MI-5

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source: MI-5

Unlike many other films categorised as spy thrillers who are filled with action scenes and care less about the spying aspect this one is just the opposite. The pure investigation scenes surpass the action ones. So, you would think you have a fine mind-tickling thriller that makes questions pop up in your head to ponder over? But think again. The film is boring and I found myself easily distracted. It's not until the last half an hour that it begins to hold attention well and becomes interesting. It's supposed to present serious events but the whole feel is not serious enough. Even the most dramatic scenes doesn't deliver adrenalin or any kind of feeling. The film makes progress at a normal pace but it doesn't try to lure you into its story. Instead, it shows you moving pictures and occupies your mind with its dialogue which, frankly, is nothing amazing. There is no character transition and, sadly, few of the actors can deliver emotions on their faces properly. The characters are not shaped well, and that is especially noticeable with Qasim who plays more the bad guy, rather than an actual leader. The whole film follows the formula of good guys versus bad guys which shows simple approach in storytelling.

I don't go to see many new movies, but as a fan of the Spooks series I wanted to check out The Greater Good. It has many of the virtues of the series, the ruthlessness of spies against a backdrop of everyday life, credible modern Brit professionals, explosive action on city streets and desperate attempts to avert disaster. I can see why other reviewers are giving it great reviews. But the movie has a low budget air, that extends unfortunately to the script-writing. The threat isn't that threatening, the betrayals fool no-one, the villain is neither mad or evil enough and apart from seconds each of Berlin and Moscow we get that many London panoramas it could almost be The Apprentice. The ingredients were all there but the cake didn't rise. Perhaps next time?

Action is a genre that hinges solely on entertainment value. Even if it's a blatantly dumb plot and objectively not that great, something like Machete or Bullet to the Head, you can still have fun watching it and appreciate it for its pure insanity. MI-5 lies on the opposite side of the action spectrum. It tries to be serious and dark and much smarter than it actually is. This sucks the atmosphere dry and leaves you with a bland, brooding, and tasteless thriller with little to no thrills. The movie starts off with a criminal escort gone wrong and develops into an espionage mission that can only be done by a specific agent who was kicked off the force, Will Holloway played by Kit Harrington. I can't fault any of the actors here because these characters are paper thin. They're just either giving orders or receiving orders or having secrets meetings or reciting some other form of lifeless expository dialogue for a majority of the movie. There's no chemistry between anyone, they have no development whatsoever. It just doesn't look like anyone is having fun. And with a script like that, how can you blame them. There is a sleek, glossy feel about MI-5, which is one of the few positive things about it. Kit Harrington is a badass in general and it's nice to see him in a modern action setting. Unfortunately, the action in this movie is so scarce and underwhelming, it's hard to even call it an action movie. Instead of exciting action sequences, we're left with cliché double-crosses and triple-crosses and back stabs that no one cares about because none of the characters are engaging in the first place. MI-5 is kind of like background music. It's not gripping and won't get your adrenaline pumping, but it's quite harmless to have on. It's just completely run-of-the-mill, linear storytelling that takes a page out of every spy book and streamlines it all into a two hour film. Kit Harrington can certainly be an action star, but this is not the proper vehicle to showcase his talents. MI-5 is a miss.

Considering weighty blockbusters like Mad Max which I felt was too rushed and lacked empathy for anyone good or bad - I so miss the original. Avengers, which lacked Coulson and had too many quips from just too many characters and should have had Iron Man making more of these, as he's actually good at sarcastic wit. Then come Spooks, underrated and the underdog and blows the blockbusters out of the water. Harry Pierce's finale twist is amazing and the storyline for Ruth concludes. Very satisfying if you have watched all the series on BBC or elsewhere. Spooks and Kingsmen-the Secret Service both prove this is a great year for this genre.

For those who watched the series, this is quite satisfying - but not truly as a film. Films like these are just a long set of tropes hopefully connected by enough narrative to get you by. The cinematography was pretty good - scenes of London all very well taken. Superior to the TV show. But the competition in the cinema is not other TV shows, but other films. There are so many spy / action films that the action has to come at a higher standard whatever the intellectual potential of the show. And this was the problem - much of the direction wasn't quite good enough to carry the action, there wasn't quite enough action and the plot itself was just a crafty rework of the TV show. Including the ridiculous 'breaking into MI5' nonsense. Needed higher quality direction, more action, and a fresh plot. Please.