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The Formula

The book The Formula was made into the movie The Formula.

Which one did you like better, the book or the movie?  There are 3 votes for the book, and 4 votes for the movie.

Book details for The Formula

The Formula was written by Steve Shagan. The book was published in 1979 by Bantam Books (Mm). More information on the book is available on Amazon.com.

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Movie details for The Formula

The movie was released in 1980 and directed by Ronny Yu. The Formula was produced by Sony Pictures. More information on the movie is available on Amazon.com and also IMDb.

Actors on this movie include Samuel L. Jackson, Nigel Whitmey, Robert Jezek, Emily Mortimer, Meat Loaf, Jake Abraham (II), Mac McDonald, Aaron Swartz, David Webber, Michael J. Reynolds, Sonny Muslim, Barbara Barnes (II), Junix Nocian, Robert Carlyle, Paul Barber, Christopher Hunter (III), Stephen Walters, James Roach, Sean Pertwee and Michael Starke.

 

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Wildly entertaining but riddled with as many plot holes as bullets, Formula 51 (a.k.a. The 51st State) is a love-it-or-hate-it action comedy that plays like Tarantino on the Thames. It's a raucous hash, highlighted by the sheer pleasure of Samuel L. Jacks... Read More
Wildly entertaining but riddled with as many plot holes as bullets, Formula 51 (a.k.a. The 51st State) is a love-it-or-hate-it action comedy that plays like Tarantino on the Thames. It's a raucous hash, highlighted by the sheer pleasure of Samuel L. Jackson--in a kilt, no less--strutting his stuff among denizens of the British underworld. As freelance chemist Elmo McElroy (whose tartan attire remains glibly unexplained), Jackson is perfectly teamed with The Full Monty's Robert Carlyle in a scam involving Elmo's latest pharmaceutical concoction, which promises to yield a fortune on the rave scene. This attracts a loopy British kingpin (the outrageous Rhys Ifans), Elmo's vengeful ex-boss (Meat Loaf), a corrupt cop (Sean Pertwee), and a lovely assassin (Emily Mortimer) with a soft spot for Carlyle. They're all given generous helpings of Stel Pavlou's profanely zesty dialogue, and director Ronny Yu strikes a breezy balance between rampant hilarity and blood-splattering violence. If that's your cup of tea, Formula 51 guarantees a satisfying buzz. --Jeff Shannon