While many reviewers compared this to Private Ryan, there really isn't much to compare other than the setting is placed in the same conflict. It should be remembered that this movie came out in 1989, and the attention to gritty, dirty warfare was not the norm back then.
If this could be compared to a war story, it would be more accurately paralleled with "All Quiet on the Western Front" in that the characters were plucked from home and cast into the horror and chaos of war. Unlike Private Ryan where there is a story by which the war is the backdrop, or Band of Brothers which followed the lives of those of Easy Company within the conflict, this is a portrayal of war itself. The characters were just unlucky pieces of the ugly mosaic.
As picky as this sounds, one thing I liked about this movie was that it had one small detail that most war movies tend to ignore, that is shell casings. Most of the time, like others I suppose, I am either caught up in the effects, story line etc...but this time, that one detail stood out. Yes, I know brass flies out and strip clips ping in most new war films, but in this one, the brass is scattered on the ground after the battle scenes. (Just an interesting observation)
For the average movie goer, who's favorites are Matrix and Batman, this will certainly not be your cup of tea. If you like war movies, and you liked "Windtalkers", then I suggest you pass this one up as well. However, if you are a history buff who had seen "Stalingrad", "Downfall", and you would love to see a version of "All Quiet on the Western Front" done with all the grit of the book, then you will get something from this movie.
I won't go so far as to say it didn't have some "cheesy" moments, but no film can be perfect. But I will go so far as to say this film is definitely worth a look.
If this could be compared to a war story, it would be more accurately paralleled with "All Quiet on the Western Front" in that the characters were plucked from home and cast into the horror and chaos of war. Unlike Private Ryan where there is a story by which the war is the backdrop, or Band of Brothers which followed the lives of those of Easy Company within the conflict, this is a portrayal of war itself. The characters were just unlucky pieces of the ugly mosaic.
As picky as this sounds, one thing I liked about this movie was that it had one small detail that most war movies tend to ignore, that is shell casings. Most of the time, like others I suppose, I am either caught up in the effects, story line etc...but this time, that one detail stood out. Yes, I know brass flies out and strip clips ping in most new war films, but in this one, the brass is scattered on the ground after the battle scenes. (Just an interesting observation)
For the average movie goer, who's favorites are Matrix and Batman, this will certainly not be your cup of tea. If you like war movies, and you liked "Windtalkers", then I suggest you pass this one up as well. However, if you are a history buff who had seen "Stalingrad", "Downfall", and you would love to see a version of "All Quiet on the Western Front" done with all the grit of the book, then you will get something from this movie.
I won't go so far as to say it didn't have some "cheesy" moments, but no film can be perfect. But I will go so far as to say this film is definitely worth a look.