IT IS THE FALL OF 1944 AS THE AMERICAN ARMY ADVANCES ON GERMANY. ATTEMPTING TO SECURE A BRIDGE FLANKED BY ENEMY TANKS, DEATH COMES FROM ALL SIDES AS SHELLS RAIN ON THE MEN. IN THE MIDST OF THIS MADNESS, FOUR RENEGADE SOLDIERS SHARE ONE DESPERATE AIM: TO STAY ALIVE.First broadcast on HBO in June of 1998–shortly before the theatrical release of Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan–this World War II drama offers an equally intimate and devastating study of combat and its tragic aftermath. Set in Germany during the closing days of the war, the film uses a little-known episode of U.S. military history–the bloody battle of the Hurtigen Forest–as the backdrop for the story of a battle-weary private (Ron Eldard) who is the only surviving member of his platoon. Despite his request for dismissal on the grounds of mental disability and shell-shock, he is considered a promising soldier by his superiors, promoted to sergeant, and assigned to command a fresh platoon of young, inexperienced soldiers. The cycle of war continues, and the film ends as it began–with one soldier carrying a mortally wounded comrade from a scene of devastating loss. A veteran of several war films, director John Irvin emphasizes the gritty, physically exhausting realities of combat with keen attention to detail on location in Hungary. This film is decidedly downbeat (don’t look for any Spielbergian uplift here), but its depiction of warfare is undeniably powerful, earning praise for Irvin and HBO for tackling such an uncompromising project. –Jeff Shannon
Buy “When Trumpets Fade” For Only $2.95
June 24, 2008
#1
I had high hopes for this movie and I could not have been more disappointed. It had neither plot nor character development. The jokes were few and far between and most of them were mean-spirited jabs at Japanese culture. Bill Murray seemed to be either bored or just doing his lounge lizzard act during the movie. Even my wife though this was a pointless waste of time. Great idea that next left the batter’s box.
June 24, 2008
#2
O.K. the movie was pretty bad. It disgraces all of the soldiers that fought and died together in the Hurtgen Forest.I thought this movie was O.K don’t get me wrong but, It SICKENED me at the end when they played I’m dreaming of a White Christmas. PEOPLE DIED FOR US!! IT IS NOT A HAPPY THING SO DONT PLAY HAPPY MUSIC. ALMOST ALL OF THE SOLDIERS IN THIS BATTLE NEVER EVEN MADE IT HOME FOR CHRISTMAS!! THEY DIED SO WE CAN BE FREE! SO DONT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT FREEDOM AND DONT PLAY HAPPY MUSIC IN A WAR MOVIE. ITS DISGRACEFUL AND SICKENING!!
June 24, 2008
#3
This is truly the worst film i’ve ever seen. Arnold Schwarsonager does more realistic filming. The characters are ‘flat’: they tell no backround to their lives in the film apart from their names. I think its dumb where Manning (ron eldard) is promoted to sergeant directly from private. Even Audie Murphy’s heroism wasn’t enough to be promoted to srgnt that quickly. And since when has someone been able to fit a Thompson clip into his m1 jacket pocket? At the end comes the bit that makes me laugh. The classic NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!as mannings buddy comes to check up on him and innevitably gets killed.Someone got paid to write the script? jeeeeezus! another sad bit is where Sanderson, the private gets separated from his platoon and has to hide under the stick pile, which is there ‘coinsidentilty’. Anyone could have seen his fat arse poking out of that pile. The German officer type person and his Action Man style Scar on his face is quite a gas too. Reading another review earlier, i too agree that Sandersons psycho scream with the flamethrower will leave anyone wetting themselves with laughter.
June 24, 2008
#4
This is a good movie on the battle lines of Hurtgen Forest, which it’s very realistic in blood galore. I am not sure of the accuracy when compare to factual history but if they really depict what actually happen, then i can understand the waste of lives with lil gain during this frontiere. First off, when this sargient non-wannabe agreed do take out the enemy guns in return for a section 8, why did he bring 4 rookies GI’s with 2 of them carrying their own flamethrower. First off, flamethrowers are for close range and not use to take out artillary in open field unless they want to be blown up with it when all the artillary shell start to explode. Not only that, they don’t even know how to use it. One ran away sceaaming like a whining baby who eventually got shot by his own man and the other one is yelling like a moron while charging at them. Then they run like babies back to the line, which cost the lives of 3 of them.
First off, i would forget about the framethrowers and bring a bazooka with lots of granades, one guy bring the rockets. Plus, everyone forgot about those M1 rifles and bring thompsons instead to cover more ground. Dwight Yoakim, ur ok as a worthless commander but don’t give up ur singing career cuz u still can’t act and never will. Also, how can anyone suppose to get past the landmines and barb wires during heavy artilery shelling in daylight? The 82nd is a good division and should’nt waste their time in this mess. They should join the 101st in the battle of the bulge, which has a purpose and a victory. The keystone 28th division should just stay there holding the siegfred line instead of pushing an offensive to break it.
I recommend anyone who enjoy war movies, to watch this.
June 24, 2008
#5
Dwight Yoakum is in it I think, other than that, this is a poor movie overall. The battle in the forest I am sure, could have some redeeming qualities, but it doesn’t show it too much. It seems like it is geared towards generation X with the soldiers wearing their hats backwards and the parts with the cigarette smoking to explicit to say here.
One of the few movies that I have rented that I felt like turning off and watching was a chore and a bore.
Private Ryan is an epic. This movie isn’t as good as Hamburger Hill which I would give 4 stars. It isn’t even as good as “Tora, Tora, Tora.”