After Billion Dollar Brain, Michael Caine didn't want to play Harry Palmer anymore, so he wrangled his way out of his five-film contract. Ironically, he'd make two more Palmer films anyhow, beginning with 1995's Bullet To Beijing. If only it were up to snuff.

The plot, deceptively simple at first, is every bit as twisty and labyrinthine as the original trilogy. It's less believably so, perhaps, but that could be excused if only the acting and the writing weren't so downright horrible at times. This is a fun story bogged down by sloppy production values and hack writing. Too bad, because Palmer is still a compelling character.