I review a whole season rather than individual episodes, so there is a chance of spoilers. If you haven’t watched the whole season yet, stop reading now! The most striking element of Band of Brothers is how real the story is. The … Continue reading Spielberg on WW2 – Band of Brothers (mini-series) TV Review
Saving Private Ryan is the definitive World War 2 movie. It covers one of the most horrific but influential moments in the history of the conflict, in a real, bloody and stark way, while also making a movie which tells a … Continue reading Spielberg on WW2 – Saving Private Ryan (1998) Review
Steven Spielberg knows World War 2. He clearly wasn’t there but he has produced movies and TV shows which have brought the era to life successfully and realistically. You could argue that his work on the historic event is the best … Continue reading Spielberg on World War 2 – The Launch!
This is going to sound ridiculous considering the film I’m reviewing, but I actually wanted Conan to have slightly more depth and a better story. The reason is, the film actually starts really well. It’s not an incredible, Saving Private Ryan opening, but it sets the tone of the film and introduces Conan as you’d expect, a child born in battle. It also helps that Conan’s Dad is played by Ron Perlman. I’ve spoken before about how cool Ron Perlman is and he doesn’t disappoint in Conan either. If he’s not killing other tribes, he’s teaching Conan how to fight on ice or crafting … Continue reading Conan the Barbarian (2011) Review
There seems to be a pattern with war films, of any war, to either be a silly comedy or more commonly, a serious drama with an underlying, deeper theme or message. The old days of a fun war film, that had more of an adventure feel to it rather than a serious, heavy theme, seems to be over. I think there is still place for films that get shown on a Sunday afternoon. The kind of films your Dad tells you is a classic and you sit down to watch and find yourself entertained but not preached too, usually for … Continue reading Three Kings (1999) Review
I think realism, the bloody, gritty, scary elements to war, is what makes a film from that genre successful. That is why I usually avoid any older war films, like The Longest Day, The Eagle has Landed or even Zulu. I always believe the best war films show the grittiness of war and portray the horrors, like Saving Private Ryan, Apocalypse Now, Platoon and Full Metal Jacket. I definitely didn’t think you could have a classic, comedic film about World War 2. I was wrong though… Kelly’s Heroes is funny. From the very beginning, when we meet our bombarded, desperate and dishevelled platoon of … Continue reading Kelly’s Heroes (1970) Review
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