Let's face it, the James Bond franchise has been a cash cow for decades and decades, so it's only natural that people who would never get past Albert Broccoli's receptionist would want to make their own version of the character and get in on some of the money, er, fun. The results can be wildly variable. Movies like "Our Man Flint" is at the top of the pile, and stuff like Dean Martin's versions of the "Matt Helm" novels are near the very bottom. Films like "Agent For H.A.R.M." are at the absolute nadir, movies that make you want to punish Ian Fleming for ever starting the modern version of the escapist spy thriller in the first place.
Judged this way, the version of "Secret Agent Super Dragon" I saw, with English dubbing and razzed in the foreground by the Mystery Science 3000 crew, falls somewhere in the middle.(Unlike some purists, I believe that you can judge a film fairly if you see the MST3K version. I always find them amusing, but I can still give a film a fair chance in spite of the heckling from the robots).
The best thing SASD has going for it is the lead actor, who is so incredibly suave and Continental that you can almost overlook his preening smugness. Almost. In order to make the character more exotic and interesting, the screenwriters fall all over themselves to give him unusual talents, especially "yogic control" over his breath and metabolism. Of course, that's one of the ways you can tell a second rate, wanna-be spy screenplay - Bond (especially the Connery Bond) didn't have or need no stinking exotic talents. He was just ultimately cool, tough, and ruthless.
Still "Cooper" is pretty good, if somewhat bland, and he can almost carry the movie. What sinks it, in the end, is the awkward English dubbing (I'm sure the dialog sounded less contrived in its original language) and the unconvincing plot, along with less-than thrilling action sequences and florid, uninvolving costumes and locations. (Except for the windmills...those were kind of cool.)
I'd watch any of the Bond films (even the lamer Roger Moore ones) a dozen times before I'd watch "SASD" again. Still, as a standalone spy film, this is nice, if tame, fun. OTOH, if you're going to compete with the Bond franchise, you'd better bring something really good to the party (like James Coburn) or you are a bound to look pretty lame in comparison. Trying to compete with Broccoli's brand without having the firepower to back their play costs them at least two stars. So: 4 out of 10.
Judged this way, the version of "Secret Agent Super Dragon" I saw, with English dubbing and razzed in the foreground by the Mystery Science 3000 crew, falls somewhere in the middle.(Unlike some purists, I believe that you can judge a film fairly if you see the MST3K version. I always find them amusing, but I can still give a film a fair chance in spite of the heckling from the robots).
The best thing SASD has going for it is the lead actor, who is so incredibly suave and Continental that you can almost overlook his preening smugness. Almost. In order to make the character more exotic and interesting, the screenwriters fall all over themselves to give him unusual talents, especially "yogic control" over his breath and metabolism. Of course, that's one of the ways you can tell a second rate, wanna-be spy screenplay - Bond (especially the Connery Bond) didn't have or need no stinking exotic talents. He was just ultimately cool, tough, and ruthless.
Still "Cooper" is pretty good, if somewhat bland, and he can almost carry the movie. What sinks it, in the end, is the awkward English dubbing (I'm sure the dialog sounded less contrived in its original language) and the unconvincing plot, along with less-than thrilling action sequences and florid, uninvolving costumes and locations. (Except for the windmills...those were kind of cool.)
I'd watch any of the Bond films (even the lamer Roger Moore ones) a dozen times before I'd watch "SASD" again. Still, as a standalone spy film, this is nice, if tame, fun. OTOH, if you're going to compete with the Bond franchise, you'd better bring something really good to the party (like James Coburn) or you are a bound to look pretty lame in comparison. Trying to compete with Broccoli's brand without having the firepower to back their play costs them at least two stars. So: 4 out of 10.