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List Price: $9.98 | | Label: Paramount
Salesrank: 4371
Released: October 7, 1998 |
| Our Price: $3.48 |
| Used Price: $0.99 |
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MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Val Kilmer sizzles as Simon Templar, Aka the saint, a gentleman thief and master of disguise caught in a deadly web of international intrigue.
Description of The Saint:
Lightly enjoyable but a disappointment in the context of author Leslie Charteris's popular character, the Saint--who has been played by several actors, most notably George Sanders--this 1997 film is more in keeping with the requirements of high-octane contemporary action than it is the requirements of a particular legacy. Val Kilmer plays Simon Templar, the mercenary spy, who is hired to steal a fusion formula but falls in love with the scientist (Elisabeth Shue) who cooked it up. Kilmer's portrayal bears little resemblance to Charteris's rakish hero, and the film itself becomes increasingly improbable and ponderous the longer it goes on. --Tom Keogh
The Saint Reviews:
Terrific Action-Suspense Thriller. 
2009-10-12 - Based on the series starring Roger Moore, who would go on to even greater fame as James Bond in seven classic films, "The Saint" is reborn...this time from the writer of "Die Hard With A Vengeance" and the director of "Dead Calm," "Patriot Games" & "Clear And Present Danger." Starring Val Kilmer ("Tombstone," "Batman Forever") and Elisabeth Shue ("The Karate Kid"), this film is an adrenaline-charged, suspense-filled ride from start to hair-raising finish. Listen for a surprise cameo just before the end credits. (It's "Saint"ly). Though I prefer the new ending, I would like to see the original ending as Jonathan Hensleigh and Philip Noyce envisioned the film. Disregard the PG-13 rating. It's tame, compared to "Good Luck, Chuck" and other salacious movies being released nowadays. Rated PG for action-violence and brief strong language.
Forgettable 90's Thriller 
2009-09-14 - Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3744EGJ1HIN64
Watch it again for U.S. policy on Russia 
2009-06-21 - I saw this at the theatres when it came out and was enthralled by it. I saw it multiple times, although that was partially because I was studying in Jordan at the time and in Jordan I would watch American movies just to get a break from my Arabic immersion program (I think I watched more movies that year than I have in the last ten). Nevertheless, the fact that I was abroad made the international setting of it seem more exiting. At that time I had never been to Russia.
I think I watched it once on tape after that, after having lived in Russia (in 1999), and I realized then how much Russians would hate this movie. I've now just recently watched it again for the first time in probably eight years, and of course I've spent a lot of time developing my thinking on international affairs during that span.
Now watch this again to see what was wrong with how Americans viewed Russia in the 1990s. Like Sean Connery's "The Rising Sun" on Japan in the early 1990s, this movie reflects how Americans viewed Russia during that time. Not that it was necessarily inaccurate. The speech given by the character of Ivan Tretiak certainly captures how many Russians feel. And Russia did have a kind of hapless reformist president at that time.
The key is the closing scenes in which an American has to tell the hapless Russian president what he should do, and then when another American works some magic behind the scenses, Russians enthusiastically fall for him. This is precisely how the U.S. foreign policy establishment treated Russia during that time. Why it was not clear that Russians would resent this, I don't know.
As far as the movie itself is concerned, I still enjoy the build-up even though the ending is dumb. And I think this is the only movie Val Kilmer ever successfully carried. He has been in other great movies (Heat, Ghost in the Darkness), but he's never led another that I'd consider watching twice. And of course there is Elisabeth Shue, and very briefly, Emily Mortimer in a short but memorable role.
The greatest force in this universe is......
2009-06-12 - If you are in love, have been in love or just been in love w/ the idea of being in love; The Saint is just the movie to see. Not only is it action packed (from beginning to end), comical at times and fantastic to watch (location wise); it is one of my favorite love stories. The connection between Elisabeth Shue's and Val Kilmer's character is amazingly stunning. Anyone in their right mind would appeal to their chemistry. However, I personally feel that one other thing should be mentioned; the movie score. Simply amazing! Graeme Revell (who has done the score to such movies as "The Crow" and "Strange Days" overwhelms with this score as it is enchantingly beautiful and definitely one of my favorites. In conclusion, this movies has everything that a movies should have and it is so underrated.
One of my all-time favorites!
2009-04-21 - I agree totally with reviewer "Ryan", so I won't repeat him. I'll just add that if you are a fan of Val Kilmer you can't get better than this movie. It's very Kilmerish in every way!
