MovieChat Forums > Reilly: Ace of Spies (1983) Discussion > Just watched series for the first time.

Just watched series for the first time.

posted 17 years ago by bytor4
10 replies | jump to latest

I cannont believe I had never heard of this before! I recently was reading a thread on the Bourne Ultimatum board where people listed their favorite spy films, this series was mentioned more than a few times and as the spy genre is my favorite in film I thought it would be worth checking into. After reading reviews I felt compelled to order the series on a whim. I have just now finished the series and it was mind blowing! I cant believe how good this is Sam Neil is awesome in the role and the directing is outstanding. The major complaint I have noticed from people is the poor film quality...but who cares! The story, acting, and set pieces are so strong you dont even notice. This is one of the best (if not the best) spy series I have ever seen. I will surely watch this many times over. Now I want to read as many books about Sidney Reilly as I can. Thank goodness for IMDB or I would have still been in the dark on this one.

[–] old-dutch 17 years ago

I think that might have been my thread. I watched it for the first time a month ago and thought it was great. If I had one complaint, it was that the storyline jumped quite a bit from one episode when Sydney Reilly engineered the German Warship contracts for the Germans, to the next episode and it is near the end of WWI. I suppose not much happened during that time, but the other episodes were a lot tighter in time line and then there was this huge jump.

But it was an incredible series that I would recommend to anyone that thinks James Bond, Jason Bourne or Jack Bauer are the end all of secret agents.

It's a great period piece, especially the extravegances of pre WWI czarist Russia.

"Who's the bigger fool, the fool or the fool that follows him" ...Obi Wan Kenobi

[–] bruce-129 17 years ago

This movie was so great, and having just seen "Bourne Ultimatum" as well, I have to say that this kind of James Bond type ricuiculous action is so awful compared to the more realistic, more non-fictional account of Sydney Reilly. What an amazing story. It really makes one wonder, who runs this world. Fantasticly interesting story.

[–] annathedub 16 years ago

This has been lying on my shelf for about 3 years now, and I still haven't gotten around to watching it (I have far, far too many dvds that I haven't watched yet). Perhaps I will give it a go in the next few days.

[–] bruce-129 16 years ago

That is about how long it took me. It was given to me as
a gift and I had my doubts. What finally got me to preview
it was noticing that it was supposed to be based on a true
story. It kind of sucked me into it and by the end I was
truly amazed.

[–] fanaticita 13 years ago

I just finished watching all of the episodes, and whew! I have to say I was astonished at the level of acting, the intense and complicate history the story presented, and the final outcome! I especially liked the relationship between Reilly and the man who headed the Trust -the tall skinny man who at the end walked out in the snow with Reilly.

Reilly was certainly an interesting character. . . charismatic, ambitious, passionate with a calm and cool exterior, and did I say ambitious???! I saw many of the actors I've liked in other spy/mystery films: David Suchet, and Peter Egan (John Le Carre's A Perfect Spy) and others.

How will I ever find another spy series so compelling???

[–] commanderjeltz 13 years ago

Just finished watching the first CD and am looking forward to the others. Sam Neill is so good; he is the main reason I ordered it. Another movie he starsinis "Country Life," a movie based on a Chekhov story, which is set in Australia at the end of WWI. He plays a doctor. It is an excellent little movie and beautifully produced.

[–] annathedub 13 years ago

Still haven't gotten around to watching it. Probably about 6 years on my shelf now. Still have far too many dvds to watch. Will get around to it some day.

[–] fanaticita 13 years ago

Watch it!!!! I'm on my second go 'round and love it!

[–] Don-the-Lamplighter 8 years ago

The one thing that....I wish was done differently, I guess is how I'd say it....are the accents.

I understand it has to be in English (though I do not mind subtitles), but it was almost a chore to initially determine who was what nationality because everybody sounded English. It took a while (and some "rewinds") sometimes to determine that this character was Russian and worked with the Cheka or was, in fact, English and was in Russia as an ambassador, for example.

The budget no doubt prohibited using French and German, etc. actors, but are there so few actors that can affect different accents? Just that little touch would've brought this up to near a 10, IMO. If Lenin has to speak English, he should at least sound like a Russian, not a Scotsman.

Oh yeah, almost forgot....I love David Suchet, but his portraying someone that was supposed to be Chinese (or Mongolian?) was cringe-worthy.

[–] slimone (7996) 4 years ago

I watched the last episode last night, and was surprised to learn that Sidney Reilly was a real person. The series is very good. I highly recommend it. Sam Neil was excellent.