Still_Fluxing Reviews

My Name Is Modesty: A Modesty Blaise Adventure (2004)

Decent prequel to the comic

[6/10 · 12 March 2005]

I actually enjoyed the Modesty Blaise adaptation from 1966 more, even though it was extremely campy. The reason spells W.i.l.l.i.e. G.a.r.v.i.n.

This movie takes place before Modesty started her organization "The Net", and thus before she picked Willie off the streets. It offers an interesting tale of her childhood, but a Modesty without Willie is just *wrong*. The dynamic between them has always been one of the most compelling things about the original, and without it this movie isn't as interesting as it could have been. That being said, it's still a decent watch, especially for those who have wondered about Modesty's past.

The casting is alright, but Alaxandra Staden looks too fragile to be entirely believable as Modesty. Nikolaj Coaster-Waldau, however, does a great job as the blood-thirsty Miklos. Lookwise he could have been a young Willie Garvin.

Hopefully Miramax will do a follow-up because Peter O'Donnel's novels and comic-strips is a great source material for a movie script. But next time they've better include Willie.

Modesty Blaise (1966)

Great spoof, lame adaptation.

[7/10 · 12 March 2005]

I have been a fan of the Modesty Blaise comic for as long as I can remember, so when I stumbled across this movie adaptation a few years back, I just had to see it. I did, and I liked it a lot. Not as an adaptation, because it's nothing as it's comic and novel counterparts, but as an hilarious spoof of the whole sixties spy movie phenomena.

Terrence Stamp as Willie Garvin is funny and cute, but he wouldn't stand a chance against the original. The same goes for Monica Vitti's Modesty who lacks the strenght of the real Modesty, but makes up for it in quirkiness.

This movie is perfect for everyone who like the concept of a Bond-parody, but was disappointed with the crudeness of Austin Powers. It will also appeal to Modesty Blaise fans with a sense of humor, and of course to lovers of pop art.