In a way, I suppose this is the ultimate take on modern mercenary soldiers, just as, for example, "March or Die" - made around the same time - was THE French Foreign Legion movie, simply because there weren't too many films made in that particular genre, if there is such a thing. It caught my eye way back just due to the casting coup of Burton, Moore, & Harris - a 'Big 3' Brit triumvirate if there ever was one. It was also gratifying to see Kruger, whom I remembered from way earlier in "Hatari" in the early sixties. But the main thing about this actual film is that it captured the feel of what being a merc in modern times must be like. They don't particularly enjoy their work - because it IS their work - anymore than a nine-to-fiver in an office enjoys theirs. It's a job, something one gets paid for. As it happens, all these men were trained for this type of work and it would probably be a waste of talent to be doing something else.
The most interesting sections for me were the recruitment and re-training of the unit. As it happens, a lot of these gents are stuck in 'normal' jobs when not running about in some African wilderness; tho they seem content in a safe job, at best, you clearly get the impression they're just biding time until their 'real' work begins. In a way, they're all stuck in a cycle, brought about by their unusual expertise - this is what they were meant to do, to sound melodramatic about it. I'm also glad, to reiterate an earlier point differently, that a bunch of 30-year old actors weren't cast, especially as the leads. These are hard-core veterans who've been through a lot; this is just the latest stake in a long run. When they're betrayed, it's a return to standard action-adventure, but you can do much worse than the locale in this one - it's got that 'exotic' foreign soil feel so necessary for these types of pics.
It's sobering to realize that Burton only did a few more films after this, as he died too young. I, for one, am grateful he got this action picture out of his system before he passed away - he brings his usual excellent authority, necessary when up against Moore, Harris and all the rest. Harris has the most poignant backstory here and is very good as possibly the most vulnerable of the Geese.
The most interesting sections for me were the recruitment and re-training of the unit. As it happens, a lot of these gents are stuck in 'normal' jobs when not running about in some African wilderness; tho they seem content in a safe job, at best, you clearly get the impression they're just biding time until their 'real' work begins. In a way, they're all stuck in a cycle, brought about by their unusual expertise - this is what they were meant to do, to sound melodramatic about it. I'm also glad, to reiterate an earlier point differently, that a bunch of 30-year old actors weren't cast, especially as the leads. These are hard-core veterans who've been through a lot; this is just the latest stake in a long run. When they're betrayed, it's a return to standard action-adventure, but you can do much worse than the locale in this one - it's got that 'exotic' foreign soil feel so necessary for these types of pics.
It's sobering to realize that Burton only did a few more films after this, as he died too young. I, for one, am grateful he got this action picture out of his system before he passed away - he brings his usual excellent authority, necessary when up against Moore, Harris and all the rest. Harris has the most poignant backstory here and is very good as possibly the most vulnerable of the Geese.