[Captain Eddie]

Originally Posted by mkvb

.The only change I would like to see is to loose the love angle.It's something I tend to skip over when watching the movie can't see the point in it.

I agree, but the reason they put it in there is to try to appeal to the female of the species.

[Cardinal]

Originally Posted by MoMo

Dear djjeffhall,

the point about " Der Untergang " is that it was made by a German crew and therefore had to be as honest as honest could be for obvious reasons. The sad truth about the truth is that Hitler was probably the biggest bore on the planet when he was alive. His ordinariness provides a fascinating counterplay to the horrors which he perpetrated and also generates a kind of myopic disbelief in the west as to how he could hold such sway over the German nation.

Goebells was just as big a bore, but he had a brain. You can blame him for all the "SPIN" politicians generate in the world. His wife was one of Hitler's acolytes who swallowed everthing the madman told her.

The scariest part of the story was when she poisoned her six children ( her son from a previous marriage was older and at the front ). As far as I have read, this part of the story was strictly accurate.

Overall " Der Untergang" must be seen as one of the best war movies ever! The only glitch I spotted was the inevitible T34 dressed up as a Tiger. The turret was not convincing when filmed from the front and in medium close-up. Vehicles, uniforms and insignia all looked superb.

keep 'em coming,

MoMo

After reading MoMo's review I decided to rent The Downfall - Der Untergang and was very impressed overall at the script and the depiction of events. Having seen an extensive documentary based on interviews with Traudl Junge (Hitler's secretary) I believe the film-makers tried to remain true to factual events as based on the recollections of persons who were actually there.

Do not be put off by the fact that the film has sub-titles as they do not detract from the viewing experience (some liberties with the German-English translations have been taken though - for example a reference to "putting a bullet in one's head [kopf]" is loosely translated to "blowing one's brains out" in the sub-title).

Overall, I would say that this movie is an accurate depiction of a tragic period in human history - highly recommended viewing for those with an interest in history and the complexities associated with human behaviour.

[Tri-motor]

Only $9.08 at Amazon.com.

[djjeffhall]

Cardinal,
Hey there.

I don't recall the details exactly, but I believe the writer of Downfall based part of the script on the bio film of Hitler's secratary? Sorry, it's been a while since I read all the press interviews and reviews from the L.A. Times. I'm sure I have them clipped out somewhere at home but finding them would be a task and a half.......

The interview film of Hitlers Secretray was another film I and a damn scary piece if I do say so. Frightful not because of the subject matter, but scary in that it really let you know that people like Hitler and Himmler were human. I'd like to think they were not human, just some deranged Freddy Krugger like nightmare. However, after seeing these films and laughing at the little nuances offered up you (almost) come to understand how they became so popular. That, for me, is the most frightening aspect.

[Spinnaker]

Originally Posted by Cardinal

Spinnaker, I really hope that after filming these will be donated to museums throughout the country (NZ and elsewhere is feasible) for display purposes - future generations need to have an understanding and appreciation of history .

I fully agree, and I'm sure that at least some of them will eventually find their way into the hands of museums.

Of course, I was only kidding about adding one to my collection ;-) My lovely wife is very supportive of my hobby, but I think even she would draw a line at having a full-scale Lanc parked in the front yard!

You've gotta admit though, it would be cool .

[Taff the Terrible]

Hi Planenuts, got to agree with the 'Bridge too Far'. I love the scene when they are embarking onto the Dakotas. Not sure how many were real but it sure looked realistic to me.
Taff

Originally Posted by planenuts

I don't know if I have ONE all time favorite war movie. But two that always come to mind when the subject comes up are.......'Patton' and 'A Bridge Too Far'.

[MoMo]

Dear Folks,

Just a quick overview of a trailer of a new movie which another thread by Chiefs7 asked us to catch first sight of :

I had a quick look at the trailer of " Flags of Our Fathers" and the movie looks very interesting and appears to be well made.

Clint Eastwood is now a fine director and the last movie I saw which had his stamp on it was " Million Dollar Baby" which turned out to be much better than I thought it would be. I found it both moving and engaging.

The look of this Movie, and indeed any war movie with serious intent, is tempered by the look and feel of " Ryan ". I found myself warming to the trailer and asked myself, why? What immediately attracted me to the images which spilled from a 2.5 minute trialer? The answer was obvious...it has the mood and feel of the familiar. If your going to take a lesson from someone Clint, take a lesson from the best. Why not?

Spielberg changed the look and feel of the War Movie genre, and if anyone views the trailer I'm sure they will agree that there appear to be several shots which are similar in impact to "Ryan". For example, one of the trailer shots has a squad advancing in wide shot, camera low, dark figures starkly contrasted against a light sky. A shot from any war movie, you might say, but examine it and you get the mood and feel of " Ryan". ( BoB too! )

Certainly, the camera has had the lens stripped of the coatings which usually interact with the film stock to give us a more colourful world ( though not as good or permanent as Technicolor ). This stripping down of the lens coatings induces that effect which seems to give us a starker and almost monochromatic view of the war. Spielberg asked his cameramen to do this for " Ryan".

The stripped-down lens filmed "Ryan" in a strangely familiar way. Strange becase it was a new take and familiar because the bleakness and chaos of the event was captured as starkly as Krapa's few still photographs. This had an effect which seems truer to the period and more comfortable in context. How much of this is our reaction to too many over-saturated Warner Bros. movies of the war?

Who can say?

I'm only an old reactionary when it comes to the image and feel of the war. I can only say that because I'm close to the history my experience of post-war movies was coloured by black and white movies which had a clear black and white message for us all.

Interestingly, a black and white movie about the Napoleonic wars would seem dull to me. The colour of that conflict would be lost in black and white...let's face it, they were the best dressed regiments, ever!

Like many of you, I can't wait to see how the 1940s are represented. I hope that the dialogue and characterisation are true to the period or, at least, if this is a modern take on events let not the anachronisms spill and spoil!

MoMo

[Tri-motor]

"Beachhead" was the Tony Curtis opus discussed awhile back.

[MoMo]

Hi, again, Folks,

Here's one story which should please all the aviation buffs, escape buffs and those looking for a quote/ reference to cheer you up:

In the movie, " Colditz", the most famous inmate of the famous castle/POW camp never appeared as a character. Instead, this character, a pilot, appeared as an inmate of Colditz at the end of his very own biopic, " Reach for the Sky".

This famous pilot was, of couse, Douglas Bader.

Bader was the most senior British RAF officer in the camp and the other inmates would have expected him to set an example to the Germans, the French, the Poles, The Dutch and, of course, the British.

Indeed, the Germans must have admired his personal courage and skill as a pilot and leader for they saluted him wherever he went.

On the other hand, Bader did everything he could to annoy the German guards by joining in the practise of " Goon-Baiting " whenever he could.

Goon-baiting, or annoying the Germans, was the only outlet of energy forthe hundreds of pent-up POWs, some of whom had been ' in the bag ' since Dunkirk.

In the film of " Colditz" this is amply demonstrated when the German officer asks officers to volunteer their services for the German economy. One Frenchman proudly steps forward and announces to the astonishment of al that he would be proud to work for the Germans. In fact, he would rather work for 100 Germans than one Frenchman!

" What is your profession?" the German asks.

" Undertaker / Mortician ! ", the French officer replies, proudly.

Result : two months in the Cooler!

Bader cursed, swore and generally noised-up the Germans non-stop, in much the same manner. The problem was that most of the British officers thought that he was being an arrogant arse! They wanted the goon-baiting to die down so that they could annoy the Germans at specific times when they wanted the enemy's attention diverted so that they could tunnel.

Bader didn't give a damn. To the assembled officers of Colditz he sated, at an Appell :

" I know you British officers think I am stupid. You think I know
f***ing nothing--but actually I know f***-all! "

I wonder why that one never made " Reach for the Sky "? Perhaps this explains why Bader was never even mentioned as being an inmate of Colditz in the film of the same name.

( I think this is because the events of " Colditz " are centered on early war captives and Bader came later...also he did have a best-seller destined to become a hit movie in the pipeline when " Colditz " was made....these stars!!! )

[MoMo]

Hi, again, Folks,


Here's one story which should please all the aviation buffs, escape buffs and those looking for a quote/ reference to cheer you up:


In the movie, " Colditz", the most famous inmate of the famous castle/POW camp never appeared as a character. Instead, this character, a pilot, appeared as an inmate of Colditz at the end of his very own biopic, " Reach for the Sky".

This famous pilot was, of couse, Douglas Bader.


Bader was the most senior British RAF officer in the camp and the other inmates would have expected him to set an example to the Germans, the French, the Poles, The Dutch and, of course, the British.


Indeed, the Germans must have admired his personal courage and skill as a pilot and leader for they saluted him wherever he went.


On the other hand, Bader did everything he could to annoy the German guards by joining in the practise of " Goon-Baiting " whenever he could.


Goon-baiting, or annoying the Germans, was the only outlet of energy forthe hundreds of pent-up POWs, some of whom had been ' in the bag ' since Dunkirk.

In the film of " Colditz" this is amply demonstrated when the German officer asks officers to volunteer their services for the German economy. One Frenchman proudly steps forward and announces to the astonishment of al that he would be proud to work for the Germans. In fact, he would rather work for 100 Germans than one Frenchman!

" What is your profession?" the German asks.

" Undertaker / Mortician ! ", the French officer replies, proudly.

Result : two months in the Cooler!

Bader cursed, swore and generally noised-up the Germans non-stop, in much the same manner. The problem was that most of the British officers thought that he was being an arrogant arse! They wanted the goon-baiting to die down so that they could annoy the Germans at specific times when they wanted the enemy's attention diverted so that they could tunnel.

Bader didn't give a damn. To the assembled officers of Colditz he sated, at an Appell :

" I know you British officers think I am stupid. You think I know
f***ing nothing--but actually I know f***-all! "

I wonder why that one never made " Reach for the Sky "? Perhaps this explains why Bader was never even mentioned as being an inmate of Colditz in the film of the same name.

( I think this is because the events of " Colditz " are centered on early war captives and Bader came later...also he did have a best-seller destined to become a hit movie in the pipeline when " Colditz " was made....these stars!!! )