While earlier generations dealt with spies from foreign countries all of that changed as terrorists began attacking on their own in splinter cells secretly located in various countries, in some cases aided and abetted by people born and raised in those countries. No longer could James Bond face off against and all-encompassing evil organization or foe. Instead home grown terrorists were now the problem.
In May of 1980 a group of Iranian Arabs captured the Iranian Embassy in London. With 26 hostages negotiations went on for a few days. Then the SAS (Special Air Service) put in play an operation and saved the hostage. The story was turned into a book and then later used as the basis for the film THE FINAL OPTION.
British forces have learned of an imminent attack to be committed by a group that calls themselves the CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament). When one of their men planted in the group is killed they decide to take on a different tactic.
The SAS receives two foreigner to train with them, one American and one German. During their training the two men are tortured and accused of being spies by team leader Captain Peter Skellen (Lewis Collins). With no authority or cause to do so, Skellen is dismissed from his regiment and out on his own. In reality this provides him cover to infiltrate the CND as a disgruntled ex-SAS officer.
His contact advises him to meet Frankie Lieth (Judy Davis) and Rod Walker (John Duttine), the leaders of a group known as the People’s Lobby. This is the real group behind the CND and the terrorist organization in the midst of a major operation they’ve been planning. Skellen becomes involved with Lieth who sees him as an asset while Walker is skeptical. A few incidents put into play to solidify Skellen’s credentials with the terrorists and he’s soon on the fast track to help them.
But Walker still distrust Skellen and has him followed, watched as he meets with his wife to assure her that he’s safe and doing what he’s been instructed to do. With this evidence in hand Lieth finally worries that Skellen might not be who he claims. She instructs other members of the group to kidnap his wife and daughter and uses their abduction to force him into aiding them in their plot.
That plot involves raiding the US ambassador’s estate and capturing the ambassador, US Secretary of State and other high officials along with their wives. In return for their release the terrorists led by Lieth demand that a nuclear missile be launched at the Holy Loch naval base.
Only Skellen can find a way to aid his fellow SAS team into the building to stop the plans of the terrorists. But can he do it and contain casualties to a minimum if at all?
The movie is a solid piece of entertainment and allows its star Collins the chance to have become a major actor in the heroic styled films that the Bond films had become. For some reason that never came to fruition. It certainly was not due to this film or its reception by the public. When released it was the #6 film at the box office in UK that year.
The film had its supporters and detractors when released though. Producer Euan Lloyd wanted to take movies back to where they had been portraying soldiers in a more positive light than seen in recent years. President Reagan and his staff viewed the film positively. But critics weren’t as kind viewing the film as a hawkish and terrible.
All in all the films does offer a solid action film that
fans of the genre will enjoy. Perhaps a bit slower than most but that’s to
develop the storyline on display. When push comes to shove the depiction of the
SAS team shows them in a positive light doing what they do best, what their
mission is. The acting is very well done and the performance by Davis led her
to many more substantial parts. It might not be a film that everyone will want
to add to their collection but it is definitely one worth giving a watch.
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