Sword of Gideon (1986)

That was an excellent one.

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

After seeing Spielberg's high-budgeted production based on the book, "Vengeance;" I was entertained but not really connected with any of the agents (Mossad) as they planned and implemented their assigned duties. Most of the IMDb reviews hash out the plot so that is not necessary here. What is necessary is to recommend finding this HBO movie in its uncut length which IS available on DVD. The length enables more intimate contact with all Samuels' collected agents adding, without expensive production values, a much more intense look at the increasing doubt and anger compounded upon Avner and his team following each assigned accomplishment. The scene with Avner sitting in the hospital waiting room having to watch the agony, terror and loss conveyed by the wife and daughter after being advised of the certain death of their husband and father conveys more emotion and sense of doubt than any scene I recall in "Munich." Michael York's search for possible explosive entrapment in the safe house builds tension not provided in "Munich" and is logically more realistic than Spielberg's counterpart of this agent's final assignment. The long film moves quickly and the time is will spent. Again, time to explore characters' motives and feelings can be far more valuable than high-budgeted special effects. (Though the special effects here are not inadequate by any means) In short, seeing this film after "Munich" was a wonderful experience and answered some questions the "Munich" film failed to answer. And, finally, this is a movie based on an historical based fictional book. It is NOT an historical document. Watch and enjoy this fine film.

i just recently viewed 'munich'. i knew that a picture was made which almost mirrored 'munich' but until i remembered that Michael york was a featured player i could not remember the name of the 'sword of Gideon'. i followed 'munich' pretty well since i knew in advance what was going to happen. the major difference, i thought, was that the organization that was supplying the locations of the terrorists to the Israeli team towards the end of 'sword' told them never to get in touch with them again. in 'munich' it seemed Israel's was paying them a tremendous amount of money and they didn't want to lose the income.i would suggest that the viewers see both pictures to compare. i wonder, though, if Spielberg knew about Gideon - or whether he thought his was the original

Offers a point of view examination of a group of Isreali Specialists hunting down and killing those Palestinians deemed to be responsible for the killing of Ireali Athletes at Munich . Little or no graphic violence and a predictable pace make this seem un-dynamic and rather stodgy. Most of the main characters are cartoonish caricatures of real operatives , and each specialist is it's own stereotype. ( Formed of the same soft-edged material that cast The Siege ) Fabulous portrayal of Golda Meir by Colleen Dewhurst , interesting if odd role for Rod Steiger , who for once seems engaged in the role .Biggest Drawback : York plays the same guy in every film , doe it here with gusto. Almost impossible to see Steven Bauer as anything but Manny to Pachinos Scarface .

This tense, fascinating film details how men are recruited into the Israeli Mossad to search for and kill those responsible for the Munich Olympics murders. Also, we see how the men are pressured to stay in the group. Great acting and real locations make it all the more compelling. The morality of what they're doing is questioned at several points, and we see some very chilling assasination scenes. The ending is a bit of a let-down, but then since it is based on actual events . . . I am not Jewish but found this film to be suspenseful and very involving -- a humdinger.