George Ulicny

Loved it. Watched half-dozen times. Flying sequences wonderful.

Went to 1917 last night, and thought it complete, absolute garbage. Basically a buddy picture, where two young Brits go sauntering across the countryside, chattering like magpies, and swinging their rifle muzzles across each other without a thought for muzzle discipline or gun safety. Amazed that neither was shot by accident. The ' Big Names ' advertised to bring in the suckers were in cameo roles at best. Didn't see Colin Firth in the picture at all, but got into the theatre a few minutes late. Mark Strong, a fine actor I went specifically to see, was onscreen a total of 60 seconds. The director relied far too heavily on cheap theatrics, such as whole platoons of rotting bodies, shown repeatedly. The scene where the two guys spring into action to pull a downed German fighter pilot out of his burning plane is absurd. You are going to risk your life to rescue a guy who only minutes prior was intent on killing you & pals, and given the chance, will do again. Which is exactly what happened. Far more likely the two guys would cheer and whistle as the guy burned to death, only shooting him if he looks like he is going to escape the burning plane. If you want to see WWI battle scenes done properly, watch the battle scenes in ' Downton Abbey ', where Thomas, former footman and current corpsman, sticks his hand above the trench, at night, lit matches in hand, to get a ' million dollar wound '. Totally, absolutely believeable. The two unknowns in 1917 can't act to save their lives.