The Fourth Protocol

In the 1960s Michael Caine appeared in a series of spy movies as Len Deighton's fictional cold war hero Harry Palmer. Then in 1986 Caine appeared again in much the same mold except in this instance, since it was based on a book by Frederick Forsyth, his character had a different name, even though in image and style he was very much a Palmer clone.The movie differs markedly from the source novel, however with author Forsyth working the screenplay, the changes are less jarring and make sense given the time constraints of the movie. One example is apparent close to the beginning when we see Preston (played by a Michael Caine channeling all his Harry Palmer prowess) breaking into Berenson's safe to retrieve the pilfered classified documents. In the Forsyth novel the robbery is handled by professional thieves and the novel features them casing the London apartment and the robbery. In a fit of patriotism they deliver them to the authorities who then spend a considerable amount of time attempting to identify the traitor. To have included this investigation in the movie would have dramatically lengthened the screen-time and so Forsyth wisely sidesteps the issue by having Preston perform the safecracking. The movie features the Forsyth plot to assemble a nuclear weapon in the United Kingdom and detonate it next to an American Air Force base. The thought process is that the Americans will be blamed and forced to withdraw their weapons. The movie wisely avoids the Conservative politics of the novel which feature a motivation in the Soviets desire to see the Labour Party win a decisive electoral victory, which the movie makers likely felt could have alienated a large number of the movie-going public. With the KGB smuggling in a weapon piece-by-piece the movie follows the plot of the book quite closely with British intelligence trying to track down the Russian agent after it intercepts materials used in the construction of an atomic weapon.All in all this is a brilliantly plotted drama and possibly one of the best adaptations of an original work no doubt aided by having Forsyth handling the screenplay duties. I'm glad to see this finally arrive on DVD in NTSC. Although a Korean production as evidenced by the writing on the cover you wouldn't know it. The menu's and audio are both in English, the picture and audio are clear and crisp and it played just beautifully on my DVD player. I'll likely pull up my Photoshop CS6 and create my own custom cover.Forsyth has had a number of his works adapted into movies. In the 1970s we had such classics as THE ODESSA FILE and DAY OF THE JACKAL and even Christopher Walken fresh off his Oscar for THE DEER HUNTER appeared in 1980s DOGS OF WAR based on another bestseller. This mid-1980s entry is perhaps a little grittier in tone and more frightening in scope then the other movies mentioned and is ultimately fascinating as much for the picture it paints of the machinations of the intelligence community as for the intrigue played out on screen.One needs to understand the political context in which this sly political thriller was written to appreciate it.Today we are consumed with tackling terrorism but back in the 1980s the big threat was the Soviet Union and its nuclear arsenal. Indeed there were regular protests outside the American airbase of Greenham Common when people expressed their displeasure at the presence of cruise missiles.Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this movie for today's audience is the appearance of a pre-007 Pierce Brosnan as a Russian spy. Having been forced to decline the role of James Bond in 1986 Brosnan instead appeared in this movie as one of the key villains of the piece - and what a nasty piece of work he is. Cold and emotionaless Brosnan's character obeys his orders without question and one wishes that he had played 007 more like this. In fact the plot of this movie bears more than a passing resemblance to the plot of the earlier 007 movie OCTOPUSSY released the year before the novel, though it is handled in a much more serious and plausible manner here.Playing the part of a Russian scientist assigned to put all the pieces together is the beautiful Joanna Cassidy. Her scenes with Brosnan allow the future 007 star to portray a truly ruthless killer for once.The pace of the movie may prove to be a little too pedestrian for those who are used to the action thrillers of today. It is a more measured and (dare I say it) more intelligent approach to the thriller genre but it manages to ratchet up the suspense quite effectively and is well worth a look-see.

I should point out immediately this The Fourth Protocol dvd is the Korean version. It is widescreen 2.35.1 anamorphic and works on my region 1 player. Picture is very good. No troubles watching in English.Ok now the movie review:The Fourth Protocol is a worthy enough addition to the spy genre but still not as good as The Ipcress File or Funeral in Berlin movies Michael Caine starred in 20, 21 years before The Fourth Protocol (1987).Directed by John Mackenzie, Protocol is good enough that I still wanna check out the classic (I’ve read/heard) British mafia movie The Long Good Friday (1980) starring Bob Hoskins.But, the Fourth Protocol loses something in translation by way of Michael Caine’s early on, anti authority smirk as he’s getting bitched out by his superior played by a rather snide, yes, bitchy, Julian Glover (For Your Eyes Only). It comes across like a cliché, especially, since Pierce Brosnan has just appeared stiff and saluting and snapping to attention in front of his very stern comrade boss telling him he’ll be rewarded if succeeding in his new assignment — if he knows what’s good for him. That said, the plot thickens with Ned Beatty popping up as a Russian(?) and somewhere in that bitter cold, god forsaken country someone is not being honest or trustworthy within their own ranks.England, on the other hand, has a traitor in their ranks who somewhat accidentally, it seems, secreted information to Moscow for some personal political reasons. Now he’s gonna be used to give fake information to Russia while the Russians just killed a defector and that assassin is then killed by newly assigned aforementioned Brit star playing a Russian. Kinda confusing but this is connected to the main plot of nuclear weapon being constructed piece by piece by Russia as a bit more than just a scare tactic.Who’s pulling the strings?Who knows?It does appear to make sense by the end with the help of a small but emotionally cold and then very human Russian agent played by Joanna Cassidy (Too bad her part wasn’t bigger).Fourth Protocol throws in some sudden, cringe worthy violence too, in the name of the homeland, so this is not necessarily just a cerebral thriller.I was able to watch a second time while reviewing and was not bored. There’s something to be said (and I am) about WANTING to rewind to get plot details straightened out.One more well written character could have made this a top notch thriller. The Caine and Brosnan characters manage to keep the movie an interesting reasonably exciting thriller watch.From a Frederick Forsyth novel of the same title.The 2 lead stars carry The Fourth Protocol to a 4 star movie

Of course, the performances are spot on by a huge group of veteran actors, and Michael Caine plays the role he does the best, grouchy, loud-mouthed, anti-establishment pariah but you'll be pleasantly surprised by Pierce Brosnan playing against type as a cold-blooded, emotionless assassin. A role which, no doubt, helped him in his later James Bond appearances. But the real reason, I searched for this movie and special ordered it is the ABSOLUTELY RIVETING sequence of the assembly of the atomic bomb in the attic. There's something about the tension portrayed by the actors that is so convincing and chilling that it sticks in the memory. Beware: This version is the British DVD and WILL NOT play inmost American DVD players. It will, however, play fine in a computer or laptop DVD player.

Plays out very much like 1973's 'Day of the Jackal', also from Frederick Forsyth's hand, and this time the novelist has written the screenplay to the film. The plot once again is the star of the show in my view and though not full of shootings, car chases and CGI's the story line is meticulously set out for us to follow and enjoy.A spy thriller with high stakes indeed with an atomic bomb being assembled within the UK, to be detonated near an American air base and which will result in the Americans getting the blame for a nuclear accident ---- far-fetched but not impossible to us mere mortals. The subtlety is that as Pierce Brosnan, pre-James Bond, playing the Russian spy who sets up the bomb, becomes aware that hundreds of the British public are protesting the presence of the American base and will be killed when the bomb is detonated ---- that dichotomy not explored here, it may have been a thread too far as the plot is hardly thread bare to be honest.Sir Michael Caine plays the British agent who sniffs out a possible threat. Unusually no love interest of a sultry girl for him. There is a brief but superbly handled relationship shown with his young son and that came over very natural and genuine. A much more feisty relationship with his boss, played by Julian Glover, added to the story line. Ian Richardson as Caine's MI5 contact also stood out but a mere cameo for that excellent actor.On the opposition side, Brosnan suitably cold and efficient, the lovely Joanna Cassidy as his co-bomb assembler, and Ned Beatty and Ray McAnally as Russian spymasters give the plot credibility.Don't expect a Hollywood style fast paced spy thriller as this is much more British, some depth to the goings on in the background, and the film is very grounded and includes a few very brief stretches where nothing much appears to be happening ---- I can take that.English language and English subtitles. No bonus features on this Prism copy.

I finished the novel this morning and I thought this was the perfect time to watch the film - as I like to see the differences. As is often the case, the film was not a patch on the book. I felt that the book was so much more complete, and by comparison the film was confused and skipped so much of what made the book so engaging. Overall it was not the age of the material that detracted from this story, but more the lack of depth. Without knowing the story, so much of what happens in the film would have seemed confusing, the plot just seemed to jump from one part of the story to another without any explanation.

Michael Caine is his usual brilliant self in this Cold War film from 1987 based on Frederick Forsyth's excellent novel of the same name.Unlike the James Bond films, this movie doesn't glamorise the business of spying. In fact, it refreshingly shows how mundane the whole thing can be, very similar to The Ipcress File. One point that should be made is that Caine ISN'T reprising his role of Harry Palmer here. This is John Preston, MI5 intelligence officer in the 1980s. He's a worldly-wise type who's seen it all before but remains dedicated to his work at the Security Service. Pierce Brosnan is also excellent as the cold ruthless KGB officer Valeri Petrofsky, who is assigned to detonate a nuclear bomb on a US Air Force base in England. The film is good in that it portrays the monotony of the initial investigation but as time goes by you can feel the tension rise as Preston's investigation nears its conclusion & ultimately becomes a race against time...

This is a very good spy film based on Frederick Forsyth's novel of the same name. Frederick Forsyth wrote the screenplay (with Richard Burridge) so most of his original plot is faithfully transferred to the movie. Pierce Brosnan is very good as the soviet agent -brutally cold and focused.Michael Caine is the much older spy catcher but equally determined to stop the soviet spy carrying out his mission .The only flaw is the casting of Ned Beatty as a KGB general(it just grates on your nerves) .The rest of the cast is excellent.Good Movie -Great price.

The Fourth Protocol (Special Edition) [DVD] - A Great Spy Thriller Adapted From The Original Novel By Frederick Forsyth With Michael Caine & Pierce Brosnan