Now the spy show gets the big screen treatment, as we see the great Peter Firth back as 'Sir Harry Pearce', head of MI5, trying to prevent an imminent terrorist attack in London.
The film opens with a transported Prisoner being freed, much to the huge embarrassment of MI5. The powers that be are looking for heads to roll, and top of the list is Section D Chief, Sir Harry Pearce. For many he is seen as a relic of the Cold War, and long past his prime, others think that MI5 itself is long overdue for being put out to pasture.
With his beloved organisation in tatters as it picks up the pieces of losing their prized terrorist prisoner, Pearce goes it alone to try and make amends. He knows that key information was given out by someone at the highest authority. So we have an escaped terrorist on the loose, a Traitor walking the corridors of power, and a rogue MI5 Chief on the run.
MI5 Director General Oliver Mace, brilliantly played by Tim McInnerny, knows he needs a suitable Spy to find Pearce, so brings on board decommissioned agent Will Holloway, who has connections with Pearce. So Holloway sets off to bring back the disgraced Chief to account for his actions, and also try and prevent a major terrorist atrocity in the very heart of London.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a huge "Spooks" fan, in fact in the run up to this movie release, I have been revisiting the ten series from the BBC. And as a huge fan, it does pain me somewhat to say that the film does not recapture the magic and brilliance of the show. It is good, and it is especially pleasing to see Peter Firth back in his most famous role, and that is always a bonus, but it fell somewhat short of some of the exemplary episodes that we got to enjoy, and this is surprising given that the film is written by Jonathan Brackley and Sam Vincent, who penned the final series of "Spooks", and this tenth season showcased it as its very best.
For a show that seemed to show all that was great about being a Spy, we see very little of it evident here. In fact it would be a case of why not to be a Spy. Given the increased budget for the film, against what was spent on the show, there is little evidence that the boat has been pushed out. For me the show truly exceled with some remarkable end of series cliffhangers, involving some spectacular storylines, and you would think with this movie, they would at least try and get to that level of entertainment or even top it, but sadly no. There are a few tense moments but to especially get the pulse racing.
Yes there are connections to the shows past, with key figures from the last series working alongside Sir Harry, and there is the return of an old friend, and of course I will not reveal who it is here, Top Secret !! But apart from Sir Harry, they are all sidelined for new boy Will Holloway, and there is where some of the problem lies. As much as Kit Harington may be pleasing on the eye, he is not Spooks material. You look at those that have gone before him. Matthew Macfadyen, Rupert Penry Jones, Hermione Norris, Richard Armitage, and I am afraid that he is not in the same league. I don't know whether having the longer hair was due to continuity on "Game of Thrones" but there is a scene where he ties it up at the back, not a good look.
There have certainly been far better episodes of the show than this feature length movie, and if I am truly honest, if the plan is to start a series of movies, then I do not see it getting past this first film.
When myself and a friend learned of the film, from Peter Firth, a few years ago, we were very excited. Then to see it come to fruition, even more so. But after the journey, it feels like a very different "Spooks" to the one I remember and loved......7 out of 10
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