountain-climbing footage, from Southern Utah to the Swiss Alps, all shot on location, with none of the ridiculous fakery found in farces such as "Cliffhanger". 3. A plot that makes James Bond seem believable, starting with a combination art expert/mountain climber/CIA assassin and going forward from there. 4. Fantastic scenery shots, including George Kennedy and Clint on top of a sandstone pinnacle (I'm sure George really climbed it...yeah, right). 5. A cool resort compound (actually filmed at the lodge in Zion National Park, Utah). 6. Well-timed 70s nudity (in other words, totally unnecessary). 7. An albino (!) "establishment" guy, (CIA leader) and his wonderfully despicable sidekick, just waiting for Clint to kick around. 8. Astounding political incorrectness, including a character named "Jemimah Brown", another one known simply as "Buns", and much, much more. 9. Fantastically quotable manly lines, for example "Assassins get assassinated, and that ain't in my game plan", or "There's a twenty on the dresser by the bed", etc., etc., etc. 10. Clint even glints at a little dog...really! I could go on and on. All kidding aside, I love this movie! Just don't plan on taking it too seriously.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Manliest Movies of All Time
Review: All right. With tongue firmly in cheek, let me say that the other reviewers of this movie have got it all wrong. "The Eiger Sanction" has got to be one of the all-time great "guy" films (I refer you to the "Big Damn Book of Sheer Manliness" here on Amazon.com for more information on those two). Yes, for Saturday-night-with-the-boys viewing, this is one of the classics. Here are ten reasons why: 1. Clint the Glint...need I say more? 2. Incredibly realistic mountain-climbing footage, from Southern Utah to the Swiss Alps, all shot on location, with none of the ridiculous fakery found in farces such as "Cliffhanger". 3. A plot that makes James Bond seem believable, starting with a combination art expert/mountain climber/CIA assassin and going forward from there. 4. Fantastic scenery shots, including George Kennedy and Clint on top of a sandstone pinnacle (I'm sure George really climbed it...yeah, right). 5. A cool resort compound (actually filmed at the lodge in Zion National Park, Utah). 6. Well-timed 70s nudity (in other words, totally unnecessary). 7. An albino (!) "establishment" guy, (CIA leader) and his wonderfully despicable sidekick, just waiting for Clint to kick around. 8. Astounding political incorrectness, including a character named "Jemimah Brown", another one known simply as "Buns", and much, much more. 9. Fantastically quotable manly lines, for example "Assassins get assassinated, and that ain't in my game plan", or "There's a twenty on the dresser by the bed", etc., etc., etc. 10. Clint even glints at a little dog...really! I could go on and on. All kidding aside, I love this movie! Just don't plan on taking it too seriously.
Rating:
Summary: Clint Eastwood is my idol
Review: And when I grow up I wanna be just like him. Doesnt everybody?
Rating: 
Summary: Decent thriller, Great Climbing Movie!
Review: As a thriller, the 'Eiger Sanction' is just ok. It is a pretty faithful adaptation of Trevanian's bestseller from 1972. It stars Clint Eastwood as Dr. Johnathan Hemlock -- an ex-climber now art professor who does occasional asassinations for a secret US agency to pay for his art collection. He takes on one last job to pay for a Pissaro he desperately wants; but it requires that he get out his old climbing boots. He'll have to do the job while climbing the north face of the Eiger -- certainly one of the most dangerous climbs in the world. I'm not completely sure of this, but I believe that this movie was also Clint Eastwood's directorial debut. He not only stars in it, but he produced and directed it as well! Ah, the glorious 70's! The clothing, the hairstyles, the attitudes towards women, etc. It is quite fun to watch and chuckle at now. Hemlock is a kind of James Bond-ian super hero. Remarkably gifted not only at killing bad guys but also at bedding beautiful women, enjoying fine wine and food, and being an art expert. The story ofen requires you to suspend your sense of reality and to have a bit of a sense of humor. If you enjoy these kinds of thrillers, you'll definitely enjoy this one. What sets this movie apart for me is the many climbing sequences! I am an avid climber and I know of no other 'Hollywood' movie that does as good a job as this one at showing real mountain climbing. The climbing scenes in the 'Eiger Sanction' are breathtaking and quite realistic. The scenes on the Eiger were actually filmed on location on the Eiger Nordwand itself! Remarkable! Apparently Clint is/was a bit of a climber himself, and took great pains to portray the climbing in as realistic a light as possible. Three cheers for Clint! On a sad note, one of the stuntmen/riggers was killed while filming the scenes on the Eiger. Most other mass-market climbing films completely ruin the climbing scenes to make them more dramatic or exciting (Vertical Limit, Cliffhanger, K2, etc.); or are documentaries trying to cash in on the current Everest fever (and are more interested in the 'death zone' aspect of high altitude climbing than actually showing real climbing). Bottom line for me: I bought this VHS for its depiction of the climbing more than the story line. However, it's also a pretty decent thriller as well as a fun trip back to the early 70's.
Rating:
Summary: Action in the Swiss Alps...
Review: Based upon the novel of the same name by Trevanian and directed by Clint Eastwood who also stars in it, this is an interesting action film, as most of the relevant action takes place on the Eiger mountain in the Swiss Alps. The story line is fairly simple. A retired professional assassin and climber turned art collector, played by Eastwood, is suddenly forced out of retirement when he is made an offer he can't refuse. His mission is to kill an unknown double agent who deep sixed a close friend of Eastwood. Be prepared for total political incorrectness and rampant sexism reminiscent of the early Bond flicks. It is somewhat jarring to see and hear in these politically correct times. When you see the film, you will know what I mean. Notwithstanding this, it is still an entertaining film. Eastwood's quest for the unknown double agent takes him to the Eiger, where he ultimately makes a life changing decision, as does his friend, played by George Kennedy. This film should appeal to those who enjoy thrillers, buddy films, and action movies. Climbing enthusiasts will also enjoy it for the spectacular mountain footage and gripping climbing scenes.
Rating: 
Summary: Clint Gooood Movie Baaaaaad
Review: Clint Eastwood is just perfect in his role as Hemlock, and delivers some great one-liners, sexual innuendos and sucker punches. Although there are promises of interesting dynamics between the characters, this movie can't ever seem to get off the ground, and it becomes rooted in cliche and plot devices that are now very very outdated. The film plods along- just like when you see one of those Robert Ludlum books on the shelf at your local Goodwill and think -- it may be only 99 cents but I can't waste 700 pages of good reading time on this pap. A hokey musical score helps none, and the mountain photography is nothing compared to what's been done since. The big plot "twist" ain't so good either. Basically, for Clint fans only -- and even then it's a chore.
Rating:
Summary: Clint Gooood Movie Baaaaaad
Review: Clint Eastwood is just perfect in his role as Hemlock, and delivers some great one-liners, sexual innuendos and sucker punches. Although there are promises of interesting dynamics between the characters, this movie can't ever seem to get off the ground, and it becomes rooted in cliche and plot devices that are now very very outdated. The film plods along- just like when you see one of those Robert Ludlum books on the shelf at your local Goodwill and think -- it may be only 99 cents but I can't waste 700 pages of good reading time on this pap. A hokey musical score helps none, and the mountain photography is nothing compared to what's been done since. The big plot "twist" ain't so good either. Basically, for Clint fans only -- and even then it's a chore.
Rating:
Summary: sweeeeet
Review: DUUUDE!! This movie is so cool. OK, this one was directed by dirty harry himself, and as such its so funny to watch. Clint Eastwood, perhaps one of the lankiest and funkiest-looking action stars ever gets in the sack with extremely hot girls for no apparant reason, beats [...] people twice his size, and has more "I'm a raw [...]" one-liners than I have ever seen in a movie. Aside from that, it does well from the technical climbing perspective in that it didn't show all that much of the gear. In fact, the only obvious farce was when he was supposedly leading a sandstone pillar somplace in the southwest US, he was shimmying up a chimney on a top-rope. Not possible, but oh well. The movie has some really nice shots during the actual Eiger climb, and the green pastures so many thousands of feet below are a very nice touch. Reminds me of how it really feels to be that high off the ground on the end of a skinny rope. Good stuff man, two thumbs up!
Rating:
Summary: My 'superior' wants to see you!
Review: Eastwood sarcastically answers "Well that doesn't narrow the field much, does it?". The plethora of wity expressions & humor in this fantastic spy thriller makes it amgonst other things really a classic. It was made back in the 70's when men were men and women were named 'buns' How some of us miss those days....sigh ;-) But wait, you get lots lots more! There is breathtaking cinematograqphy ranging from an assination in Zurich to incredibly realistic mountain-climbing footage from Southern Utah and the Swiss Alps. Provided that one tries not to take this movie dead seriously, this classic will provide you with great entertainment. It might to be fair to say this movie might be more appealing a male gender audience.
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