Seriously thinking of leaving Ciao now, just too many problems, too often......off by crimbo, you wi...
Seriously thinking of leaving Ciao now, just too many problems, too often......off by crimbo, you will find me on another well known site, same member name.
Member since:22.06.2004
Reviews:153
Members who trust:53
Kokoda: 39th Battalion
When I saw this reviewed by Tayloa22, who writes excellent film reviews I thought I would give it a go, especially as my wife was out for a meal with her mates and I fancied a war film (that doesn't happen often).
The film is 92 minutes long (though it seesm a lot longer) and is rated 15.
The director is a guy called Alister Grierson and it is by all accounts his first full length feature, it is clearly Australian made, for an Australian audience.
I am not going to give you a cast list as no one in it is anyone any of you will have heard of, and are unlikely to see in any big budget films.
~~~The Plot~~~ The plot is based on true events. A reserve battalion of Australian troops, nicknamed the 'chocco's' (as it was thought they would melt in war) are sent to guard a supply trail in Paupua New Guinea, called the Kokoda trail. Their job is to stop the Japanese infiltrating the trail and coming closer to invading North Australia....look on a map, it really is quite close.
The group of men come under constant attack, run out of food, low on ammunition, and are exhausted. Amongst the group are two brothers who become quite central to the plot.
I won't give away any more of the plot other than to say it shows the absolute worst of war (maybe should be rated 18) and some of the best in man.
~~~Cinematography and directing~~~ It is slow, and I think that is intended as war is not all gun ho and running around. Whilst set in steamy rain forests, it has a ditinct trench warfare feel about it, and whilst set in the 2nd World War, it is reminiscent of the 1st.
The cinematography is excellent, much of it is at night which is hard to film well, and much of it is in rain and mud. The scenery is magnificent.
The music is moving and appropriate to the scenes.
The directing is gritty and realistic in my view, much less Hollywood and more small budget, which seems to work well. The explosions, sounds etc. are all within parameters that seem real, not hyped and hollywood special effects.
There is gore, there is blood, there is distress.
~~~~My Thoughts~~~~ Not everyone is going to like this film for three reasons; 1. No 'stars' 2. No big Hollywood effects 3. It is quite slow
These are some of the reasons that I DID like it. That and the fact that it is a very strong story. Okay, the acting is not the best in the World, some of the dialogue is a bit stunted, yet it would be in real life.
This is after all based on true events, and stuff of legend in Australia, so much so that there is a memorial in the area (maintained by local villagers) of four 'tablets' in the ground to this batallion with the words: Encourage, Endurance, Mateship and Sacrifice.
The film is moving and poignant and I would have no hesitation in recommending it.
Finally, there are no DVD extras (apart from languages), good, I sometimes just want a film. So, there are no DVD extra to talk about for those pedantic so and so's that write reviews off because they do not fit their ideals.
Updated from a review posted on Dooyoo by me, same member name.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 1970 - War - Director: Brian G. Hutton - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring: Clint Eastwood, Telly Savalas, Carroll O'Connor, Donald Sutherland, Don Rickles, Gavin MacLeod
Nice review & I KNOW what & WHO you mean about being pedantic re dvd extra's. Martin.
DixieChick10 14.10.2008 20:44
Brill review. Kirsty. xx
tallulahbang 11.10.2008 19:00
'There is gore, there is blood, there is distress.' That could have been the tagline for some of the nights out I used to have back in my heavy drinking days. xx
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