Excellent

Rating: 9/10 (3 January 2005)

Plot was interesting, even if not intriguing. Just enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat, although it didn't produce the white knuckled suspense of a Hitchcock movie. But what movie does these days? Brilliantly acted, directed and filmed. Major glitch: the jump from Berlin (where it appeared to be summer) to Moscow (where it was definitely winter) 24 hours later. Minor glitch: how he knew to go to Berlin, but it didn't detract from the plot very much. The scene in Goa where Marie gets knocked off was kind of weak--a cheap chase scene which didn't add a lot to the story. The vaporetto chase scene in Venice in "The Italian Job" was a lot more creative. However, it's my kind of movie--I'm buying the DVD. Full disclosure: I have NOT read the book.