Brotherhood of the Rose

This was a great book and turned into a surprisingly good movie, even for television. It was written by David Morrell, who also wrote First Blood, in case you didn't know. Robert Mitchum, David Morse, Connie Sellecca and a host of others made this quite an ensemble cast for a television production. If you can find the movie, watch it. If you can find the book, read it. After all, you have what else to do?

Surely, the subject of both book/movie is an unusual one. I've seen the movie after only 6 month from the release on the market. The two orfans got in the power of a brilliant CIA chief (R. Mitchum) and grown up to become unbeatable secret agents - Romulus (P. Strauss) and Remus (David Morse). Very impressive play.

Why is nobody making a release on DVD format? And also, is VERY HARD to find the VHS one. I'm sure the costs of such remake will cover very well by selling it on the market. Such movies should by every 5-10 years again on the market.

Regards, Alex

This is a intriguing spy movie, mainly because it doesn't follow the formula of most other spy-films.

This is not another one of those films where the goody spies on the baddie, the baddie captures the goody, reveals his devious plans to annihilate the world, the goody escapes, kills the baddie and saves the girl. The strengths of those sorts of films are found in their special effects, stunts and a drawn-out battle at the end of the film.

By contrast, the strength of the Brotherhood of the Rose is its intelligent and engaging plot. A spy is double crossed and aims to find out why before they find him. The answers turns out to be a rather complex and very well-conceived conspiracy.

It's only downfall is its crappy production level. The sound quality, editing, directing and screenplay are noted areas requiring improvement. The acting is also inconsistent, but the brilliant Robert Mitchum, David Morse, Rhys McConnochie and M. Emmet Walsh offer fairly solid performances to ensure that the acting does not stand out as a major downfall.

Some cheesy lines and awkward acting moments could have been left on the cutting room floor. There also appears to be an editing error here and there (where a scene cuts before it appears to be finished). Furthermore, whoever chose the cheap and tacky music should have been sacked.

Aside from that, a very good watch. However, it is fairly long - 3 hours or so. Yet, I like a film that isn't impatient if the story is worth unfolding gradually.

In Hungary it was aired on TV in the 90's

The Brotherhood of the Rose tells the story of Saul and Chris, two orphans from Philadelphia. They are adopted by a man named Elliot, who treats the boys like his own children and raises them to become assassins, but when a mission goes wrong for Saul, and Chris is involved in an international incident, they begin to question their lives and their missions, and start to see Eliot in a new light.

Theres a scene where two KGB agents appear and begin firing at Connie. I have never felt so engaged in a scene in my life. I don't know who these men were but that's the kind of talent I want to see. I felt fear, angst, and pure captivation. These kinds of moments in movies is something I have come to find rare over my 20+ years as a critic. However, this moment is one for the ages. Truly mesmerizing. Bravo!