The Burma Conspiracy [DVD]

That is an old Bosnian proverb and the hero of this film seems to attract enemies effortlessly. This is a follow up to `Largo Winch', in that it reprises that character as a rich kid, philanthropist, action hero. Played pretty much straight by Tomer Sisley, he is the adopted son of a billionaire who runs `W' Corporation - not sure if we are allowed to speculate what the `W' stands for but by the end of the film you will probably think it isn't `Winch'.

Largo has spent time posing as a tourist in Burma when he gets dragged back to the reality of unbelievable wealth as his father is dead. He then inherits a global company worth $53 Billion and decides to sell it all putting the funds into his Charitable Foundation, an act so self less that even Batman might have thought twice. Still all is not well as Sharon Stone is on his case. She plays feisty human rights lawyer Diane Francken, who has an eye for the boys, a no nonsense attitude and a habit of acting on half baked uncorroborated `evidence'.

The charges against Largo are so heinous that he has no option, he must go back to Burma to clear his name, this will involve the use of his hypochondriac butler to track down a womanising gamblerholic , a corrupt Burmese General (never! I hear you gasp) and some of the worlds worst soldiers imaginable.

Thus the scene is set for a hundred minutes of action, intrigue, double cross and Sharon Stone sitting down facing the camera but crucially with a pair of knickers - never saw that one coming! The action is all quite good, the car chases are great if you like seeing German Staff cars get a kicking, and the gun play is often and loud. Lots of CGI explosions too if that is your bag, there are quite a few plot holes, rather too many, but to say more is a plot spoiler.

This generally was not well received and did not make any way near what its predecessor took, despite assembling a great team for the music, the photography and direction; it is the plot where things fall apart. Ms Stone is clunking in a cartoon way, but that is not her fault, and Sisley is actually good and as I said plays it straight, so not too bad and if you suspend belief you will be pleasantly surprised as this is just pure escapism. If you want an intelligent film that explores some of the issues it touches on, like human rights in Burma, or corruption or the International Criminal Court or the laughable Swiss Banks who don't want to be seen holding a tyrants money (jeez its hardly the first time is it boys?) then do not bother. A lot of the action you will have seen before only done a bit better; check out the sky diving scene, if he had landed and asked for a vodka martini at least it would have been funny, instead you just want to groan. Still it whiled away a bit of time and as a kid I would have lapped it up, so not all bad. In French, English and Burmese with good sub titles and the promise of a sequel - only joking on that last one, I hope.