The Manchurian Candidate

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Thomas V @TomVee 6d Ultra-paranoid political satire that's totally as fresh today as it was in '62. Sinatra is quite good, as are the supporting players, and the film is fast moving and so well done that it's absurdity seems normal. Of course, I'm seeing it with the perspective of someone living in 2026 when Americans are no stranger to our own Manchurian candidate. Surreal and yet, plausible, at least in terms of the motives of the powerful behind the scenes. Great film. See more Elliot K @valos Jul 21 Powerful and bizarre See more D S @GimmeaUserName Apr 13 I picked this movie at random out of a "1001 Movies To See Before You Die" book. I was trying to be adventurous. My opinion is that The Manchurian Candidate was a dumb movie. The plot has too many holes and the dialogue is poor and trite. In its current form, the movie at least 45 minutes too long, but I think it would’ve made a great episode of The Twilight Zone. "Imagine, if you will, a solitary platoon in The Korean War…" In the first two hours of this movie, there are about 20 important minutes. Then we’re just waiting for the final five to see who he shoots or if he’s stopped. I didn’t give one star because I want to leave room for worse movies; I feel two stars is generous by half a star. See more Keith W @Keith166 Feb 25 This film gets everything right at 5 star level. I have only one beef, and that was due to how the star system works. In order of importance to the film the star credit order should be Laurence Harvey, Angela Lansbury and Frank Sinatra since Janet Leigh's role is a side story which could have been edited out without affecting the plot that much. I think James Gregory as the awful Senator Iselin is also brilliant and with Lansbury provides much of the humour to lighten and otherwise bleak film. I rewatched it recently and noticed something I hadn't seen before. When Raymond Shaw gets on Senator Isen's private plane, he asks his mother for permission to take off his Medal of Honour. He's a grown man. Why do that. When he takes it off he does it in the same way he puts it on at the end. And I confess I like Raymond Shaw. For one thing he both loathes and despises Senator Isen and his awful mother - and that's a start. Only he could stop them and he did. See more F R @FR2021 Oct 19 Ridiculous plot. And no, it's not relevant to anything currently at all. On the other hand, I love the cast and they're all strong. But a silly story. See more revolver.0 8 @Revolver08 06/30/2025 Ridiculous plot, but very influential for future scenarios like The Parallax View, Black ops, etc See more Read all reviews

The Manchurian Candidate

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