What is the last WW2 Film or Series you saw?

Discussion in 'Books, Films, TV, Radio' started by Ivan1, Apr 9, 2007.

  1. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Well, having now finished all three series, I'll say that it was the most satisfying programme I've watched in ages.

    Massive Spoilers Follow

    A quick note on the later episodes set around the liberation of Brussels and the final unbroadcast epilogue set in 1969.

    While I thought that final few episodes started off well, portraying the disorder, fear and uncertainty that must have been abroad in those few tense weeks, I felt as if some of the plots lost focus and took the viewer off on slightly pointless tangents.

    The series was never an attempt to present the entirety of the war in Belgium, it was a fictional history of Lifeline, other forces and activities (such as resistance saboteurs and the Communists) being introduced only as they related to that main theme.

    To give one example, the digression that showed Hans Van Broecken, the 'Dutch' bargee, stumbling into the Arnhem operation with German PWs/deserters diluted the main plot and wasn't terribly well done.

    I understand that they were likely attempting to further Van Broecken's story as a secret German deserter (from the Great War), but by that stage I was totally focused on what Major Reinhardt would do with his growing certainty that the Candide was the heart of Lifeline, how on earth Kessler would escape (because I knew he had to), and whether Albert would end up lynched as a collaborator before the Brits arrived or happily married to Monique in the end.

    Speaking of which, even though whirlwind romances and marriages were comparatively common during the war, the Captain Durnford relationship was not developed subtly enough for me to really believe in it wholeheartedly. Although it was brave not to serve up a 'happy ending' with Albert in spite of his greed and pride having floated to the surface, I felt that simply being the opposite of Albert in terms of caution and generosity, and somewhat dashing in his uniform with wavy hair, it was a bit shallow for Monique to up sticks and start a new life in England with a man she hardly knew.

    Poor old Reinhardt suffered the most absurd fate, but I'm told that the whole situation was based on real-life events—I might have to buy the book I mentioned in my last post to find out what these were... I also have to say, I missed Major Brandt after his implied suicide at the end of Series 2—he was probably my favourite character.

    The final episode: it didn't work for the most common of reasons: it tried to serve multiple purposes and hence achieved none of them satisfactorily.

    Firstly, the part about Kessler's post-war life and an investigation of it was clearly condensed; I could imagine a George Smiley figure poring over old documents, interviewing witneses and comparing photos in a shabby office before a final confrontation, but what we got, through the awkward framing device of a BBC documentary, was just the final scene. Madeleine had grown from being a slightly mysterious but largely two-dimensional character into someone really interesting, which is why I think she deserved more than a throw away line about her having died some years before (was there a problem with the actress appearing?).

    What I do think the episode succeeded in getting across is that the good guys do not, as a rule, simply live happily ever after: Alain, in many ways the workhorse of lifeline, whose instincts saved them all several times over, has become embittered towards both his old friend and the younger generation; Monique is happily married, but has to lock away her memories in order to get on with her life (her loss of temper with her son showing that the tactic doesn't always work); Albert is highly decorated and extremely wealthy, having transferred his resourcefulness full-time into post-war capitalism, but he's single and emotionally colder; Natalie has become a fanatical anti-communist, almost as ruthless, it seems, as the cell that killed her fiancé; even Lisa is not allowed to rest in peace: her grave is about to be dug up and built on–which is a slightly heavy-handed metaphor, but blunt enough to serve.

    The last few minutes when everybody faces the camera and says that Communism is Evil are, frankly, terrible (I think even staunch anti-communists would concede this). The leap between the fact that the Second World War was qualitatively different from, say, Vietnam or Malaya to the belief that the struggle against the Soviets is just as important felt like government propaganda. Similarly, the journalists milking the anniversary celebration to ask burning contemporary questions about the European Community felt forced to me—they should have reworked the whole thing minus the documentary frame: every moment a journalist character was speaking was a waste of time.

    Overall, although I enjoyed 'meeting' the characters again, and it was good that Lisa Colbert got her narrative due, I can understand fully why this went unbroadcast.

    So has anybody watched Kessler, the spinoff series?

    Edit: the pipe-waving retired RAF leader was quite fun at the liberation anniversary celebration.
     
    Last edited: Oct 11, 2021
    JohnH, 17thDYRCH and Dave55 like this.
  2. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    Terrible

     
  3. Staffsyeoman

    Staffsyeoman Member

    The much anticipated "The Forgotten Battle" on Netflix, a Dutch film about Walcheren and the Battle of the Scheldt. It is a crashing disappointment. Slow, drags, spends too much time agonising over a Dutch teenager ill treated by the Germans and another Dutchman who goes to fight for the Germans on the Eastern Front (but not in the SS). The timeline is confusing and any actual fighting, by the Canadians, is crammed into the last quarter and is not particularly convincing. Silly things are glider pilots with no form of wings of any kind on any uniforms; rifle buffs will be puzzled by changing Lee Enfields. Much of the effort seems to have gone on trying to make it look like "1917" with desaturated colour and the like. Too many implausibilities as well.
     
    brithm, AB64 and Dave55 like this.
  4. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Tried to watch the 'new' Dad's Army film on Netflix.
    It's... errrrm... I think I can only say: Shit.
    Waste of talented actors, good gear/props/cinematography on... nothing.
    Dunno why they bothered, and I'm always willing to give remakes a try.
    Hubris, eh? It's a bugger.
    F with classics at your peril.
     
    Markyboy likes this.
  5. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    Agree. I couldn't get through it. I seem to remember a pasture scene in the beginning with either a bull or a ferocious ram that was pretty funny though.
     
  6. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Only comment by me on the Dad's Army thread about the film was in 2015, mentioning why it was set in 1944.
    Dad's Army - They don't like it up 'em, etc.
    I watched it on the plane to the USA back in 2016 & can't remember much about it.
    Have it on DVD as youngest wanted it when it came out, I've not watched it .
     
  7. AB64

    AB64 Senior Member

    Not WW2 so I'll apologise now, but "Valley of Tears" on More4 started yesterday and the first 2 episodes are very good, some nice Centurion action - I'm off to watch episode 3 now
     
  8. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    Average plot but really good color footage of dozens of P-47s. Lots of trucks and tankers too.

     
  9. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

  10. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    I just finished watching Run Silent, Run Deep. Pretty good film :)
     
    4jonboy and Dave55 like this.
  11. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    I just watched the first episode of the Rhineland '45 crowdfunded documentary. I thought it was good and am looking forward to the next. (Call me a skinflint, but while the full price was too much for me to pay, I did feel the discounted price they have right now was worth it. Crowd Funded War Documentaries Available)

    Good local footage of some of the dragon's teeth remaining from the defences, and (with my obsessive focus on the Archer) I was tickled to see they used a brief shot from Cleve in which an Archer is shown driving in the city.
     
  12. hidip

    hidip hidip

    Saving Private Ryan…..I’ve been to the American Cemetery in Normandy, what an emotional roller coaster that was. Took my grandchildren, hopefully something they will never forget.

    I also visited the British Cemetery, the ages, and the messages are heartbreaking.

    what a cost to pay……RIP
     
    TTH, Andsco and Chris C like this.
  13. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Someone kindly put up the first episode of The Fourth Arm, another Second World War series by Gerard Glasiter of Colditz and Secret Army fame.

    Being aged five when it was broadcast, I didn't catch out first time around!

     
  14. slick

    slick Junior Member

    If you don`t mind subtitles....
     
  15. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    These both look really good!
     
  16. hucks216

    hucks216 Member

    Recently watched The Painted Bird. Billed in some places as this generations Come & See, it is a bleak film with a handful of brutal moments. It follows the story of a young boy living near the Eastern front and after the death of his aunt he ends up with various villagers and individuals as he journeys around, being seen as a harbinger of misfortune and death by some. He is handed over to the Germans by some villagers at the prompting of some Russian soldiers who declare that he is Jewish and escapes being executed by a more friendly German Luftwaffe man who is assigned to execute him. After various encounters with other individuals, all of which end with him being exploited or abused, he winds up being taken under his wing by a Russian sniper (played by Barry Pepper, who played the sniper in Saving Private Ryan). He is eventually sent to an orphanage where his father turns up to reclaim him having spent time in Auschwitz.

    The-Painted-Bird-1024x600-1.jpg
     
    chipm likes this.
  17. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    The Final Countdown

    F-14s vs Zeros. Pretty good mild sci-fi

     
    A-58 likes this.
  18. chipm

    chipm Well-Known Member

    Oh Man.........Some days i can handle these stories better than others.
    I think, as i have gotten older, my buffer against the "Hardships" of the world has gotten weaker :-(

    I recently saw The Star.
    I can still hear the beautiful Russian Radio Operator at the end of the movie................ Star this is Earth. Star this is Earth. Star this is earth.
    But Star had all been very brave victims of "The War".

    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0326450/
     
  19. Wobbler

    Wobbler Well-Known Member

    I have just watched A Doctor’s Sword on Amazon Prime. The daughters of Acting Squadron Leader Aidan MacCarthy seek to find out details of the Japanese officer who gave his sword and photograph to their father at war’s end, and why he did so.

    It was a very interesting and moving hour or so, well worth a watch if you get a chance. I’m now going to buy his book, A Doctor’s War.
     
  20. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    I know exactly what you mean. I was never able to handle very well but now I can't at all.
     

Share This Page