62 replies to this topic

[wull2001]

I will admit I am only now starting to take an interest in WW1 and having visited Flanders and Somme in August thought I would give it a go and learn more about what the war was like. I did visit Hill 60 too which was an added interest to the film.

I thought the film was good and to someone like me I didn't pick up any inaccuracy. I was looking to learn about WW1 and just by watching this you can imagine the conditions, the terrible terrain they were fighting over, life and death decisions,the role of officers and soldiers and the luck of the draw on whether you survived or not.

Its the kind of film that people should be made to watch rather than the heroic war movies that seem to made today. There are a lot of experts on here (and I and many others are truely grateful for their help and expertise) but you don't need the technical detail to get the trauma and horror of war and educate the masses at the same time.

I hope this sounds OK

[rendellers]

Daughter wanted a Blockbuster deal and let me slip this in the basket. Bless her she arrived with her computer to 'watch it'. Now I have written before about my preference to interest people rather than to be totally historically accurate. I really enjoyed it. I have read Beneath Flanders Field and visited the Messine Ridge etc but was really 'made up' when the tapping on the computer ceased and the questions started. Films are not documentaries. They would not be made if they did not entertain and therefore make a profit. I would recommend this film.

... but can anyone answer my question!.. one of the miners wore glasses-surely he would have been declared medically unfit?

[LauraCobb]

I have read everyone's comments regarding this film and mine will pretty much echo those already said.  

I have to say that I really enjoyed this, probably one of the better WW1 films that have been brought out in recent years.  I liked the way it flicked back and forward to the past and to home, almost symbolic.  What made me the happiest though, was that the 'love story' element did not overshadow the main story-line (unlike Passchendale, which really cheapened the whole film).  I do feel that the characters could have been developed a bit better and it would have been nice to see a bit more from the German perspective. It could have been a bit longer to be able to do this.  I also liked the fact that it didn't build on too many stereotypes, which I was expecting.  Despite a few historical inaccuracies, l think that they did a very good job for an entertainment piece.  If  just one...for want of a better word...non-anorak, is inspired to pick up a book about the Tunnellers after watching this film, I think that is a very good thing.

[osvaldo]

I got it for Xmas on DVD and i really enjoyed it. Yes there are a few error's (i'm no real expert) but it does keep it easy to follow on the technical side of the mining exploits, easy enough for her indoors to follow.

It's an Aussie film about Aussie's and there are quite a few sterotypes throughout the film which adds a bit of humour and if anyone can take the pee out of themselves,it's the Aussies.

If you have been to the tunnels at Vimy ridge,it does not take a great leap of imagination to put yourself in the miners place and all that go's with it.



It comes with a producers 1/2 hr film about the making of,which is interesting.

[Richard Fisher]

I bought this for myself after not receiving it for Christmas (although a few hints were dropped - just not picked up!).

I was pleasantly surprised as it was better than I expected.

There are three points of view in our house:  My own, which is quite 'particular' in relation to equipment, weapons etc. and I was pleased to see Machine Gun Corps soldiers in MGC cap badges firing appropriate-period Vickers MGs.  It did what I expect of a film and made me think further on the subject; it made me get some books of the shelves and dig out more information.  Having watched the extras on the DVD, it seemed that the support the producers had really added value to the film.

The second point of view is my girlfriend's:  She has a broad knowledge of Great War history, being more interested in Tudor period history.  After calling me 'sad' for spotting some of the minor points on the Vickers, she also started asking questions of the subject (and making me look up the answers).  She was quite impressed with the film both from a 'story' and production quality.  It's sometimes difficult to get her to watch these type of films with me but it was fine this time.

The third point of view is our cats:  If we sit and watch it and don't get up too much, it means they can sit on our laps. They were pleased with it too!

The film didn't tell me anything I hadn't read but it did make me look it up again and, perhaps, engrained it further into my memory.  I see the purpose of feature films to give broad structure.  If it's a good film, I'll want to find out more.  That's the same for anything fact or fiction as even fiction films I might want to find out more about who wrote it, the characters, sequels etc.

For me, it was worth the money.

Regards

Richard

[COSergeant]

I'm a sucker for anything WW1, but I took the bait for Gunbus (Sky Bandits)  and FlyBoys.   Still haven't seen this one, but I'm looking forward to it.   I'm hoping someone will make a modern picture of WW1 the calibre of Das Boot.   (I saw the director's cut of Das Boot at the theater and felt cold and wet the entire time.)

[haworthnick]

I've got the film, and I quite enjoyed it on my first watch though this was interupted periodically by my father-in- law asking questions, some helpful some not.

Where was the Red House that he blew up first and is it possible to pick up on trench maps as I do have linesman?

Nick

[manchester terrier]

Spotted this in ASDA for a fiver the other night and thought "shall I?"

Then thought about checking the reviews on here first, glad I did. Looks like a trip to ASDA is required!

[coldstreampaul]

I have watched this film twice now and also "the making" extra, must say it was £5 well spent.

Paul

[nthornton19179]

coldstreampaul, on 17 March 2011 - 02:25 PM, said:

I have watched this film twice now and also "the making" extra, must say it was £5 well spent.

Paul

Ditto,

Picked it up for £5.00 at Asda but got mithered by the daughter  into buying Beauty and the Beast whilst I was there... My £5 DVD set me back £20

Neil

[Steven Broomfield]

Staffsyeoman, on 24 October 2010 - 09:40 PM, said:

Do you want to see a Sherman crew immolated on screen?

Well, if the crew consisted of Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini and Adam Sandler I'd pay.

Seriously, though, as a dedicated curmudgeon when it comes to films, I actually rather enjoyed this. I know very, very little about the war underground, but this movie gave  me a 'feel' for what it must have been like. It was cheaply-produced, that much was obvious, but it was heartfelt and pretty honest about its intentions. Certainly better than any recent Canadian films I could mention.

No, it's not the best was film ever made (it didn't have Richard Wattis in, and wasn't called The Colditz Story, for a start), but eminently serviceable and i shall lash out for a copy from Amazon (via the Forum link, of course).

[Steven Broomfield]

COSergeant, on 28 January 2011 - 12:50 AM, said:

   (I saw the director's cut of Das Boot at the theater and felt cold and wet the entire time.)

I suggest asking the cinema management to check the air conditioning. It doesn't sound right.

[MartinBennitt]

Just seen this on one of the French movie channels and thought it was really more than a bit good, and especially so if it was made on a low budget. From re-reading the relevant passages in Alexander Barrie's 'War Underground' it seems the attack on the so-called Red House was even more dramatic and heroic than the film portrayed. Very atmospheric, even if one knew that the Germans didn't penetrate as far as the Messines mines, and the young boy trapped was total fiction.

All in all, one of the better recent Great War movies

cheers Martin B