What a movie!

Rating: 10/10 (23 May 2007)

Having heard my father rave about this movie, I decided to give it a try. The story concerns three main characters, Rudyard Kipling, the author of the tale, and two ex British army sergeants who, with a bit of help from Kipling, set out for the adventure of a lifetime.
At first, Peachy Carnahan (Michael Caine) and Daniel Dravot (Sean Connery) are played as somewhat unlikeable people, con men, blackmailers, thieves, but before long, you fall right under their spell as does Kipling, whose even been robbed by Peachy! The two military men devise a plan, witnessed by Kipling, to head to the nether regions of Afghanistan (Kifiristan I believe) and proceed to vanquish all the foes of the king there, depose him and "Loot the place four ways from Sunday" as Dravot puts it.
I won't reveal too much, but suffice to say, this movie has many meanings and themes. Loyalty, friendship, humility, and sacrifice are chief among them. A real adventure story, with a decidedly human element. The two leads are superb, and they have the chemistry of two men that really HAVE been through the wars. Christopher Plummer really inherits Kipling, as he gets caught up in the magic, and charisma of Peachy and Daniel. A special movie, that everyone will enjoy. Highly Recommended