Sometimes you see a movie that hits you in the feels with an unexpected link to your own situation. I had been meaning to watch this classic for a long time and when I got around to it at last I went into it with my eyes open, knowing in advance it would push my sentimental buttons. The tale of a disillusioned idealist who is nonetheless unable to stop fighting, returning to the UK for one last adventure? Very on the nose for me. But even standing back from it I still think it's a fine film. All of the main and the supporting leads act their socks off, and the writer is William Goldman so the echoes of The Princess Bride and of The Lion in Winter are unsurprising (go see both of those two if you haven't already!). It's true that it is manipulative and broadly predictable but I wouldn't change a thing. Has added poignancy for its current relevance. It came out after the Vietnam war, and back then while of course the writing focuses on the absurdity of heroism and myth-making, I sadly reflect that these days it would be hard even to believe in characters being stupid enough to genuinely believe (even misguidedly) in ideals of service.

A variation on the Robin Hood story that focusses a Robin and Marian. An already aging Sean Connery gives the movie a different vibe than the classic movies about the character.

The evolution of the characters over the years.