After the original with its star studded distractions; this only in-name sequel would see a small tag of mercenaries led by Scott Glenn hired by an American TV station to go behind enemy lines (Berlin, Germany) to take part in a very dangerous mission (freeing Nazi prisoner Rudolf Hess, who holds many secrets that some people would want to keep it that way).
"Wild Geese II" is a hardy, but cleverly plotted and lavished boy's own adventure. Maybe too complicated for its own good, as some of the scheming tends to be silly and dubious. However with that in mind, it still remains cracking entertainment by delivering many unpredictable developments, dangerous intrigue and few exhilaratingly edgy action set-pieces amongst its illustrative Berlin backdrop. However don't go in thinking its going to be an all-out action assault like "Wild Geese", it's not. It plays out more so like a spy-game. Director Peter R. Hunt ("Death Hunt", "Gold" and "On Her Majesty's Secret Service") durably puts its together, making it gripping as what starts of as simple reconnaissance becomes a knotty web of deals and plans where it's hard to know who's really playing who. A diligently compact script (which agreeably has a slight sense of humour) keeps it interesting and on the move, as the narrative constantly shifts about and the strategies keep on changing due to circumstances. So it's rather calculative in its build-up, in what seems like a waiting game and then picking the right time to set it all in motion. Although when it comes to its climatic ending, you feel like it has all come to nothing. Performances are rather modest from its game cast. A stoically glazed Scott Glenn is equitable in the central role (and is quite fancy with a switchblade), but its Edward Fox who effortlessly steals the show as a lethally cunning English mercenary. Barbara Carrera offers capable support. Also showing up are John Terry, Robert Webber, Patrick Stewart, Ingrid Pitt and Laurence Olivier as Rudolf Hess.
"...Death ate its way into me and it never left."
"Wild Geese II" is a hardy, but cleverly plotted and lavished boy's own adventure. Maybe too complicated for its own good, as some of the scheming tends to be silly and dubious. However with that in mind, it still remains cracking entertainment by delivering many unpredictable developments, dangerous intrigue and few exhilaratingly edgy action set-pieces amongst its illustrative Berlin backdrop. However don't go in thinking its going to be an all-out action assault like "Wild Geese", it's not. It plays out more so like a spy-game. Director Peter R. Hunt ("Death Hunt", "Gold" and "On Her Majesty's Secret Service") durably puts its together, making it gripping as what starts of as simple reconnaissance becomes a knotty web of deals and plans where it's hard to know who's really playing who. A diligently compact script (which agreeably has a slight sense of humour) keeps it interesting and on the move, as the narrative constantly shifts about and the strategies keep on changing due to circumstances. So it's rather calculative in its build-up, in what seems like a waiting game and then picking the right time to set it all in motion. Although when it comes to its climatic ending, you feel like it has all come to nothing. Performances are rather modest from its game cast. A stoically glazed Scott Glenn is equitable in the central role (and is quite fancy with a switchblade), but its Edward Fox who effortlessly steals the show as a lethally cunning English mercenary. Barbara Carrera offers capable support. Also showing up are John Terry, Robert Webber, Patrick Stewart, Ingrid Pitt and Laurence Olivier as Rudolf Hess.
"...Death ate its way into me and it never left."