ffolkes | | Cast : | Roger Moore, James Mason, Anthony Perkins | | Director : | Andrew V. McLaglen | | Studio : | Universal Studios | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen | | Released Date : | March 01, 1980 | | DVD Released Date : | August 12, 2003 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled) | | Audience Rating : | PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | May 16, 2005 | | Summary | Ffantastic Ffilm! | Content
 | When Ffolkes came out, Moore was at the top of his game as 007. This made his character especially ironic in his disdain for women. The theatrical poster played this up with a bearded, Bondlike Moore nonchalant as women are crawling all over him. Ffolkes, like several other non-Bond rolls that Roger Moore made are really his best work (particularly Sea Wolves where he has a very Ian Fleming character). As Ffolkes, Mr. Moore absolutely shines and the film itself is a wonderfully taut thriller with Anthony Perkins as a superb psychotic villain. Too bad he couldn't have played Blofeld! This is also a great example of how it doesn't take a huge budget to make an exciting movie. |
| Rating | | | Date | December 30, 2004 | | Summary | A sleeper, not to be missed. | Content
| This movie was a real sleeper and most people have never heard of it -- their loss. I have a copy in VHS (poor quality) and was excited to find it in DVD (and much improved in quality). Roger Moore plays Ffolks, a cat loving, needlepointing misogynist who has assembled a team of anti-terrorist operatives. When a oil platform in the North Sea is held hostage, whom can the British government turn to? Ffolks, of course.
The writing is great, the acting (how can you go wrong with James Mason, Anthony Perkins and Roger Moore?) is believable, and the story is still topical today. Get a copy of the DVD, you won't regret it. |
| Rating | | | Date | August 03, 2004 | | Summary | A very underappreciated political-thriller | Content
| This 1980 Roger Moore film shows that he could act outside of his James Bond persona. His role as the as Ffolkes --- leader of a band of private anti-terrorist firm --- is as anti-Bond as anything he has ever done. Anthony Perkin's as the main villain is adequate and sometimes his Norman Bates persona seeps through the facade, but not enough to distract.
This film is all Roger Moore. His woman-bashing, cat-loving, cold-blooded, bearded anti-terrorist expert is one of the better characters I have seen on film. All the traits shown initially in Moore's character should make him unlikable, but in the end his character becomes the most intriguing and likable of the bunch. The scenes concerning the negotiations with the terrorists and the plan to retake the off-shore refineries is handle ably and there's not too much unnecessary plot threads to clutter the story. A very good film and very underappreciated as the years go by |
| Rating | | | Date | June 20, 2004 | | Summary | Truly spectacular. | Content
| There's very little I can say about "ffolkes" that hasn't been said before (and better) by others, but I'll try my best. In a complete departure from Bond, Moore portrays Lord ffolkes, an arrogant, eccentric, chauvenistic diver who leads a crack mercenary commando diving team in the employment of Lloyd's of London. Opposite him is Anthony Perkins as Kramer, one of the most dementedly amoral villains I've ever seen on film. Both actors give spectacular, over-the-top performances, which may seem corny and unbelievable if not for the larger-than-life aspect of the film. People who grew up reading Action Force in Marvel's "Battle" magazine will find a lot of similar qualities among the plot and dialog of "ffolkes." It's hard for me to pin down a word to describe that styling, unfortunately.. Overall, this is a classic suspense-thriller, not too tense but not too predictable, with satisfyingly intense (yet relatively bloodless) action sequences. The only downside is that "ffolkes" never spun off into a post-Bond franchise for Mr. Moore.. |
| Rating | | | Date | January 12, 2004 | | Summary | A True Gem!!!! A fine performance by Roger Moore!!!! | Content
| "ffolkes" is an under appreciated and little known film starring, then current James Bond, Roger Moore. For those critics that always felt that Moore was only a "tailor's dummy" standing in for Sean Connery, this script proved that Moore could indeed give a convincing performance as someone other than James Bond or Simon Templer. Just as much as the "Tailor of Panama" was a departure from Bond for Pierce Brosnan, "ffolkes" provided just such a vehicle for Moore. While the distributing company advertised the movie as a 007-style, action adventure piece, it really is more of a hostage drama and showcase for the remarkable character that is Rufus Excaliber ffolkes. To say that Moore makes a believable misogynist and all-around grump is an understatement, yet Moore fashions a very likable and sympathetic character who is entertaining to watch in action. Whether ffolkes demands to speak directly with the Prime Minister (stating that ..."she seems to have some grasp of the situation") or comments that he has never taken "10 minutes" to complete a Sunday Times crossword puzzle, the movie offers some great moments. It is a shame that "ffolkes" (also known as "Assault Force" and "North Sea Hijack") did not really find an audience and offer Moore a chance to reprise this role. Anthony Perkins makes nasty villain, who has some good lines of his own (such as stating to the chief British Government negotiator that the admiral makes it sound as though the "ransom is coming from his and the Queen's joint bank account."). I am grateful that this movie, one of my favorites, is finally available on DVD and hope that people will find it enjoyable and discover that Roger Moore can really act. |
|
