Better Late Then Never

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

I watched this file when I was in my middle school around 30 years ago, in a movie theater invited by an elder neighbor boy. Though impressed by its action part, I couldn't understand fully the dialog in the movie. Nevertheless, the movie was so good and left a deep trace in my memory.Yesterday night, I watched it again on my home DVD player. It was so sweet, like being reunited with an old friend. All the memories 30 years ago came back. Because I am over 40 now, I can understand most of the dialog, though my English comprehension is still not that good.Don't want to waste time on analyzing the characters of Richard Burton, Richard Harris, and Roger Moore. They are simply the fantastic trio. That aside, the movie paid great attention to the minor details. I am not a military expert, but I can see the action part is much more realistic than most war movies from Hollywood.Couldn't understand why its rating is so low (only 6.8) at IMDb. It is the best ever mercenary movie, IMHO.

Fine cast of stalwart actors and superstars in mostly the British film industry make their mark in this war-actioner regarding the mercenary- era stories of note in 1960s-70s post-independent African countries. This has a plot a little more than that with skullduggery at home from a wealthy Industrialist, Stewart Grainger who's tasked Richard Burton as Allan Faulkner a former Colonel, of course taking on the same mantra with all the rag-tag of experienced ex-soldiers he can muster to extricate (not kidnap really is it?) a made-up African leader Julius Limbane (Winston Nshona) from of course a made-up African state of Zimbala. To cut a long story short, that's the job. But you have to watch how easily it falls into that kind of film/movie. Right from recruiting the right-hand men, their protests from the wife/or the men's happily leaving them notes/divorce right away and although they're getting paid, no pondering on them perhaps getting killed violently thousands of miles away. The major Actors, Richard Harris, (Rafer Janders), Roger Moore (Shawn Fynn), Hardy Kruger (Peter Cotzee) playing a hard- lined Apartheid era soldier and of course the wonderful Jack 'NCO' Watson as well as homosexual (purposefully) support from Witty, played by the excellent Kenneth Griffiths' medic make this an excellent blood and guts saga of this kind of genre. What is of course added, is the issues in the film. Africa, hot exotic but not welcome in a sweaty fighting-atmosphere and our band up against what appears to be Cuban- led African soldiers (very tight on info here of the time!).The mission goes ahead, parachuting into Zimbala but alas, after the extrication of Limbane from the prison where he was held, the men find they're double-crossed by Grainger and left to rot, for his new deal's with someone else and what is in his best interests. The team are now tasked with fighting their way out for themselves as well an injured Limbane.Burton and Co. have to plan a new way out, get this, they actually stumble on a DC-3 some miles away from an irate Irish missionary priest (Frank Finlay) who's known begrudgingly to Janders. However, this is their little lifeline in a while, but of course, they're all getting wiped out along the way in getting to it! There are some usual and okay-ish action scenes and plenty of bullets flying as expected. Janders and Coetzee are killed more or less at the last knockings as is medic Witty in a last stand with a number of the African soldiers as is the stalwart NCO Jack 'Sandy' Watson. The remainder, Burton and Moore make the plane and fly back out. Limbane though, dies, so that was worth it!What made the film which can be a bit standard is of course the good cast. There has been much made about the film for other reasons which are reflected 'in' it, for example 'Africa rising' as Limbane and the racist Coetzee exchange the ideology behind whites in Apartheid South Africa and the Africa movement to remove them. The two bond over what must be done to secure both their futures in the new Africa or South Africa that will come - coincidentally, the issues really DID make South Africa what it is as Mandela's fairness and compassion mirrored that of the banter between Coetzee and Limbane.What makes it is as I said is the fine cast and as is mentioned, perhaps an American actor would have propelled it in the states more, as Burton, though respected in America was in his last throes of his career. There are good feelgood moments too when Burton takes out Grainger back home in 'Merry old' and neat touches like Coetzee killing guards with his cyanide-tipped crossbow. Some of the dialogue can be exceptionally British and dreadful 'isn't he a love', 'you two beauties' (Moore talking about a couple of hoodlums, incidentally, one of which is David Ladd, Alan's son - only a cameo role too small of course for the American-impact market as I mentioned).A good, watchable film, but wouldn't say it's out of the ordinary, just a great cast nonetheless as I say! (Watch out for lesser-known but interesting actors, Stanley Baker's son as 'Esposito' and Ian Yule, Playing 'Tosh' a former real-life mercenary with Colonel 'Mad Mike' Hoare, who was also an NCO in 'Zulu Dawn'. 'Take the high ground!').

I first saw this movie with my Dad in 1978 when I was twelve and when it first came out in the theaters in the US; and, to this day...I still love it! It's a very radically and racially-driven movie of a time that most Africans, and, people in general, wish to forget (Apartheid); but, it's also a movie that tells about how all of the 'rich people' in the world, along with governments, took advantage of, and, preyed-upon, Africa and her people and resources. Much like in China in the early 1900s - ("55 Days at Peking;" "The Sand Pebbles;" etc.).This is a movie, 'no matter what anyone may think,' that simply shows how 'outside' interests in the resources of a nation or continent in turmoil can so-easily be taken advantage of when they are most vulnerable. No one 'in power' cared about the rescue of President Limbani, even the rich British banker (Stewart Granger...a great actor) who paid for his rescue, unless it paid-off. That was just an excuse...a dupe, to make himself look good' and, if it worked, to also make himself even more rich! All that the rich banker cared about was getting hold of the copper concessions that he could acquire by rescuing this President. But, once another deal was struck, the banker dissolved 'everything.' leaving Colonel Faulkner and his men stranded in Africa and at the mercy of the now-government he'd invaded.Sure...Colonel Faulkner (Richard Burton) cared so much so long as he's paid to lead the 'mercenary' rescue (but...he cares GREATLY for his men); Lieutenant Shawn Fynn (Roger Moore) took this job to get out of Mafia trouble, but, he has a good heart and cares for and protects people; Lieutenant Pieter Coetzee (Hardy Kruger) also has a big heart, an open mind, and, despite political views, made friends with President Limbani, and, they came to trust one-another; Captain Rafer Janders (Richard Harris) is and always was a great supporter of President Limbani, and, a great and honorable man and soldier.This movie is of political and worldwide 'life,' then and now; and, in a thousand years from now! It's GREED without empathy or sympathy, no matter the stakes or losses to others! It's a world with only greed! A world that has no room for soft feelings, especially for other people!?!? This movie is a must-see, no matter how sad it is politically or ethically...it's true in it's depiction of callous politics and the bloodthirsty rich! :(

The Wild Geese is a film I remember vividly as a youngster, and one that for me has stood the test of time. Yes, there is no CGI or bullets whizzing close to the ears à la Steven Spielberg, but a gritty realism assisted by a number ex-military personnel among the extras.Having an interest in the history and politics of post-colonial Africa I was more than familiar with the exploits of mercenaries such as "Mad" Mike Hoare and Siegfried "Kongo" Müller, and some years after seeing this film for the first time I was happy to find out that the legendary "Mad Mike" had acted as a battlefield consultant.The plot is uncomplicated, and the mission seemingly straightforward. Employed by shady businessman Sir Edward Matheson (Stewart Granger), retired mercenary Alan Faulkner (Richard Burton) looks to set himself up financially with one last trip to Africa. In selecting his small private army Faulkner puts together an interesting core group - the intellectual Rafer Janders (Richard Harris), the smart and savvy Shawn Fynn (Roger Moore) and hard-nosed Afrikaner Pieter Coetzee (Hardy Krüger). While Faulker provides the brains, Fynn provides the charm, Coetzee the grit and Janders the soul.In all a group of fifty men are gathered, from grizzled vets looking for their last big pay packet through to younger soldiers of fortune. In amongst the group are the hard-nosed RSM Sandy Young (played wonderfully by Jack Watson) and the camp but no less tough medic Witty (Kenneth Griffith). There is plenty of excellent character development as the men go through their training routine, and plenty of politically incorrect banter that makes it even more real.The men parachute into the fictional country located in Southern Africa, with the mission to rescue politician Julius Limbani (Winston Ntshona) imprisoned by a communist-leaning government. He is being held at a prison staffed by a fearsome bunch of native soldiers - the Simbas - and their East German and Cuban advisors.Having arrived safely, the mission runs smoothly - the enemies are quickly dispatched and the prisoner is rescued, and you are left thinking "is this it?" But when things take a horrible twist and their rescue aircraft passes them by on the orders of the double-crossing Matheson, all hell breaks loose.Here the action really kicks off, complete with explosions, flying bodies and a rapidly increasing body count - all good 1970s action film fun.However, there is no real happy ending. The majority of the mercenaries don't make it out alive, and the scene on the runway that sees Faulkner left with the choice of shooting his friend Janders or leaving him at the mercy of the panga-wielding Simbas is something that does hit you sideways in what is otherwise a merry old school all-action romp.There is no Hollywood happy ending, but the final denouement makes for a satisfactory conclusion.Having read some of the other comments on here, my advice is simple. Forget the possible plot holes, some contrived plot acceleration (such as Coetzee's sudden realisation about Limbani) and so on, and just enjoy it. Watching Harris and Burton (who were allegedly ordered to stay off the drink for the duration of the filming) working together is great, Moore is his usual suave self but with a red beret instead of a tux, and Krüger is excellent as a character you just end up rooting for.They don't make them like this anymore!