My Name Is Modesty
by Scott Spiegel
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DVD details
Actor: Alexandra Staden, Fred Pearson, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Raymond Cruz, Valentin TeodosiuDirector: Scott Spiegel
Brand: STADEN,ALEXANDRA
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; Spanish (Subtitled)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 78 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-09-28
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Miramax
DVD Reviews of My Name Is Modesty
DVD Review: A Character ReBoot Years Before Batman and James Bond
Summary: 5 Stars
Although I bought the DVD when it first came out, and have watched it several times, I never wrote a review.
I loved it when I first saw it and I love it still.
Sadly, it seems it never made enough money to motivate anyone to do a follow-up. I assume QT still controls the rights, but after Kill Bill if he does a film that is as true to the source material as this film is, since it has another tough female lead, anyone not familiar with the character will see this as a let-down as they won't go into it prepared for what it is supposed to be.
Peter O'Donnell wrote his stories to focus more on character and psychological suspense rather than action thrillers.
The tug of wills between Modesty and Miklos is very true to the source material and is tense, suspensful and facinating to anyone who doesn't have to have gore and explosions. Alexandra did a great job in playing how O'Donnell's character would have taken control of the situation. Yes, she is younger than the written Modesty. Yes, there is no Willie Garvin. The reasons are that this is an origin story and takes place at least a decade before the first written Modesty Blaise. That could even explain why Staden's body is thinner than the character as written and drawn, which is an issue that a lot of O'Donnell fans seem to have with this film. Psychologically, though, I thought she nailed it.
I find this particularly ahead of the curve following the sorely needed reboots of Batman and James Bond. After 2 dismal earlier efforts, although the character isn't nearly as well known to the public as Batman and Bond, this is a reboot as well, and it is really sad that probably no more films about her will be made.
DVD Review: A two star movie on a three-star DVD
Summary: 3 Stars
My Name is Modesty: A Modesty Blaise Adventure is a real curiosity, a quickie shot in Eastern Europe in what looks like a couple of weeks mostly on one studio set with a no-name cast and the odd bit of stock footage (most notably from A Bridge Too Far) simply because Quentin Tarantino had spent so much time NOT writing his once-vaunted Modesty Blaise movie that Miramax faced losing the rights if they didn't film something fast. As contractual obligation flicks go it's probably better than Roger Corman's `lost' 1994 version of The Fantastic Four, but it still feels like the kind of Harry Alan Towers flick that premieres on an airplane.
Fans of Peter O'Donnell's books or the comic strip won't find much they'll recognise here - no Willie Garvin for a start, no Network, no spyjinks (it's an origin story) - and anyone hoping for something like the stylised design of Joseph Losey's failed crack at the character will be similarly disappointed. So will action fans: this is mostly talk, with even the final shootout taking place offscreen while Alexandra Staden and her stunt double rather less than enthusiastically take on Nicolaj Coster-Waldau's bad guy who's killed her dodgy casino owner boss and is now holding the staff hostage. Instead, most of the film is taken up with Staden and Coster-Waldau playing roulette. If she wins, he releases a hostage. If he wins, she, er, tells him the story of her life in a series of visibly underfunded flashbacks.
Still, with a lean 78-minute running time and for fans this prequel to the books does get most of the backstory right even if it updates it to the 90s. It's just a shame they couldn't do that and make something that was good in the process. An excellent set of DVD extras, though.
DVD Review: At last - Although not quite there yet
Summary: 4 Stars
At last somebody who actually cares about the series made a film of it. My only criticism is that it was a bit too low budget. Ms Staden was excellent as Modesty, though I agree that she is going to have to work out a bit if she is going to play the older Blaise in a later film.
One point about the secret agent issue: I suggest that some people read/reread the books. It is very clear that Modesty worked with (although not "for" as she herself underlines on a couple of occasions ) British Intelligence more than once. Indeed two of her closest friends are senior intelligence officers - remember the name Sir Gerald Tarrant anyone?
DVD Review: Misleading Case, Not a Bad Movie....
Summary: 2 Stars
As previous reviewers point out, the DVD case is completely misleading. Whoever designed the front cover and wrote the back copy clearly had never seen the movie.
* There are no car chases in this movie
* "most lethal secret agent"?!? (She's not a secret agent)
* "sexy spy" (She's not a spy.)
* "revenge ... payback..." (C'mon ... the women is trying to get out of a hostage situation ...)
In addition to...
* While the female lead had her moments, she looks anorexic (not very attractive). There are SO many beautiful women out there ... where do they producer/directors find these boney women?!?
* The overall acting is stilted at times.
If you can get past the lies on the front cover and the low budget production feel, this movie provides a fairly good story.
I'd give it a higher rating, but the unethical false advertising of the cover is something I find very disturbing.
DVD Review: Limited but enjoyable
Summary: 4 Stars
The blurb on the DVD case is very misleading. I only watched it because I'm a huge comic to movie junkie. I just like seeing characters I've grown up with come out of the 2 dimension paper world onto the screen. The movie was stilted but the depiction of Modesty and attempt at providing some depth to her character and building her background was enjoyable. Not a fast paced movie, but intriguing and worth the watch.
Description of My Name Is Modesty
Presented by Quentin Tarantino, MY NAME IS MODESTY is the thrilling adventure about a sexy spy who's skilled in the art of deception ... and the ways of revenge! Orphaned as a child and raised by a casino owner with ties to the mob, Modesty Blaise learned early on how to fight, steal, and spy. Once grown, she becomes the casino owner's bodyguard, but is ultimately unable to protect him from a murderous old enemy. Now, with vengeance on her mind, it's time for payback! Based on the popular "Modesty Blaise" series of graphic novels, it's a stylish big-screen adaptation full of action and suspense!My Name Is Modesty is a sleek but hardy entertainment based on cartoonist Peter O'Donnell's story about an orphaned girl who survives wars, deserts, and sundry hardships to become the tough manager of a Tangiers casino. Alexandra Staden (Vanity Fair) is the second actress to play Modesty Blaise in a feature film (Monica Vitti took the role in 1966), and her beautiful cool and enigmatic poise are perfect for the mysterious yet likeable heroine. My Name Is Modesty cleverly introduces Modesty's background and wiles in a thriller set during an armed takeover of the casino. Deflecting demands by a terrorist leader (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) while also creatively keeping hostages alive, Modesty agrees to a game of roulette with the strongman. She plays for lives; he plays to hear chapters from her unknown life, reluctantly told. Directed by actor-director Scott Spiegel and presented by Quentin Tarantino (among the DVD's special features is a conversation between the two), the film is a noble, engaging genre piece. --Tom Keogh
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