Blu-ray Review – The Eiger Sanction

Hollywood wasn't shy about their lust for a James Bond-style success. Many spy parodies and knockoffs were issued after Ian Fleming's character became a pop culture sensation and a box office powerhouse, leaving it only a matter of time before Clint Eastwood would attempt to create his own version of Bond (after reportedly declining the role). 1975's "The Eiger Sanction," based on the best-seller by Trevanian, strives to recapture the Sean Connery 007 years, issuing a no-nonsense lead character who slaps around brutes, spanks women, and is generally one step ahead of every villain he encounters. Utilizing exotic locations and story that provides layers of conspiracy and uncertainty, "The Eiger Sanction" doesn't feature much of a mystery, with Eastwood's dry, unhurried directorial style at odds with the demands of the superspy genre. It's a tepid thriller, best appreciated as a travelogue with periodic bursts of violence. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com