After a big buildup, a real disappointment

Rating: 1/10 (23 March 1999)

After reading all the rave reviews for this movie, it turned out to be a real disappointment. Can anyone really believe that the prisoners are honourable men while the guards and warden are all "crooks"?? Haven't we overdone the hypocritical "Bible thumper"?? -- let's find a more enlightened characterization. James Bond, himself, could not have followed the main character's escape plan. The ending soliloquy and denouement were inferior plagiarisms from "Cool Hand Luke". Enough!!! Unfortunately, fine performances by both Robbins and Freeman were wasted in this "fantasy" story.