Platicsco
Good story, Not enough for a whole film
PiraBit
if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.
ChampDavSlim
The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.
Phillipa
Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.
Donald Buehler
An outstanding portrayal of the Messines Ridge battles - a part of the overall series of battles in WWI around Ypres in Belgium. Anyone who knows anything about WWI will recognize the incredible fighting and human misery surrounding the 3 major Ypres battles. For a great depiction of these battles - read A Storm in Flanders - by Winston Groom -one of the best histories of the Great War.The movie works on all levels - some of the other reviews state that Aussies should see this - I disagree - everyone who is interested in how the free world defended against German aggression need to see this. I am a WWI junkie, but I believe this movie will appeal to a very wide audience.A few of the good points: Realism - this movie focuses on many small details which give it great credibility: clipping canaries nails; covering your coffee cup when there is an explosion (to keep dirt from falling in); continual rain and mud (can you say Passchendaele?) ; unbelievable living conditions; the cat and mouse game being played under ground where both sides were trying to discover the others mines; prejudice against the miners/sappers as not being real soldiers; and the death of the father (you'll see what I mean).This is one of the finest war movies I have seen (and I've seen a lot.) I really hope you will take this one in. Then, the next time you are in London - go to the Imperial War Museum for an in depth look at WWI & II. Cheers DonB
annryall
I have been researching my grandfather, Lieutenant Leonard Langdale Wrathall. He was awarded a Military Cross for removing an enemy road mine from a spot which was under heavy direct machine-gun fire. On the 3rd of October, 1918 in the vicinity of Estees and Ramicourt, he was engaged in the reconnaissance of roads captured during the advance. He examined roads up to our front line, and in many cases beyond it, and during the whole of both days worked under heavy shell and machine gun fire. Leonard enlisted in the the Australian forces in OCt 1915 as a geologist; his roll title was No 1 Mining Corps -2 and 3 Reinforcements. He spent 4 years in the army gaining the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in the Australian Tunnelling Corps and being concerned in the operations which led to the blowing up of Hill 60. I shall look forward to watching the movie and to see the experiences that they endured.
julian juli
great touching movie. it does show the real face of the war that is dirt, clay, wet and so cold even if its august. It does show the foolish of human nature. the smart kid asked, why they could not go back for a 100 m. it would not be the end of the world, those were really the ugliest 100m, full of sh... but the answer of the sick pride human being was no, they should die for these meters. humanity needs more movies and pictures like this just to remember fresh images of lonely death that comes from the war.hope no one feels this terror again really sad and depressing images. honor to the fallen. by the way, his wife in reality as shown at the photos at the end of the film was not a fallen star as it is in the movie, she was too ugly.
dianebowen
This film should be seen by all Australians. It is authentic and extremely well acted; no overacting and no gilding the lily. Take a box of tissues. As an indication of how special this movie was, at the end while the credits were playing, everyone except two people remained in their seats for the entire running time of the credits and the upper part of the theatre was full. I would like to encourage younger people to see it; young people like those who visit Gallipoli would appreciate its significance. It depicts the true nature of the first world war and also depicts the essence of the Australian character; free-spirited, somewhat disrespectful of officer ranks until said officers earn respect. WWI was not like other wars; though the very awfulness of the trenches is obvious, the movie dwells just enough but not too much on this aspect. I hope it is successful overseas though I cannot imagine the British going to see it in large numbers, nor the Americans. The British are gently lampooned once or twice and would not take kindly to this, and the Americans do not get a look in at all so they would not be likely to be motivated to see it. However, if they did, I think they would appreciate it.