If you're expecting lots of action and gunplay, don't bother; you'll surely be disappointed. The movie focuses more on intrigue and endless spy games. The complicated story maintains interest throughout, but ultimately it's all for naught. Still, there is a sly performance by Edward Fox to be enjoyed (if you can stand his deliberately curious accent!) (**)

After the original with its star studded distractions; this only in-name sequel would see a small tag of mercenaries led by Scott Glenn hired by an American TV station to go behind enemy lines (Berlin, Germany) to take part in a very dangerous mission (freeing Nazi prisoner Rudolf Hess, who holds many secrets that some people would want to keep it that way).

"Wild Geese II" is a hardy, but cleverly plotted and lavished boy's own adventure. Maybe too complicated for its own good, as some of the scheming tends to be silly and dubious. However with that in mind, it still remains cracking entertainment by delivering many unpredictable developments, dangerous intrigue and few exhilaratingly edgy action set-pieces amongst its illustrative Berlin backdrop. However don't go in thinking its going to be an all-out action assault like "Wild Geese", it's not. It plays out more so like a spy-game. Director Peter R. Hunt ("Death Hunt", "Gold" and "On Her Majesty's Secret Service") durably puts its together, making it gripping as what starts of as simple reconnaissance becomes a knotty web of deals and plans where it's hard to know who's really playing who. A diligently compact script (which agreeably has a slight sense of humour) keeps it interesting and on the move, as the narrative constantly shifts about and the strategies keep on changing due to circumstances. So it's rather calculative in its build-up, in what seems like a waiting game and then picking the right time to set it all in motion. Although when it comes to its climatic ending, you feel like it has all come to nothing. Performances are rather modest from its game cast. A stoically glazed Scott Glenn is equitable in the central role (and is quite fancy with a switchblade),but its Edward Fox who effortlessly steals the show as a lethally cunning English mercenary. Barbara Carrera offers capable support. Also showing up are John Terry, Robert Webber, Patrick Stewart, Ingrid Pitt and Laurence Olivier as Rudolf Hess.

"...Death ate its way into me and it never left."

WILD GEESE II is a stand-alone sequel to the Richard Burton film; none of the cast return and the story is quite different here with different characters in a different situation. This is a men-on-a-mission film in which some mercenaries are tasked with springing notorious Nazi Rudolph Hess from a Russian-run prison in West Berlin, a task which is every bit as tense and difficult as it sounds.

This is a largely criticised movie that suffers from having an overlong running time; around the middle part of the production the pacing really flags and half an hour could easily have been cut out to give it more pace and momentum. Saying that, the pacing problems are really the only problem the film has, as otherwise it's a solid thriller with interesting cast members and well-directed action from old-timer Peter Hunt.

The story and execution reminded me of RONIN a little, although the Frankenheimer film is by far the better of the two. Scott Glenn makes for a taciturn hero although Barbara Carrera is a weak spot as the female of the piece, reduced to a screaming damsel-in-distress by the end. The best role goes to Edward Fox, riffing on his old DAY OF THE JACKAL character. Laurence Olivier's cameo as Rudolph Hess is a memorable one even if he gets little screen time, while Derek Thompson is also fine as a slimy IRA man. The supporting actors are all effective too. Once the pacing picks up, WILD GEESE II remains entertaining through to the end, and the action is stark and realistic; I liked it.