i LOVE this movie!

Just watched it for the first time. Although some parts seems old-fashioned to mer (the constant music, the fast-motion action, the close-up love scene, and the drawn out ending with "Auld Lang Syne"), i loved this classic.

I loved seeing how much inspiration it gave to the lucasberger movie, Temple of Doom.

But most of all the guy (can't do his name justice) who played the Guru was fantastic, creepy, menacing, cunning, and i was almost rooting for him. When i saw him jump into the snake pit, my first thought was that this is why we can't really win wars against true-believers. They'd rather die and take a bunch of us with them. Scary stuff. the Guru was ten times more menacing than the heart-grabbing villain in Temple of Doom.

Except for the drawn out spiked punch bowl scene, i thought the mix of comedy and action was impressive. They changed the mood of the film carefully and skillfully. i hate to keep coming back to Lucas and Spielberg but the only other director i know who can deftly mix humor with seriousness is Spielberg.

Grant was great. His reaction to being called "Archibald" was lovely. Mclaglen was great. sam Jaffe was spectacular. His scenes were tear-jerking. But the Guru actor was intense.

Love this movie.