1917

[SexyGreyFox]

I also think it was overhyped but the cinematography was good and didn’t have a problem with the acting for the most part.

I hadn't read anything about this film until I watched it which is the case for 99% of stuff I watch.
About 10 minutes in I turned to the wife and said the camera work is amazing, I've never seen anything like it.
About every 5 minutes I kept repeating it until about one hour in she told me to shut up.
I thought it was 10/10 but story line was 1/10.

 

[timebomb26]

I watched this a couple of weeks ago and wasn’t all that impressed. The camera work was certainly technically impressive, but I don’t think to any kind of benefit for the film. Somethings seemed rushed and there was nothing to flesh it all out.

The acting was ok, but the script was poor and I didn’t care at all about any of the characters.

Spoiler: Film spoiler

The scene where one of the main characters dies had no emotional weight at all. Felt like a scene filmed by a bunch of sixth form film studies students. “Am I going to die?” “Yes”. Moving.

Was very bored by the end.

 

[Scam]

Spoiler: Film spoiler

I thought that was a brave filmmaking choice. A really/most important part of the story and you as the viewer "misses" it because of the single camera. Shows how strict they wanted to be with the experience of a single-take movie.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

I thought that was a brave filmmaking choice

It isn't a brave filmmaking choice though, it's true to life.
Three years ago I went on a Battlefields Tour and went to the Somme among other places. Our Guide was absolutely brilliant and put us in situations to try and feel what it was like. So for example we're all lined up in a trench and he said "Your best mate has just been shot dead in the head, how do you react?". The answer was basically make sure your head is not sticking up and get out if you need to, that dead friend is just a number and one of many you've witnessed.
They didn't have time to think about emotions.

When we had watched the film and after going on that Tour both me and the wife said the Director had got it spot on so wondered if he had the same Guide.

 

[Scam]

It isn't a brave filmmaking choice though, it's true to life.

Since when does real life have much bearing on movies? It's brave because it's a totally different way of showing one of the biggest moments in the movie, a decision that a lot of people wouldn't agree with or see it's merit like the poster above for example.

 

[mid_gen]

It's a 6.5, maybe 7 from me.

I did keep thinking about how they did some shots, but not in a good way. I kept seeing the director and cameras and crew and dollies and lights and it just ended up being distracting. A gimmick, didn't add anything to the movie, which on its own was a very dull script with zero interesting characters or stories to tell.

It was interesting to see a big budget realization of the trenches though.

 

[timebomb26]

I thought that was a brave filmmaking choice. A really/most important part of the story and you as the viewer "misses" it because of the single camera. Shows how strict they wanted to be with the experience of a single-take movie.

I’m sure you’re absolutely right with the film makers intentions, but it missed the mark for me.

 

[koolpc]

It was a decent film. Obviously not a 'Saving Private Ryan' though!

 

[SexyGreyFox]

I’m sure you’re absolutely right with the film makers intentions, but it missed the mark for me.

It was bang on the mark as I explained above.
Men were dieing all around and you didn't have time for emotion, obviously Hollywood would have had a proper burial with his mate crying over his grave.

 

[Boge]

and Hollywood couldn't have had the German pilot being thankful and grateful for being rescued from his imminent death could they. Those nasty Germans, they're all the same murderous scum eh?
Typical tokenism

 

[timebomb26]

It was bang on the mark as I explained above.
Men were dieing all around and you didn't have time for emotion, obviously Hollywood would have had a proper burial with his mate crying over his grave.

I understand, but I still think it was poorly acted and didn’t convey what you said particularly well.

Maybe it was because I had too high expectations, or because I didn’t get to see it at the cinema.

 

[Scam]

and Hollywood couldn't have had the German pilot being thankful and grateful for being rescued from his imminent death could they. Those nasty Germans, they're all the same murderous scum eh?
Typical tokenism

lol

I actually think that scene is brilliant. Without spoilers, the reduced "glory" of what happens. The sad reality of how quick and easy it is to do that and suffer the consequences. I thought it was very hard-hitting. Perhaps some of the 'yoofs' in our great country who walk around with knives should watch 1917 to see what might really happen in a split-second when your back is turned

 

[ChroniC]

lol

I actually think that scene is brilliant. Without spoilers, the reduced "glory" of what happens. The sad reality of how quick and easy it is to do that and suffer the consequences. I thought it was very hard-hitting. Perhaps some of the 'yoofs' in our great country who walk around with knives should watch 1917 to see what might really happen in a split-second when your back is turned

I think you see one thing and forget the other which is the complete opposite of what would happen. Agreed they would like you say have had a sad reality of no emotion when people are dying around them etc. However and this is the biggest bug bear that I have around that scene. Is that if that were the case they would also have a huge hatred for the opposing forces who have been attacking and shelling them.

The reality of the situation wouldn't allow for a sudden burst of empathy. He would have shot the pilot and never tried to help him. His mission to his brother suddenly became a second thought to a man he should have hated and it cost him his life.
That for me was totally stupid and badly written.

 

[Vern1961]

What tokenism? We might have another Laurence Fox here.

There were several scenes with black soldiers in the ranks and an Indian (I think) during the scene with the truck. The latter quite plausible given our Empire status at the time, but not sure about the former.

I actually just gave this 10/10 in the What Film... thread. Surprised myself with that as during the opening scenes I was joking with the wife I was waiting for Black Adder and Baldrick to pop up. Yes there were some clichés and compromises but it got me hooked with the visuals (particularly the 20 minutes of No Mans Land and the burning town) and the sound was demo level Dolby Atmos. Wish I'd bought the 4K and not the Blu-ray now. And yes it was definitely a shock to

Spoiler

lose one of the two main characters relatively earlier in the movie

 

[SexyGreyFox]

There were several scenes with black soldiers in the ranks and an Indian (I think) during the scene with the truck. The latter quite plausible given our Empire status at the time, but not sure about the former.

When I went on the Battlefields Tour there were loads in graves.
Honestly, people will try and pick fault with anything

 

[Malevolence]

There were several scenes with black soldiers in the ranks and an Indian (I think) during the scene with the truck. The latter quite plausible given our Empire status at the time, but not sure about the former.

You do realise that the British Empire encompassed many African and Caribbean nations, right? Do they not teach history in schools anymore?

 

[Vern1961]

I stand firmly corrected and I wasn’t picking fault, just musing on the earlier comment about tokenism!