The worst adaptation ever of a Jack Higgins’s book
Today the DVD “To Catch a King” arrived. This is a 1984 adaptation of Jack Higgins’s novel. I have been trying to find this copy for a while and cannot wait to watch it. But I have to admit what it delivers is nothing beyond a disappointment.
When I studied the reviews and comments, I was given an impression that the movie is quite decent and shots are very nice. What a mistake! The cast is disastrous!
The worst of the worst, Teri Garr played Hannah Winter, a 22 year old American Jazz singer. But boy, She surely looks three times of the age of 22! On top of that, can this woman act? According to the original novel, the young Jazz singer is not only beautiful but also courageous and intelligent. Yet Teri Garr played her with such a nervous attitude (she frowned, whined and giggled so much) that it appears so pretending and so clueless.
Horst Janson played General Walter Schellenberg. When I read the novel first time, I loved this character — young, brilliant, skilled, and complex, and I was so disappointed with Janson as him, although I have to say he is probably the best of the three worst casts. For god sake, Schellenberg was only 31 years old at that time, not 51. When the scene came that Reinhard Heydrich talked to him, it is like a son talking to a father. In reality Heydrich is older than him. 
And there is a reason that Nazi made him a general at such a young age. On the screen, however, this character completely lost his original charm and appears as a total loser. If Nazi promotes idiots to such a level, I would wonder why there can be even a World War II.
In the book, Hannah has a hidden crush on Walter Schellenberg — obviously you can see why — so the movie tried to emphasize the crush Schellenberg had on Hannah (which is also true in the book) but not the other. Fine with me. Yet during this scene in the train when Horst Janson delivered a passionate look to Teri Garr, I did not feel any screen chemistry but simply disgusted. A granny with a enormously fat face, dark liners under eyes, fake light blond hair, 3 tons of makeup foundation powered on? Horst, oh, also the cast director, really needs a new prescription of his eyeglasses!
What a terrible adaptation! What can be worse than this?
Bring it on. I am so prepared…
Learned from old news: “35 most outrageous fees (and how to avoid them)”
From my experience, using credit card for foreign purchase still gives you better exchange rate even with these transaction fees and conversion rates, but make sure you call your credit card in advance before your trip, otherwise your card might be declined when you try to buy somethings in foreign countries. 
22. ATM fees
What it is — What you pay to use an ATM at another bank. Your bank may charge you for going out of its network (typically $1.25), and the ATM owner likely slaps on a surcharge, too – $1.64 on average vs. $1.08 in 1998, according to Bankrate.com.
What’s so bad — That’s about a 50% rise. Plus, 98% of banks collect surcharges. The American Bankers Association contends that ATM fees make it possible to put an ATM on every corner. Consumer advocates see an easy source of revenue – and a way for large banks with the most ATMs to hoard customers. While your bank may not charge you for going out of network, you often need a large balance to get the break.
Ouch! — Fifth Third Bank charges non-customers $2.50 at its ATMs, the highest fee in Bankrate.com’s latest checking survey.
What to do — If your bank’s ATM is out of reach, ask for cash back when you make a debit-card purchase; it generally costs nothing.
24. Bad-deposit fee
What it is — What you pay if you deposit a check that bounces
What’s so bad — It’s not your mistake!
Ouch! — The fee at most big banks is $10.
What you can do — If you suspect a check isn’t good, try cashing it at the bank where it was issued – or at least call first. Or choose a bank where fees are not quite so high. Bank of America docks you for only $5 on domestic checks.
25. Foreign-currency fee
What it is — When you pay with a credit card overseas or take money out of an ATM, your bank tacks on a foreign-transaction fee.
What’s so bad — The fee has skyrocketed. A few years ago, you often paid only the 1% that Visa and MasterCard impose.
Ouch! — Chase collects $3 for each ATM withdrawal plus 3%. Bank of America, Chase, Citibank and Wells Fargo charge 3% on debit and credit.
What you can do — You typically get the best conversion rate using a credit card or an ATM, even after the fee. For purchases, stick with low-fee cards. Capital One has no fees. Washington Mutual and Wachovia charge only 1%, American Express 2%. See if you can use an ATM that’s associated with your bank. As of December, Citibank customers don’t pay a dime at the bank’s overseas ATMs. Bank of America allows free ATM withdrawals at affiliated banks.
28. Over-limit fee
What it is — The charge for overdrawing your checking account or exceeding the limit on your credit card
What’s so bad — The fees are at an all-time high. Plus, the bank may let you overspend – and then sting you. Credit cards issuers say they approve transactions that exceed your limit as a “convenience.” But, argues Ed Mierzwinski of the U.S. Public Interest Research Groups, “they should just raise your credit limit and charge interest.”
Ouch! — As much as $39 at many major banks
What you can do — Request that ATM withdrawals, debit purchases or checks be approved only if you have enough money. Some banks, including HSBC, Wachovia and Washington Mutual, let you. Another safeguard is to link your checking account to a line of credit or savings account and raise your credit limit before a spending spree. Also, many banks will send you an e-mail alert or a text message if your balance runs low.
29. Same-day payment fee
What it is — Your credit-card bill is due today. You never mailed it. Drat. But wait. You can go to the issuer’s Web site and transfer money from your bank account. For a fee.
What’s so bad — You’re paying on time!
Ouch! — Washington Mutual collects $15.
What you can do — Sign up for e-mail alerts if you tend to procrastinate. Or take your business to an issuer that doesn’t charge for last-minute payments, like American Express, Capital One or Discover.
What’s so bad — That’s about a 50% rise. Plus, 98% of banks collect surcharges. The American Bankers Association contends that ATM fees make it possible to put an ATM on every corner. Consumer advocates see an easy source of revenue – and a way for large banks with the most ATMs to hoard customers. While your bank may not charge you for going out of network, you often need a large balance to get the break.
Ouch! — Fifth Third Bank charges non-customers $2.50 at its ATMs, the highest fee in Bankrate.com’s latest checking survey.
What to do — If your bank’s ATM is out of reach, ask for cash back when you make a debit-card purchase; it generally costs nothing.
