User Reviews

I loved the 2008 first motion picture 'Largo Winch'. I will no doubt have a pro bias in my review unless the movie strays too far from the original over all genre and quality. Jérôme Salle's direction and his collaboration with Julien Rappeneau for the script, produced another action packed thriller. Sharon Stone figures in the top credit but it was probably to attract more of an American audience than the first movie did; her role does not require much on screen time as the billing would have you expect. What part she had, she performed as the professional she is. She has sex appeal for a 53ish, like only a handful of Hollywood hotties past their prime; they age better than us regular folks. Tomer Sisley shines once more and with no less acumen; the French production syndicate has to be proud of their on screen hero Largo Winch.

I hope we can be treated to a third part or over time even a series; this second tome ends with so much promise. Again, the quality and quantity of action output for the relatively low budget bodes well for more Largo Winch. I hope you read my review of the original 2008 release. The fight scenes are choreographed with max effect and remind me of the "Banlieu 13" movies 2004 & 2009; they generate audience Ooohs and Ahhhs like nothing else.

In fact Hollywood has been hiring Cyril Raffaelli to capture a little of that magic in films like "Live Free or Die Hard " , "Kiss of the Dragon" and "The Incredible Hulk" and countless more where if you pay attention you will notice a departure from the traditional ass kicking we now feel blasé with. Look up Cyril's choreography credits and you will be impressed.

Well everyone raved about the third "Bourne "movie with Matt Damon; it's that type of action fighting I'm talking about here. Less special effects and more special training, like circus people refined training. Having seen special features about the training, the actors/stunt people go through over two three and four months even, to perform a 4 second shot is what I call dedication and the results will attract new fan following like moi. My own reaction watching a particular scene performed by David Belle (one I just referred as the 4 second shot in Banlieu 13 ), a champion also in the movement for more of this French in origin, action sequences, was a reaction with much surprise cursing. I mean numerous "Holy Sh*t" and "F*ck me" and "Damn" he's good. Largo Winch has that feel and I liked it as much as the first.

Well...what can I say? This movie is so disjointed, and so silly, it's hardly even worth a review. But since there are so few reviews, maybe this will help others avoid the near total waste of time that is "The Burma Conspiracy".

However, having said that, this movie is not without its moments of suspense. The problem is...when it's over, one feels completely empty.

The plot is complicated, which, in and of itself is fine. However, in an attempt to try to tie it all together, it's the same kind of feeling you get after watching an entire movie only to be told at the end that it's all been a dream. That particular ploy is not used here, but the net result feels the same. Only in this case, it's more of a nightmare. There are clearly better ways to spend 2 hours.

Rating: 4/10

If it were not for the totally amateur cinematography, with alot of hand held camera work, that is dizzying and horrible, this film might have been a 7.

Good story. Good action. Worth a watch on a quiet day.

Without doubt this sequel represents a continuation of the programme of careful quality-control instituted by the first installment which ,for once,was a successful comic- transferred -to -the- screen. The first movie was (almost) faithful to the cartoon books ,- almost" because one of the main characters was absent-the second is an original screenplay although snatches of stories appear now and then ("L'heure Du Tigre").

People were waiting for Sharon Stone who was given a conventional part ,a character you've seen a hundred times or more;she is completely out-shadowed by the Asian actress as Largo's lover,who brilliantly makes her character moving and endearing and all her scenes count .

Like the first opus,the screenplay blends present and past (but this time not a distant past :three years,which means that the events of the past depicted by the movie happened before the story in the present tense of the first story....

A first story which disappointed some viewers a bit, cause Simon 's best friend (his captain Haddock in a way) was completely absent although his part was essential in the comic albums ;with hindsight ,it was not perhaps a bad idea;because ,if Simon appears in this episode ,it's a fiasco.THe actor has no screen presence at all.Unlike Tomer Sisley,who has intellect and dynamism going for him ,Olivier Barthelemy has none:a listless character,devoid of the sense of humor the original Simon had.He is so insignificant that the story could easily do without him:even Nicolas Vaude,who is everything but an exciting actor ,shows more qualities than he does.

SPOILERS The best of this sophomore effort is the love interest:the scenes between Malunaî,Largo, and their child possess a warmth,an emotion which is rare in those action-packed adventures ;the boy crying after his mother's death is harrowing¨;and the story ends in a smart way:Largo and little Largo in the precedent episode ,Largo and his child in the second one;and finally it's that child who makes it all worthwhile,who gives a rather trite tale substance.

And last but no least ,if Olivier Barthelemy 's performance hits rock bottom,"LARGO II" can boast the presence of one of the greatest French actors of all time;it was to be his last role,for he passed away several months after .Laurent Terzieff belongs to the Delon/Belmondo generation ,and IMHO ,he was better and much more ambitious than both of them.To write that Ce Monsieur steals every scene he is in is to diminish him,for his cadaverous face and his feverish eyes literally mesmerizes you,he gave it all perhaps because he felt it was his last time.If it were only for Terzieff and the scenes of Largo's "family" ,then I can say that,in spite of obvious flaws,I did not waste my time.

NB During the final cast and credits,Cat Stevens ' "father and son" is heard,sadly in a so so cover version.