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The Saint (1997) More at IMDbPro »

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158 comments in total

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59 out of 71 people found the following comment useful :-
A guilty pleasure, 20 March 2004
Author: Crewgrrl20 from Washington, DC

I love this movie. As a movie buff, I must admit, objectively, this is a bad movie. The writing is ridiculous, the plot is convoluted, and Val Kilmer's accents are bizarre. But I love this movie. It is that wonderful combination of danger and romance that makes for great fantasy. The chemistry between Kilmer and Shue holds this movie together. It is a delight to watch them realize that their skin deep attraction goes much deeper. If you can suspend your disbelief and just enjoy the ride, the Saint is a fun movie. Despite its flaws, the Saint is a guilty pleasure to indulge in when your own life is lacking in explosions, gun fights, and sudden, passionate romances.

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46 out of 54 people found the following comment useful :-
Am I the only one to like it?, 22 February 2000

Author: Anders Åslund (anders.aslund@xpress.se) from Karlstad, Sweden

I liked this movie. Not as "The Saint" but as an elaborate action movie with a twist. Val Kilmer bears nothing in him that even gets close to Roger Moore's character - but if you look away from that and try to see it as an ordinary film, it's really good.

First of all, Val Kilmer performs fairly well, despite his weird accents. I really liked his artist type guy who seduces Emma Russell, he was great fun.

As for the story, well...I didn't bother to check for anomalies, I knew I'd find plenty. I only have two more things to say:

1. Elisabeth Shue is absolutely stunningly beautiful in this film.

2. The cool car that we only get to see a few seconds is a Volvo C70, a worthy replacement for the Volvo P1800 that Moore's Saint drove around in.

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48 out of 66 people found the following comment useful :-
"You don't believe any of this cold fusion mumbo jumbo do you", 3 April 2004

Author: max391983 from Exeter

The Saint starring Val Kilmer is one of my all time favourites I can watch it again and again and again!

The Saint is hired by Russian gangsters to get a secret cold fusion formula from a brilliant, beautiful and young scientist played by Elisabeth Shue. Anyway he falls in love and has to outwit the dangerous gangsters.

Val Kilmer plays the eccentric master thief the Saint who has a dark past and an impressive talent for disguise. All the different characters the Saint disguises himself as are memorable. I personally like heroes with a dark past who aren't perfect and have suffered to become who they are today.

The chemistry on screen between Val Kilmer and Elisabeth Shue is excellent - and well Elisabeth Shue is beautiful! This is such a fun feel good film (although it does have dark elements to it) that gets better every time I watch it and personally I do find some characters touching especially the Saint himself who Val Kilmer plays perfectly.

This film has a bit of everything - romance, comedy, drama, suspense and action and is definitely worth renting and is definitely in my collection!

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36 out of 47 people found the following comment useful :-
Val Kilmer's performance is incredible, 16 October 2004

Author: Lotts from Stockton, England

I thoroughly enjoyed this film and not just because of Val Kilmer's accomplishment at successfully being eye-candy, but also because of the amazing personality transformations his character goes through in front of the mirror. The story line itself is pretty impressive and I loved that although it keeps you guessing, you don't end up wondering, "What the hell is going on?' The science side is played down enough for the audience to know it's there but not to get distracted by its details. I don't know if the theory actually works, but after watching the film I don't really care - that isn't the point of the movie.

The thing that surprised me the most though was the leading female scientist, played by Elisabeth Shue. It's obvious from the start that she's going to be the 'love interest' but her characters personality always puts a question to the question, will they actually end up together. She's shy and nervous of people, but is incredibly open, honest and warmly lovable - an almost perfect contrast to Kilmer's über-suave, identity-confused, international thief-for-hire/spy. But that's the very thing that makes them ideal for each other, they might just be able to help each other with their character flaws and so you root for them both on a rather grand scale.

I was vaguely baffled by the inclusion of random, suffering Russian civilians towards the latter half of the film, but considering that they were a film device to make the baddie look bad, the goodie look good and the 'common people trapped in the middle' look down right fantastic, they do their job rather well (apart from one woman who rats out our hero). All in all, they makes sure the audience are still caring if the common people are helped by the good guy, and hoping that the bad guy will eventually get his comeuppance.

However, back to my original point. I still think that the film's main achievement is putting Val Kilmer in an interesting role that shows off just how good he can be; he's observant, yet unobservable; seductive, yet not a cad; confident but riddled with insecurities. Moreover, in the early stages of the film, British students are no longer misrepresented as drunken, whoring lay-abouts, but as attentive learners who actually show up for lectures. Impressive stuff.

Yours Sincerely, A Proud British Student.

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36 out of 47 people found the following comment useful :-
Excellent, 14 February 2000

Author: Matt-14 from Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Reading the average vote for THE SAINT disappointed me. 5.8, come on! It should at least be a 7 if not an 8! Many were disappointed because it didn't live up to the TV series. I have never seen the series so I can't really compare. Val Kilmer was just perfect for Simon Templar, and um a lot of saints. Elisabeth Shue was great for Emma Russell, as was Rade Serbedzija for Tretiak. I thought the rest of the actors were good too. I loved the plot and everything about the movie. Its a great espionage type thriller. Its a combo of Bond and Mission: Impossible. Bond gadgets, Mission: Impossible type plot. If you like those types of movies, see THE SAINT. 8/10

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26 out of 32 people found the following comment useful :-
Pleasantly surprised, 10 October 2004
Author: dcobbimdb

Maybe my expectations were too low going in after reading a slue of terrible reviews, but I thought it was a good solid movie and very entertaining. Val Kilmer was great in his disguises and rolls. Elisabeth Shue was attractive as ever and played her part well. The movie kept on a continual pace, and kept the action and suspense throughout. There were a few things I thought were lame and it got a little unrealistic at times, but all in all it was a good solid movie. Maybe even a good action / romance date movie. If you haven't seen it (as I hadn't until today), give it a try. It has action, suspense, romance, and a little comedy thrown in for good measure. It runs in at just about 2 hours long, so long enough to get a good plot, some twists & turns and yet not bore you. There will always be people that pick plot holes in movies and just love proving that it's road kill. If you're one of those people, maybe you should stay away, but if you want a good entertaining popcorn movie it's worth a watch.

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30 out of 45 people found the following comment useful :-
great cast, good plot highly underrated movie classic, 12 April 2004

Author: Lord-Angelis from doncaster, England

This film upon first viewing might not bowl you over as I thought it only o.k however after watching it many times I began to see just how good a movie it really was. Firstly you have fantastic locations which I must admit generally don't draw the out the movie going public out in huge droves but do help the movie in my eyes, then you have the cast, Val kilmer makes a fantastic Simon Templer although I was'nt the biggest fan of the tv series upon which the movie is based so have no basis for comparison, which is probably a good thing as comparing actors again'st other actors who once filled the role can make the viewers decide its going to be awful before even giving it a chance.... to cut a long story short I'll say this..... good plot, great cast especially Val Kilmer pulling off the cool, dark and secretive character he portrays and last of all excellent locations all I can say is view it as a new movie and not a modern remake and see what you think.

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27 out of 43 people found the following comment useful :-
Beautiful, 25 January 1999

Author: JEC64 from Vegas

This is one of those movies that is strictly for the eye. The soundtrack by Graeme Revell was brilliant, Elizabeth Shue is absolutely stunning. In the apartment scene her eyes shine in diamond hazel colors. It was just a simply movie, decent acting, but there was something about it. It captured an essence, I can't actually describe it, it was actually corny and beautiful at the same time.

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15 out of 20 people found the following comment useful :-
The Saint walks Among Us, 5 January 2007

Author: thinker1691 from USA

Back in the sixties Roger Moore don the persona of Simon Templar, known to his fans as The Saint. From the small tube to the Silver Screen, our hero has arisen to a modern audience. With the superb talents of Val Kilmer, the saint is out to accomplish two goals. First he attempts to secure his life-long ambition of amassing $1 billion dollars, and second to perform three miracles. In the process, he encounters both friends and life threatening villains. In this episode, the Saint attempts to save the crumbling Soviet Empire' energy supply, by revamping the scientific and long sought-after formula of Cold Fusion. In this story, he helps brainy, Dr. Lev Botvin, (Henry Goodman) perfect the celebrated formula of Physist Emma Russell, (Elisabeth Shue). The re-energized formula will replenish Russia's dwindling energy and save the Premiere of Russia from the anti-government villains played adroitly by (Rade Serbedzija), Ivan Tretiak, (Valeri Nikolayev) and Vereshagin (Michael Byrne), the archenemies of Templar. Alun Armstrong is believable as Inspector Teal. The film is fast paced and action oriented with plenty of drama, guns, explosions and international intrigue. Kilmer is fantastic and I believe this will become a classic among all the great films of his career. ****

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15 out of 22 people found the following comment useful :-
SAINTLY,A CLEVER MOVIE!, 1 December 2004
Author: Brian T. Whitlock (GOWBTW) from WILMINGTON, NC

This movie is more of the modern day version of "Robin Hood", only without the bow and arrows. Val Kilmer, plays the role very well. To me in my opinion is no Batman, but he does provide a lot of action in this movie. Simon Templar is more than just a "saint", he's a chameleon in the process.

Elisabeth Shue, is great, I remembered her from "The Karate Kid" and "Leaving Las Vegas", did very well playing Emma, she looked great throughout the movie. I liked the part when that Russian hooker helped Simon and Emma from the Russian Mafia led by Ivan Tretiak. Once his own countrymen found out who he really was, the people turned on him big time. I think this movie was a lot of fun, and I wish Kilmer would put up such an ego. Rating 3 out of 5 stars. 8 out of 10!

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