Red Eagle (1994 TV Movie) User Reviews

One Hour Too Long

[ckcckc-84227 · 4/10 · 14 November 2020]

Good heavens I'm not sure I watched the same movie as these other guys. True, it had bags of potential and an interesting story line but someone forgot to edit it and it really would have benefited from the deft removal of a good hour from the almost 3-hour run time.

Omar Sharif, Timothy Dalton and Marg Helgenberger did a fair job somewhat against the odds, but supporting scenes were poorly scripted, acted and directed and some of the 'mercenaries' looked more like I.T. guys who did a bit of T.A. at the weekend.

I can't help but also observe it seems to have been made for the American market, thus much potential for rich cultural background has been stifled - at its most basic level this includes protestors marching through Paris - at least I think it was Paris - with placards all written in English!

Much might be forgiven, but the film's fundamental flaw is that it totally failed to explain the metamorphosis of Nigel Havers' character from a sensitive and considerate friend and altruistic doctor to a snivelling wife-beating homicidal lunatic. We understand he was coerced and duped into betraying his friends; but his subsequent behaviour is a complete non sequitur.

OK, made for TV, we didn't expect too much. There's still quite a bit to entertain. An 'A'-movie it is not.

Very well acted mini-series

[t-xy · 28 September 2015]

I don't usually write reviews, but seeing several misleading ones here, I decided to add my own. One reviewer laments the lack of Luxembourg locale. I believe Luxembourg is one of the producing countries as well as one of several filming locations of this mini-series. Not having been to Luxembourg I cannot say for sure, but I took it that the first part, which is set in that country, is actually filmed there, even if it's only a few generic city streets and buildings. Luxembourg serves very well as a country where a CIA agent might have a bank job as cover for his clandestine activities, and where an American nurse and a Czech born young doctor work in a hospital. Personally, I never expected to see "chocolate box" pictures of Luxembourg, so don't see a problem with the representation of the country.

Another reviewer seems to have read the book but not watched the film. It seems that much of the book is set in Afghanistan. I haven't read it, so can't say. While it may be interesting to know how realistically the author describes the country and conditions there, in the film the action takes place in the Nagorny-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. So a review concentrating solely on conditions in Afghanistan is not really helpful here.

The storyline is this: Jack (Timothy Dalton) is a CIA field agent who is sent to Azerbaijan to safely bring a tribal leader from the region, Safar Khan (Omar Sharif), to a conference in a Western country. Jack is rather cynical, and immediately points out that it's not about human rights, but purely about oil, and initially he refuses to have anything to do with the mission and walks out on his superiors. However, there is video footage that can be used to persuade him to take on the mission.

After this short introduction the film moves to Luxembourg and we are filled in on the back story of the main characters: Kate (Marg Helgenberger) is an American nurse with a social conscience who is in a relationship with Jack (Dalton), but also in close contact and very friendly with Peter (Nigel Havers), an idealistic young doctor who grew up in Czechoslovakia (the "Dubcek, Dubcek" flashbacks he has during the riot scene make that clear). It's obvious the rather sensitive Peter has always been in love with Kate and is jealous of the confident Jack. While Kate genuinely loves Jack, he uses her as contact and cover for his CIA activities, but shows just enough respect for her to warn her of his cynical nature.

Towards the end of part one, we find out that Peter is indebted to the Russian secret service, his studies having been sponsored by them. He learns about Jack's CIA involvement and warns Kate that her lover is using her. Finding out for herself that this is true, Kate decides to go with Peter when he is sent to the war torn region of Nagorny-Karabakh in Azerbaijan to work there as a doctor for a medical aid organization.

Part two of the film is set in Azerbaijan. Kate and Peter are married now, and she is expecting their child. Peter's KGB handlers are starting to call in favours, Kate gives birth. It is video footage of Kate in this place that's used to persuade Jack to go to Azerbaijan. He's caught up in an ambush, gets shot and ends up in Peter and Kate's clinic in need of treatment. In this environment nobody trusts anybody and everybody has their own agenda.

Giving away how the story pans out from there would be too much of a spoiler for a review. Let me just say that it's a nice mix of adventure, spy thriller and romantic triangle which should appeal to a wide audience. The run time of 180 minutes means that there is plenty time for the back story and there are no holes in the plot.

The cast is impressive, and the acting very good all round. Marg Helgenberger is believable and very likable as Kate, Dalton is a great actor whatever he does, but I can't find much likeness to his Bond in this. He's ruggedly handsome in shabby jeans and a parka, but his character reminds me more of Clancy's CIA agents than of 007. Nigel Havers is well cast as the hapless doctor. His character is not very likable, but he plays it well. Juergen Prochnow (familiar to international audiences as captain of Das Boot) is a menacing villain indeed, and Omar Sharif is quite perfect as wise and wily tribal leader. Overall, it's worth while watching if you can find it. Just as long as you don't expect to see either too much of Luxembourg or anything of Afghanistan. And keep in mind that this was produced as a mini-series for TV, not as a feature film for theatrical release.

I was disappointed

[NuStrt3 · 2/10 · 6 May 2021]

They must have run out of dialogue with the ending. And why oh why cast an actor with a obvious thick British accent play an American. The only good thing about this flick was Tim Dalton.

A great film - reminded me of Dalton as Bond.

[Ffolkes-3 · 10/10 · 31 December 2000]

I always liked Dalton and still think he was much better as Bond than Brosnan. So I was very pleased when I first watched "Lie Down with Lions" - it reminded of Dalton as 007. It's not a typical action movie, it's plot is much more dramatic and full of many interesting characters played by such great actors as Nigel Havers, Omar Shariff and Jurgen Prochnov. It's more "down to Earth", especially for people like me who live in the centre of Europe or in Far East. Locations are just beautiful and it's true that sometimes they may remind of "The Living Daylights". I would recommend that film not only for men but also for women, I'm sure you won't be disappointed. My grade is 9/10 (only because it's not a cinema movie - and it's a pity).

Very good movie... and even featuring Timothy Dalton !

[Alex Froll · 8/10 · 8 September 1999]

Firstly, I'm a huge James Bond fan. Therefore, I'd die for an action movie with Bond star, and especially Timothy Dalton. But not only that makes this film very good - it has good story, very good play, great actors (Timothy Dalton ! Omar Shariff !), and a strong production - yes, there could be good moves even with that budget ! And, sometimes filming locations will play deja-vu with you - "hey, isn't it a Living Daylights ???".

Very Entertaining

[coxy-10 · 8/10 · 29 May 2008]

This is really a love story between CIA agent Jack Carver and a nurse named Kate. Their affair begins out of Kate's friendship with a person of interest to the CIA--Peter Husak. CIA thinks Kate is useful and thus Jack is meant to get intimate with her to get any secrets about Peter, whom she used to have a romantic relationship. She full heartedly falls in love with Jack. When Jack's identity is revealed, they split apart. She runs off with Peter to some afghan/Arab place where he runs a clinic. Jack, in the meantime, hates what he's done to Kate as he discovers he truly loves her. When the KGB get involved with Peter and his clinic, things get serious. Kate's just had a baby, and Peter is secretly coerced to helping the KGB thwart the efforts of a rebellion against Moscow power control over the area. The rebels are the very people Kate & Peter have befriended, so betrayal goes deep. There's a person of interest the KGB are trying to kidnap--this is where the CIA get involved again. They try to recruit Jack, who has tried to forget his CIA life. Having a chance to see Kate, however, he accepts the assignment.

This is where a lot of the fun begins! Jack uses his CIA know-how to thwart the KGB mercenaries from bombing a convoy, taking medical supplies and food (and guns)to the rebels in the remote villages. He's planting bombs, running through gun-fire, and getting shot in the arse, adding a bit of humor and humanity to our 'Bond-like hero'.

Jack is able to rekindle his affair with Kate, save his 'charge' (Omar Shariff) from getting captured, & win the fight against the KGB & mercenaries--all in a few days work!

Dalton and Helgenberger create a delightful chemistry; He still knows how to bring the action and the romance. And, Dalton even has a few touching moments with the little baby, Hope.

Great Movie, especially for Dalton fans.

Timothy Dalton, shame on you...

[milk_blush · 24 November 2006]

I must admit, I started watching the movie only because I am from Luxembourg and I was curious about how and especially where they had done it. Well, after a few seconds I realized that it might not be what the description said. After an hour or so, I really wanted to stop watching it, but I could not turn off, still hoping that there might be one or two scenes coming that they shot in Luxembourg. So I really watched the entire movie, in which I found no Timothy Dalton to be called "Bond-like" and nobody else that could have saved the movie. So, whoever wrote the first comment, maybe he or she saw a different movie, as far as I am concerned, it was not worth the hours I spent watching it.

An American girl caught between two lovers who prove murderers

[clanciai · 8/10 · 27 December 2021]

From the beginning you start wondering who is the father of Kate's child. The answer eventually becomes clear but is never satisfactory. The real father almost denounces it, claiming he is only the biological father. It's an interesting love triangle with tremendous complications to an intimate companionship in the beginning getting all mixed up with her two men both being involved in politics - she is caught between two fires, one worse than the other, and one would think that the doctor would have some objections against killing people, while he just keeps looking on when the villain (Jurgen Prochnow) runs amuck with his sadism into inhuman atrocities. The weakness in this film is in the story. Ken Follett wrote some very good books, but here there are some very disturbing biases. There are no nuances to the cynical villain Jurgen Prochnow, the village imam is also depicted as thoroughly inhuman, the mercenaries are mercenaries and not human at all, while all the sympathies have to be with the mountain people and villagers. Timothy Dalton is always good, he was best as Heathcliff in the 1970 film of "Wuthering Heights", but then he was lost in the hard-boiled Bond business. The most interesting performance is maybe by Omar Sharif, although he appears late, but his role is outstanding. The music is also excellent, while actually my only objection against the film is in Ken Follett's book.

From the Book

[txwaho · 13 October 2013]

Just read the Book: Lie Down with Lions written by Ken Follett. So this is the movie. Now I have to find it somewhere.

From other reviews it doesn't seem to follow the book as closely which outlines a lot of the Russian war with Afghanistan. But there is certainly enough plot, action, history, romance, deceit, and intrigue to keep you interested. Descriptions of the Afghan countryside, people, tribes and their inner conflict before Osama Ben Laden lets you know that not much has changed. Follett even mentions Bagram Air Force Base which we are using now.

A friend of mine is working in the South of Afghanistan and he says it is truly completely different from the Northern area where the book is set. The book really gives you a picture of what our troops are up against and why it is possibly a futile war, for a lot of reasons.

Worth seeing!

[RodrigAndrisan · 10/10 · 11 December 2023]

This is not a James Bond film! The only connection with the Bond series is the presence of Timothy Dalton in the main role, Jack Carver being his character here. Timothy Dalton, together with Sean Connery, are in my humble opinion the best actors who gave life to the famous secret agent 007. Along with Timothy Dalton, you will see the acting performances of some exceptional actors such as Omar Sharif, Jürgen Prochnow, Kabir Bedi, Philippe Leroy, Paul Freeman, Nigel Havers and, in the leading female role, Marg Helgenberger. It is the best film in which I have seen Kabir "Sandokan" Bedi. Omar Sharif and Jürgen Prochnow also play two special roles. So, if you want to see a good action movie, I guarantee it's not a waste of time. The film is very good, absolutely worth seeing.

Long before the headlines of today.

[elcoat · 20 January 2021]

So a film 25 years ago about internecine and externally abetted intrigue in Nagorno-Karabakh, between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which has certainly been in the news recently.

With a love triangle plus baby worked in.

The topic reminds me of the 1994 Before the Rain or the equally excellent 1998 Savior about the Balkans but short of those.

The ending seems implausible.