SteinMo What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.

Livestonth I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

Robert Joyner The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Kaydan Christian A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

thud-5 Sorry if this offends some, but I have major problems with this series. Starting with Ian Oglivy as Simon Teplar. Now, his character name may be the same as the character played by Sir Roger Moore in the original series, but he isn't really The Saint. He is vaguely Saint-like, but is far too much a puppet of the organization for which he works.Instead of suave and cunning, Oglivy's Templar is brash. Rather than a twinkle in his eye, this new "Saint" seems to vacillate between looking slightly embarrassed and looking just bit too smug.True, I am one of those, "James Bond WAS Sean Connery" and "Simon Templar WAS Roger Moore" types. Perhaps that colors my perspective, but watching some of these episodes in 2008-09 hasn't done anything to change my opinion of the show back in 1978-79 when I first saw it. I have also gone back to watch several of the Roger Moore series recently. They hold up. Rather nicely, too. The plots are paper thin and the supporting acting is sometimes painful. I would give examples, but they would end up being spoilers.For completists out there, go for the DVD. For Ian Ogilvy fans, go for it. But, if you have warm, fuzzy memories of the original The Saint shows, don't say that one crabby old fart didn't warn you.

ShadeGrenade I can remember seeing Ian Ogilvy in 'Upstairs Downstairs' in 1972 ( he played impotent poet 'Lawrence Kirbridge' ) and thinking how like Roger Moore he looked. If someone had told me then he would one day go on to inherit Moore's most famous role I would not have been the least bit surprised.The original 'Saint' ended in 1969 but was still being repeated by I.T.V. when Moore was doing the Bond films, mostly in daytime slots. Robert S. Baker, the producer, felt there was more mileage in the character and so in 1978 'Return Of The Saint' hit British television screens. I.T.V. networked it in a high-profile Sunday night slot.I was disappointed by the first few episodes. The character of Simon Templar seemed anachronistic at a time when 'The Sweeney' and 'Starsky & Hutch' ruled the roost. Ogilvy's trendy suits and the hideous saxophone/synthesiser theme music only made matters worse. The show's excellent title sequence had Templar's matchstick man trademark doing various 'Saintly' things such as jumping off a bridge, fighting a thug, and even kissing a girl! Baker hired Peter Allan Fields as 'Executive Story Consultant', but after a handful of episodes, he left, and Baker brought in as a replacement Anthony Spinner, who had worked on 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.' and 'The Invaders' amongst other shows. Spinner wished to be credited as 'producer' and was, even though Baker was still in charge. He had the good sense to retain many of the original production team, such as writers John Kruse and Terence Feely, directors Leslie Norman and Jeremy Summers.The expensive location filming gave the series a glossy sheen, but lost it the charm of the Elstree-bound Moore shows. Ogilvy could have made an excellent 'Saint' had he been encouraged to develop his own personality and not simply impersonate Moore. He was also much too young for the role. 'T.V. Times' readers disagreed, they voted him 'Most Compulsive Male Personality' of 1979. He was also the recipient of a 'This Is Your Life' book that year, and walked into the Thames studio to great gales of applause.Loads of crumpet for Simon to work his charm on, including Kate O'Mara, Prunella Gee, Judy Geeson, Mary Tamm, Catherine Schell, Tessa Wyatt, Carolyn Seymour, Lynn Dalby and Gayle Hunnicutt. Amongst the best episodes were 'The Armaggeddon Alternative', a prophetic tale of a mad bomber at large in London, 'Murder Cartel', the two-parter 'Collision Course' ( later reedited into a T.V. movie entitled 'The Saint & The Brave Goose' ), and 'The Arrangement' ( a rip-off of Patricia Highsmith's 'Strangers On A Train', and boasting a fabulous guest shot from Carolyn Seymour as psychotic 'Lady Greer Stevens' ).'Return' was the last of its kind - the glossy, globe-trotting I.T.C. adventure series, a line that can be traced back to 1959 and the half-hour version of 'Danger Man'. Lew Grade switched to feature film production ( with middling results ) and no more 'Saints' were made.Its stock has increased over the years, mainly because the Simon Dutton and Val Kilmer versions were so appallingly bad!Parodied by L.W.T.'s 'End Of Part One' as 'Return Of The Doughnut'.

ruth-155 I have fond memories of watching it as a child I'm currently enjoying re-runs. The information about the Jaguar is really interesting. I'm very fond of it especially the tan coloured interior. I'm looking forward to getting the DVDs.Ian Ogilvy's interpretation of The Saint is very interesting. I like his sense of humour and I like the way he dresses. Collision Course is my favourite story especially part two. I'm very interested in getting the books to read as I have never been able to get the books. I first began watching the original Saint series as re-runs when I was 4 and still feel he has retained his special mystery. May the sign of The Saint be ever present.Ruth

anthonywalshaw_2 The Return of the Saint sits uneasily alongside both the previous ITC series and contemporary programmes of 1978, being a hybrid of the two. The location shooting and updated theme music compare with the most recent programmes, but the clichéd plots and much of the scripts/acting belong in the glory days of ITC a decade or so previously, when they were more believable to the audiences. Staged set-pieces with buffoonish villains were now dated and improbable rather than stylish and entertaining. The same character actors involved could often be seen in such as The Sweeney and The Professionals doing fight scenes far more realistically. There are likely several reasons why the programme did not extend beyond one series. Ian Ogilvy perhaps seemed a bit youthful compared to Roger Moore but his performances were fine and the programme was certainly popular at the time. The Grade Organisation (incorporating ATV/ITC) had not really moved on by the late-1970's, with its output still consisting of 1960's style caper/adventure movies/TV shows when almost everything else had moved towards a grittier realism. It was probably very expensive to make and worldwide sales might not have been good overall.It is difficult to imagine ATV/ITC making shows with gratuitous violence and foul language and we should be thankful that they didn't. Their output, like the Hammer & Carry On films in the same period, had a brand quality and style particular to its maker and era. But by the late 1970's that era had gone and their empire was about to disintegrate. That said, The Return of the Saint was not a bad way to depart being entertaining in the best tradition of ITC, with good guest actors complimenting the competent Ogilvy. Remember also that the seemingly more realistic Professionals had many ridiculous plot situations and equally has a mixed though generally favourable reaction when being assessed by critics.