Why so much hype?

Crappy film

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

Easily 1 of the best westerns/movies I've ever seen.Lee Marvin is his usual gruff self,and Burt Lancaster is offbeat,and funny.Jack Palance is also good.Would highly recommend this flick.

THE PROFESSIONALS is a decent, old-fashioned western with a good feel to it. It's one of those men-on-a-mission type films in which four renowned gunfighters (who are each introduced in an effective pre-credits sequence) are sent to aid a man whose wife has been kidnapped by Mexican bandits. What follows is a suspense-filled adventure as the quartet find themselves up against a huge gang of well-armed men and must come up with an explosive plan to rescue the woman.Films like THE PROFESSIONALS seem to have their own effortless charm that make them somewhat immortal in the annals of cinema. Certainly this is a vibrant, colourful adventure and it's easy to sit back and enjoy the suspense-fuelled sequences. Plus, you're in the company of the great old-time actors, another factor in the movie's favour. The ubiquitous Lee Marvin stars alongside Burt Lancaster, with the underrated Robert Ryan and Woody Strode in support. The stock villain role is given over to the one-of-a-kind Jack Palance.THE PROFESSIONALS was shot in Mexico in some fine mountainous locations so it's something of a visual feast. The long infiltration sequence in the middle of the film is a masterclass in tension, a tension that is successfully carried through until the climax. There are the requisite twists and turns in the plot, alongside well-directed action and the ample charms of both Claudia Cardinale and Maria Gomez. In essence, there's nothing to dislike about a film that is both watchable and a thoroughly human viewing experience.

I really enjoyed this film because of all things typical of classic films. I thought I was going to see a B-film with bad acting and sleep-inducing plot.Was I surprised.I should know better because of the principal cast. The sets, writing, action, direction and just the right actors make a film worth watching again and again.The real delight (after seeing Claudia in any frame) was Burt Lancaster's portrayal of the devilish rogue Dolworth as he contrasted with Lee Marvin's reserved and disciplined character Fardan. Woody Strode wasn't buried in the background typical of roles for African American's during that time but should have had more dialogue. Robert Ryan's Ehrengard role was surprisingly minimal yet Jack Palance's Raza was extremely well played.The last good western I've seen was the remake of "True Grit" which didn't disappoint. This film does as good a job (if not better) of providing entertainment without going dreadfully overboard with any single element.

"The Professionals" is one of those westerns made when the genre was getting a little tired, but before it was okay to completely throw out the old rules. The story is simple enough: a wealthy land baron hires four professionals, who are each the best at what they do, to go on a daring mission deep into Mexico, amid a faltering revolution, to bring back his kidnapped wife. Lee Marvin leads the band, playing a grizzled veteran of that revolution, with Burt Lancaster receiving top-billing and playing a dynamite expert who is easily tempted by women and adventure. The crew is rounded out by a bow-and-arrow and tracking expert (Woody Strode) and a veteran horseman (Robert Ryan). This is definitely a movie that hangs its hat on action, with shootouts spaced periodically through the movie to keep the audience awake and a signature raid on the Mexican revolutionaries/kidnappers camp at mid- film that was only a notch or two below similar scenes in more modern films, and was thus very enjoyable. These scenes were fine, albeit a little silly with the Lancaster's bottomless supply of amazing TNT. However, the rest of the movie plods on predictably. There are definitely attempts at character development but perhaps the wooden Lee Marvin as a central character makes the whole thing hard to enjoy except when the bullets (and TNT-laden arrows) are flying. I was definitely disappointed when the spectacular camp raid scene ended too quickly and I realized there were still over 30 minutes of film left with the best scene in the rear-view mirror.I would watch about 20 or 30 other classic westerns before getting to this one. It's not bad, the action sequences were certainly worth the price of admission in 1966, but it shows why the traditional western as a dominant genre was living on borrowed time.