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Raid on Entebbe (1976)

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From Time Out Film Guide

Heroic jingoism and some sentimental moments aside, this version of the Israeli raid on Entebbe airport (shot as a TV special and considerably better than Victory at Entebbe), catches a good deal of the breathless excitement of the first media reports of that made-for-the-movies military operation. Predictably, no time is wasted on the PFLP's version of events, though suave Horst Buchholz, leader of the unattractive kidnappers, is allowed one moment of humanity when he finally declines to blow up the prisoners. Resisting his recent propensity for effects, Kershner adopts a sensibly straightforward approach to Barry Beckerman's boiled-down and politically low-key narrative. In this he is self-effacingly assisted by his well-cast stars (avoiding caricature, Yaphet Kotto gives a notably intelligent and charismatic impersonation of Amin).

Author: JPy

Time Out Film Guide

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Deborah said...

Posted on Dec 11 2009 07:37 CONTAINS A SPOILER] An excellent version - the tension builds nicely. The death of Yoni Netanyahu, Israel's current PM's brother almost gives it a 'fiction' feel but the amazing victory in yet another battle against the odds in the struggle of this tiny nation to exist against all the odds is yet another modern day miracle. The Idi Amin character is excellent. Unless you remember him - and I do - you'd think he was a caricature - that nobody could be that egotistical, that crazy. But he really was! Excellent acting all round. NB my copy of the DVD was very, very bad quality.

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