This empty, lumbering spectacular turns author Leslie Charteris's gallant law-breaker into a cat-burgling James Bond clone. Both Val Kilmer, in the title role, and Elisabeth Shue are miscast in a mundane tale about a Russian billionaire who's trying to discover a way to glean energy from tap water. Scientist Shue has the "cold fusion" formula stuffed into her bra and practically the whole of director Phillip Noyce's misjudged fiasco has her and Kilmer being chased by the Russian Mafia. It's sloppily plotted, unexciting and laughable - Kilmer plays the debonair Templar as a cross between Inspector Clouseau and Leslie Phillips - and any episode of the 1960s TV series starring Roger Moore (who pops up as the voice of a newsreader over the end credits) would be infinitely superior to this expensive farrago.

Simon Templar (The Saint), is a thief for hire, whose latest job to steal the secret process for cold fusion puts him at odds with a traitor bent on toppling the Russian government, as well as the woman who holds its secret.