1917 FILM

[Paul S.]

It did win the Golden Globe for Best Picture and has been nominated for an Oscar Best Picture. They've given the awards to turds before however so nothing new. It isn't any Gone With the Wind, I'll tell you that.

All of which leaves one -- the skeptics amongst us at least -- wondering how much money changes hands for Golden Globe and Oscar awards votes these days.

[Aragorn243]

You got me on that one. This film was released late with little promotion but a lot of Oscar Hype. All I can think of is the Directors grandfather is supposed to be the one that told the story and maybe it's Hollywood's desperate attempt to feel important about something that is leading the push. I simply found little in the movie that rates the awards. It's starts out strong but as soon as the mission starts it goes downhill from there. No tear jerker moments for us at least.

[mrclark303]

Well guys ... Drum roll please ...

It's a bloody good film! Hollywood had been successfully kept on the leash!

Great efforts have gone into the equipment used, only a bunch of anoraks like us will spot the background extras using replicas and later RFI/Lithgow SMLE's.

It doesn't district, they really are just background infill...

The main characters use correct No1 mk111's, with the correct original wide piling swivels.

Andy Robertshaw was well employed as an advisor on 1917, personal equipment and trench systems are faithfully reproduced and employed.



The story is believable and not over the top, the odd shot really does make you jump clean out of your seat!

No man's land is well reproduced, complete with rats and bodies, truly harrowing and it really does give you a very small taste of what our grandfathers went through....

I really enjoyed it, it's in a league above the poor Fury and Dunkirk efforts...

[Gil Boyd]

Thanks for that John. I'll wait till its out on DVD so I can freeze the odd frame or two!

[Gil Boyd]

Nope, got taken out today to see it with a couple of the crew, Paul Biddiss the Military Advisor ex 3 PARA.
I personally couldn't fault it, militarily, and I was in critique mode too. Weapons handling was spot on, pyrotechnics were handled accurately and the webbing and clothing was there too.
All in all, entertainment derived from a family WW1 encounter by Mendes grandfather.

If I had one criitism it was the odd throw away line by the Lt Colonel McKenzie at the end "Right Lance Corporal f*** Off" after he had carried out a miraculous task and delivered the message from the General to save 1800 lives, for me, spoilt the film and so unecessary by the actor Benedict Cumberbatch and his three minute piece, quite frankly not warranted and wordage that just wouldn't have been prevalent then.

Worth watching, a good film all round with lots to keep you interested. No sign of the "Flanders Flaps" though!!

[Singer B]

The movie was beautiful to watch and very well crafted. Initially I felt I was in a Call of Duty WW1 game. You really don't realize how elegant the No.1 Mk III SMLE is until you place it in its correct environment and time period.

[Surpmil]

I'm afraid I cringe at war movies where everyone looks like they just stepped out of the costume trailer and had a shower the same morning.

If anyone ever decides to make a movie that is half way authentic they will have the cast live in trenches and dugouts for a couple of weeks so they get nice and dirty and worn looking before the (camera) shooting starts.

There are enough WWI photos around to easily see what men looked like in those conditions; anything else is a mockery.