Date made	2006
Running Time	2 hr 38 mins
Starring	Stephen Dorf / Mira Sorvino
Cert 15 (UK)

The version of the DVD that i have is in fact, two episodes of a mini series merged to make a two part film. Why, I don't know as it is far too long in this format. I would have preferred to watch it in two parts. That niggle apart what did I think?

I have to say, that it is quite a good conversion. The story is kept pretty much in tact (which for tv is pretty good going). There have been some changes, Covert One seems to be just another security group within government, rather than the compartmentalised organisation of the book. This is probably the biggest change in the story. It doesn't really change things, but is one of those silly changes that seem to irratate me.

The script changes do make a slight gaff. In the book John Smith is a Lt Colonel. In the story he seems to be a mere Lieutenant, although the DVD cover says he's a Colonel. The rank in the film does make things difficult, as the difference in rank would mean the difference between doors opening to him, and being barred. I don't think the shift in rank was intentional, probably it just got lost in the scramble to write the script.

It has been a long time since I read the book, however as the film progressed, a lot of the story did come back to me, and seemed to be much as I remembered. I hadn't realised that Peter Howell appeared in the first book, and wondered what Colm Meaney was up to.

The relationship between Randi (renamed Rachael) Russel, and Sophi, was dropped, I assume so that a romantic tie could be forged. Personally I think the tie, and the edge that existed between them in the book would have made good television, however it is obviously one of the sub plots that was dropped.

Stephen Dorf seemed to play an adequate Jon Smith, although I think the unshaved look was not exactly him, he may be a bit of a renegade, but at the end of the day he is both a military man and doctor, so cleanliness, and tidyness would be second nature to him. I've only seen him in one other film - Blade, where he was the bad guy trying for world domination.

Mira Sorvino as Rachael, didn't really make an impression, good, or bad. I'm not sure that she looked tough enough to be an undercover CIA agent, however she did fill the role.

Overall I liked the production, it didn't stray to far from the book, and was good entertainment if overlong in its one installment format. The one area it did fall down on was the link between the pharmaceutical company and Sophie Russell. If they had kept that link it would have provided a far stronger reason for Sophie's death. In the film it is not that clear apart from the fact she may have come close to solving the problem.

Worth watching.