The Jackal [Blu-ray] [1997] [Region Free]

I really enjoyed The day of the jackal book and 1973 film.I have known that this film existed for a long time but never bothered to watch it as I could not see it being anything but a disappointment. But seeing as amazon were doing one of there buy a certain amount of blurays for a certain price and this popped up on the mediocre list I gave it a shot. The film follows the main plot of the original with a few changes here and there. Its now set in America and has a Russian connection. one of things I loved about the orignal is the intricate plot and long thrilling build up. This version has some level of intricacy but parts of the plots seem almost pointless and just in there because they were in the original film. I don't want to spoil much, but in the 1973 film theres a part were the jackal has to stay with a Gay man in order to hide because he has no place else to go in a crowded city swarming with police looking for him. in this new film this scene is pretty pointless seeing as america is so vast and he could have hidden elsewhere.Richard Gear looks good in the film but his Irish accent is distracting. Sidney Poitier is very good and I wished the story focused more on him. Bruce Willis is okay but a million miles away from the suave likable jackal in the original.If you liked the original give this a go, its not great and the casting is all wrong but it will waste a couple of hours.

Criminal "We would like to employ you for an job this job MUST be done as soon as humanly possible...". Jackal "High end jobs start at $1 million plus expenses...". Criminal "Sir my employer will pay u $7 million in cash cheque or wire transfer anyway u want to be paid you'll be paid that is if your capable of completing this assignment". Jackal "You know I can & will so don't treat me like some punk u knew who I was even before u got off the plane half now $3.5 million & the other half on completion...". Criminal "You must do the job first !!". Jackal/me "If u think u can find someone to the kind of job u want done a high profile & extremely well guarded individual for less then f&%k if not it's half up front & the reason foe this is I need supplies & for this job it ain't gonna be cheap even setting up the equipment I know who u want gone & I know the location the equipment will have to be costume made & that definitely won't be cheap so u gonna hire me or not ?? If not I got other jobs so skin of my sack I am close to being set for life with or without your help with in 6 months so cut the sh!t"

Borrowing the plot from Frederick Forsythe's "Day of the Jackal", this is not a remake of the classic Edward Fox film from the early 70s. Instead it is a very watchable thriller, with Bruce Willis cast against type as the eponymous villain, Richard Here as an IRA man with a slightly dodgy Irish accent and Sidney Poitier as an FBI agent who recruits Here to help him stop the Jackal. Willis gets to wear lots of disguises, Jack Black has a cameo role that ends badly and the denouement is not exactly a surprise. But for all that, it is a very watchable film.

I REALLY liked this film but sadly felt that it also could have been so much more!!!With a different direction (and possibly director) this could have been a really gritty and explosive action thriller.All that aside Willis gives a great performance as a menacing villain so it's worth it for that.

A brilliant film with great performances but it certainly deserves it 18 years or over status!

I'm a huge fan of the original, so perhaps comparisons aren't the way to assess, but that is what I was doing as I watched. Nonetheless very enjoyable.

Brilliant , what can i say, bruce willis and richard gere great teaming. I admit to crying about the russian lady. Loved this film, watch it once a week

This is an excellent film. Bruce Willis is brilliant as The Jackal and fans of Richard Gere will be very pleased with his performance. A film that I would watch again and again.