Wizard-8 It's pretty obvious that "Who Dares Wins" (a.k.a. "The Final Option") was an attempt by the British film industry to compete with American action/suspense films coming out at the time. And it does get a few things right. Though not give a gargantuan budget, the movie does look pretty slick and polished. And the last half hour does contain some genuine excitement and suspense, as well as some good action. However, the first ninety or so minutes do have some significant flaws. There's little in the way of sympathetic characters; even the hero has a significant degree of unlikability about him. Also, while he's a professional, he commits some sloppy acts here and there. (For that matter, the bad guys also come across as dumb sometimes.) There are also some draggy bits; the movie could have used some more action and suspense in those first ninety minutes. And the anti-American musical number around the twenty-one minute mark is very unintentionally funny. Despite these flaws, I have to confess I didn't find the movie boring (though it gets dangerously close to being so several times.) Though I can't label it a must see, it is okay if your expectations aren't great and you can't find anything better to watch.

Joxerlives I was 7 years old when the SAS stormed the Iranian Embassy, watching it live on TV. They seemed like characters from my 'Warlord', 'Victor' and 'Battle' comics brought to life. In the next few years they took part in the liberation of the Falkland Islands and killing of IRA terrorists at Loughgall and Gibraltar. Soon the 'Battle' comic became 'Battle; Action Force' (the British version of GI Joe) of which 'SAS-Force' became my firm favourite. I was too young to see this film at the cinema despite drooling over the posters but when it came out on video I had my older brother rent it for me time after time (oddly 'Dangermouse' was our other favourite pick). Growing up I loved 'The Professionals' and this really is 'The Professionals' movie that never was (the show still being broadcast when this hit the cinemas). Lewis Collins is just perfect in the role. He was a real life Territorial Army paratrooper and legend has it he applied for the Territorial SAS regiments but got turned down because he was too famous for their undercover role. A great deal of the film is highly realistic. The SAS training in the 'Killing House' at Hereford and escape and evasion in the nearby Welsh mountains is spot on. In the 1980s Arab governments such as Libya, Iraq and Iran really did sponsor terrorism in the UK and were supported by extreme left-wing politicians (the 'looney left') in the British parliament. The scene where the SAS storm Skellen's flat in order to rescue his family,(boring tiny holes in the wall in order to insert bugs, blasting in using a shaped explosive charge and killing the terrorists with 'double taps'to the head)is extremely true to life. The sequence where an SAS trooper catches fire whilst breaching the US Ambassador's residence is taken directly from real life events, Sgt John MacCleese of the SAS doing just that at the Iranian Embassy siege. Igrid Pitt's character is very blatantly based on Ulrike Meinhoff of the infamous German Baader/Meinhoff terrorist group. Bad points? Skellen's infiltration method is just plain ludicrous, seducing the terrorist leader in his blazer and tie? Come on, he should have gradually won their confidence by joining the movement at an entry level, handing out leaflets, taking part in marches etc When he rescues the hostage VIPs he should stay with them and protect them rather than take off on his own to hunt down the terrorist leaders. The scene where the SAS troopers dangling from the helicopter blast out the windows with grenade launchers before swinging through them is pure Hollywood. When the assault begins Edward Woodward's police commander should have made sure to phone the terrorists in order to distract them rather than refuse to answer their calls. All told though it's a great film. Some say it's anti-CND but that's not true, we see the terrorist's true colours when they use the CND peace symbol as target practice. It's made quite clear that the Bruce Kent figure disapproves of killing in the name of the 'cause'.I remember watching this with my unit of Sappers with us cheering all the way. When Skellen's character is asked by the terrorist played by Professionals/Dempsey and Makepeace regular Tony Osaba "What's happening?" only to get blown away as a result we all chorused together 'NOT YOU MATE!" So 'Who Dares Wins'? Great film but don't expect subtlety

TedMichaelMor Ian Sharp's intelligent direction of an inept screenplay, careful action sequences, and finely honed acting (to a point) by Judy Davis and Ingrid Pitt define this entertaining action film. Phil Meheux's beautiful cinematography and John Grover's editing almost cover the considerable number of lapses in the script.However, far-fetched elements in the story ultimately undermine direction, acting, and action scenes. The script largely seems contrived instead of clever or creative, though elements of the narrative work well enough for two female characters to develop in interesting ways. That might be because Judy Davis and Ingrid Pitt are simply highly skilled actors. Roy Budd's score also integrates (or appears to blend in) elements of the film.This is not a masterwork, but it does entertain better than any James Bond film ever does. One finds a measure of pleasure in realising how at least one Bond film might have worked had it enjoyed some of the gifts used to create this movie.

andreas-besenlechner The first 10 minutes of the movie, the introduction of the SAS is really good. But then, the story of "Who Dares Wins" becomes a bit boring until the last 20 minutes. Not that i am an action junkie, who needs an explosion every 2 seconds, but the story was so lame, that i needed ten cup of coffees to stay awake.But....At the moment the SAS assault begins, the movie rocks ! For me, the storming of the embassy is one of the best movie moments in my live and i love it every time i watch it. The great music by good old Roy Bud also fits perfectly. PS: Shame that Lewis Collins never became a big movie star !