The Bridge at Remagen

Rating:
Summary: Seems to Drag a Little
Review: The capture of "The Bridge at Remagen" is among the highlights of the very late stage of the European war, and I was hoping this film would help get a better appreciation of the actual event itself. In a way, it does, but it's not a docudrama like "The Longest Day." Instead, it's your typical 1960s war picture, reflecting the domestic attitudes of that decade. Here, you see Americans pilfering from dead Germans, rather than giving war-ravaged children Hershey bars. And George Segal's character is difficult to embrace even though he's the film's protagonist. It's not until the very final minutes of the film that you understand that's the way it' supposed to be. These men have been through hell and back and they're very hardened by the experience of war. Unfortunately, you spend nearly two hours with them without finding them very likeable. If you like run-of-the mill war pictures, this will suit you. If you're hoping for a film about this event comparable to "The Longest Day" or "Tora Tora Tora," you'll be a little disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Good film, but little realism
Review: The film is not bad, for it's as spectacular as one might expect and the budget is not low: but since "Saving Private Ryan" on, genuine military buffs have understood what is that subtle sense of disappointment they feel when watching movies like this: lack of realism, that is portraying war the way it IS and not the way some movie-makers think it COULD or it SHOULD be! Uniforms should look like UNIFORMS and not just COSTUMES, and combat should look like COMBAT and not just ACTING combat. And the same could be said for most war movies of the '50's to the '80's.

Rating:
Summary: Good film, but little realism
Review: The film is not bad, for it's as spectacular as one might expect and the budget is not low: but since "Saving Private Ryan" on, genuine military buffs have understood what is that subtle sense of disappointment they feel when watching movies like this: lack of realism, that is portraying war the way it IS and not the way some movie-makers think it COULD or it SHOULD be! Uniforms should look like UNIFORMS and not just COSTUMES, and combat should look like COMBAT and not just ACTING combat. And the same could be said for most war movies of the '50's to the '80's.

Rating:
Summary: Great WW2 Epic -- Movie 5 stars; Video 3
Review: The movie itself is great. However, the VHS is 10 years old and needs to be cleaned up and re-released. The version played on TCM sounds and looks beautiful, as does the Letterboxed DVD. However, as I said, the VHS needs improvement; once in a while the actors seem to be mumbling and the interiors are at times muddy and dark, making it a little difficult to tell what's going on. Also, the few night scenes are almost impossible to see. Please, MGM, give a new VHS.

Rating:
Summary: Too Hollywood to be a Favorite
Review: There are some memorable scenes in the film, most notably the urban combat scenes wherein a town is actually destroyed. However it was too contrived for me to fully enjoy it.

Let's take the first thirty minutes of the film as example of it's failings. I'll focus on our American Hero. Opens with aerial shots of a fine battle, ruined for by sped up footage and comically hyper camera movements. After establishing the characters and recieving orders to go to battle, Hartman pulls the bolt on a MG, dry-fires it at the half track gunner. He's insane! This is over the top. I wouldn't trust a private soldier who did that, and certainly not a Lieutenant.

CO drives forward to be shot by a Panzerfaust. Hartman grimaces, and orders half track left, into a field, men foolishly continuing to ride inside! Inexplicably, Jerry doesn't fire! Hartman goes forward In a German vehicle, (making the exact same mistake his CO did a second earlier!) and amazingly TWO Panzerfausts miss him. Heroically shouts "Get in closer!", and throws a grenade limply, a complete miss. It explodes close to the car as it drives up to the house, to NO ill effect! Hartman hops out, unphased, and clears the building from one side, while the M3 half-track rams a gate, and mows down the panicked Germans on the other side..

Let's face it! The Germans would have been alerted by their comrade at the window, and shot those coming from the left! This is typical. I would never take such orders from someone so careless. These veterans are farcical constructions, and it works as long as nobody questions it.

Other oddities include: In many panning shots, lens seriously distorts the image. Jump shots. Unnatural lights. if not three way light, dark with bright lights in wrong places. No medium, heavy tanks, tank destroyers, SP guns! For the number of vehicles there's a lack of infantry, and finally "Angel" is the 'Jar Jar Binks' of this film.

Rating:
Summary: I Wanted to Like it.
Review: There are some memorable scenes in the film, most notably the urban combat scenes wherein a town is actually destroyed. However, there is far, far too much hollywood in this for it to be one of my favorite or even frequently watched war movies.

Rating:
Summary: Great movie and nice DVD
Review: This DVD release of the BRIDGE AT REMAGEN is far superior to the still for sale 1991 VHS prints. It is beautifully restored, in Letterbox (no 16:9 enhancement, though) with an average English audio track. The production booklet includes some nice photos and trivia about the making of the movie. The theatrical trailer is somewhat restored -- color is nice but there are a lot of scratches that weren't cleaned up. The Spanish-language version has a poor sound track, and the French is even worse. The music and sound effects are ruined on both foreign language formats. One can only hope that the English, Spanish and French versions audio tracks will be restored on a re-release. to 5.1 in the near future. Did I mention the movie itself is also incredible?

Rating:
Summary: Waste of Film
Review: This film is horrible and should never have been made. Its portrayal of the events surrounding the historic river crossing is disrespectful to those who actually were there, in particular the combat engineers who spanned the river after the original bridge collapsed. The characters are unlikable and unbelievable and couldn't hold my empathy. I gave this movie away less than five minutes after it ended. Don't buy.

Rating:
Summary: WWII action
Review: This film may lack some histoy here and there but over all it is vary appealing. It opening is by far one of the best in WWII war movies (fast and to the point). It sets the tempo for the rest of the movie. I feel this was a lost move because of the time period it was released (the late 1960). With the large anti-war movement no doubt it was swept under the carpet. But the action is truly first rate. If you like tank and infantry battle this one has it for you. The sound is great on DVD and the color nice to.

Rating:
Summary: A Good Action Movie
Review: This is a pretty good World War II adventure film full of action and suspense. George Segal and Ben Gazzara give standout performances. It also features Robert Vaughn, Bradford Dillman, E.G. Marshall and Bo Hopkins. There are some truly good combat sequences and a plot, which is not all that bad. It contains a good score composed by Elmer Bernstein of "The Magnificent Seven" fame. John Guillermin neatly directed it for maximum entertainment value. I am not sure how historically accurate this film is but it will keep you glued to your seat for shear excitement.