The Saint

The Saint is yet another revival of a popular TV series starring Roger Moore. I have never come across the series, though, so I have no basis for comparison.

The serial heroes of bygone days, on TV, in the cinema and in books, were often rather one-dimensional figures, but in several newer versions the filmmakers have gone exploring in their characters' pasts and found experiences that can give them complexity. Batman, for example, not least in the shape of Michael Keaton, is traumatised by his unhappy and dramatic childhood. The same befalls the Saint, Simon Templar, played by Val Kilmer. He too is an orphan with a tragic childhood behind him. Today heroes are not allowed to be uncomplicated. The same trend was seen in the Bond films that Timothy Dalton made.

Simon Templar alias the Saint is a top professional thief and an expert in disguise. He is hired by the film's Russian supervillain, a mighty tycoon who also dreams of political power in the country. Simon Templar is tasked with stealing the formula for cold fusion, which the scientist Emma Russell has almost finished working on, but so far the villain's own henchmen have failed to sniff out where the scientist keeps her 'recipe'. This task, however, is a piece of cake for the Saint. Before long he has seduced Emma Russell and snatched her notes, but for the first time in his life he faces a dilemma, for Emma is not a sour old frump but, quite unrealistically, a beautiful young woman with whom the Saint has fallen in love. Even though our hero makes off with the notes, it is not the last time he runs into Emma Russell. She does not give up that easily.

The Saint is utter nonsense, but entertaining it certainly is.