Richard Anderson

This film is only related to Saving Private Ryan in terms of set decoration - which is magnificent. Otherwise, while amazingly filmed, it is just an adventure yarn - set during wartime. There is no actually fighting... like in a proper War Film.. purely the aftermath - depicted by dead bodies of humans and animals. Big name actors are purely used to put bums on seats. In terms of War Action, there is some token shelling (with no graphical portrayal of death) and a few rifle shots. We are supposed to IMAGINE what it must have been like.....not be SHOWN what it WAS like... in terms of the senselessly loss of life anyway. I have given it 3 Stars - all for set decoration and filming. The acting is largely secondary to the visuals and as such, left me bitterly disappointed that I had not witnessed a proper War Film.