Rating: 
Summary: An Excellent and Unforgettable Experience
Review: "Bloody Sunday" is a remarkable and powerful film; a rare breed of film that makes you wonder why such a gem goes so unrecognized by moviegoers. This is such a well-done and important film that has the ability to re-create history with pure authenticity. One of the best things I did last week was purchase this DVD. As soon as I started it, I knew there was no turning back.I had never heard of the event itself (here's my age showing again). Never even learned about it in high school. As a matter of fact, I'm learning there's LOTS of things I never learned in high school, but back to the movie. "Bloody Sunday" is a documentary-like film that re-creates what transpired on Sunday, January 30th, 1972. In a Civil Rights demonstration in Northern Ireland, British troops opened fire on protesters when things were getting hairy, which would eventually lead to 27 wounded and 13 dead. This was a tragedy that struck a major blow to the Civil Rights movement, and to Ireland and Britain as well. From what I understand, this is still a very controversial topic, even today. Nobody is still 100% sure of what exactly happened. Both sides are still debating and offering their versions of what really went down. I don't know much about the event, as I said in the beginning of this review. What I do know is that this film was done in a very realistic and authentic way, and I believe that what happened on that tragic day might've gone down the way it did in the film, or very close to it. I also believe that the movie shows both sides, not just one. This film was done entirely hand-held, meaning not once did the filmmakers use a dolly or camera stands. The end result is that it gives it the raw and realistic feel that it needs to be affective. There is no story or plot in the movie. The movie isn't there to tell a single story or show us "characters;" the only goal is to try to educate us all on what happened on January 30th. You never look at the actors as actors, but more like the real people themselves. In fact, when I was watching this, I was very convinced that I wasn't watching a movie, but a real documentary. The DVD comes equipped with some very nice special features. Those being two commentary tracks and 2 documentary features. That may not sound like a lot, but when you view or hear them, you feel very satisfied. It would've been nice to have a few more extras, but I can't really complain. Nor do I want to. I really believe the filmmakers when they say that they did not make "Bloody Sunday" to open old wounds. They want to educate us all on what happened and they want us to confront it. Much like when an addict has a problem but he or she won't admit it, the problem will never come to a resolution if we continue to ignore it. I urge every history teacher to make their students watch this movie. I urge EVERYONE I know to give this movie a try. It is a rare and unique gem that takes historical films to a new level that it has never reached before. It's a shame that not many have seen it, but my hope is that more people will see it now since it is available to own and rent on DVD and video. "Bloody Sunday" is an experience you will never forget, and it is an important one you do not want to miss out on. Definitely makes my Top 10 of 2002 list, without question.
Rating: 
Summary: When Stormont Bans Our Marches
Review: "Sunday Bloody Sunday" was a John Lennon song from his "Some Time In New York City" set that introduced me to this sad day. "When Stormont bans out marches," was the chorus that rattled in my head for the early 70s. Then the U2 song came out. Now I'm pleased to see this film. It's hard to review this film without either reviewing the event itself and the political situation that surrounds it or reviewing the cinema verite style that director Paul Greengrass employs. There is no doubt that "Bloody Sunday" is powerful. I sat watching the credits roll afterwards and listened to the U2 song even after the screen went black. I found this film less effective that the docu-drama "Veronica Guerin." Gerald McSorely played Irish Mafioso John Gilligan in "VG"; and here plays Capt. Supt. Lagan who sits dumbfounded hearing the news, patently ignored by the British officers. The film is centered around Ivan Cooper played by James Nesbitt. He does an excellent job as a wheeler dealer politician who then becomes dumbfounded at the day's results. Tim Piggott-Smith does a marvelous job as the boneheaded Gen. Robert Ford who goads the British into the confrontation and then crows about it as a tremendous success. The short abrupt cuts didn't work as well for me. If they had started with longer sequences and progressively been snipped to shorter and shorter shots as we approach the massacre, the film would have had more of a sense of build. As it is, it does convey the sense of confusion with people talking at once, not listening to each other, and then the screen cutting to a completely different setting and sequence, leaving each part dropped but adding to a cumulative effect. Because this film is about an extremely important event, one that is unfortunately mirrored in too many unjust situations around the world, it does have a universality and resonance. On the other hand, because we don't spend long enough with each character, because we don't come to know the 13 killed or the 14 wounded, there is a facelessness to the proceeding. It would have been more moving for me if like "Veronica Guerin" we become directly involved with the characters and concerned with their outcome. Even so, it's a film that deserves to be seen. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Flawed and Dry
Review: "Bloody Sunday" was one of the turning points of the modern Troubles. You only have to see the statistics to know that. In 1971, the year before the event, the death toll was under 200. In 1972, the year of the event, it was almost 500. I'm going to criticize this movie for some of the things that others have praised it for. It could be called "Cops, Londonderry 1972." That's because the entire movie comes across as an episode of that show. The only difference is that we viewers see things that we never would with the real "Cops." This makes things appear to be extremely realistic, but at the same time bereft of any interpretation. There is no music to cue us about how we should feel. There is no foreshadowing of events. There are no speeches or sense of perspective about what happened in Londonderry. There are also some other annoying things: 1. accents -- I have a pretty good ear for the Irish brogue, but I found myself scratching my head sometimes in utter confusion about what was being said. 2. no labelling of characters -- It would have helped immeasurably if there had been little credits popping up when each major character was introduced. I would have also provided times and locations when the scenes shifted Three final notes: 1. Watching this movie leads me to the conclusion that Bloody Sunday was an avoidable tragedy. I think that I would assign about 80% of the blame to the British (putting young, aggressive soldiers armed with live ammunition into the situation they were in was absolute madness). Yet I can't help but think that some responsibility lies with the citizens of the Bogside who chose to riot and stone the soldiers. 2. I really do think that this movie might have been better and fairer if it had shown the killings in a Rashomon style. In other words, it would have been less biased to take at least some of the British soldiers at their word that they thought they saw or heard gunmen. 3. I agree with the other reviewer that Bloody Sunday has unfairly eclipsed other atrocities in Northern Ireland, many of them perpetrated by the IRA. It is a tragedy that no one was punished for what happened in Londonderry, but it is equally unjust that many of those responsible for mass killings like those in Birmingham (21 dead in two no-warning pub bombings in 1974) are walking free today as well.
Rating:
Summary: When Stormont Bans Our Marches
Review: "Sunday Bloody Sunday" was a John Lennon song from his "Some Time In New York City" set that introduced me to this sad day. "When Stormont bans out marches," was the chorus that rattled in my head for the early 70s. Then the U2 song came out. Now I'm pleased to see this film. It's hard to review this film without either reviewing the event itself and the political situation that surrounds it or reviewing the cinema verite style that director Paul Greengrass employs. There is no doubt that "Bloody Sunday" is powerful. I sat watching the credits roll afterwards and listened to the U2 song even after the screen went black. I found this film less effective that the docu-drama "Veronica Guerin." Gerald McSorely played Irish Mafioso John Gilligan in "VG"; and here plays Capt. Supt. Lagan who sits dumbfounded hearing the news, patently ignored by the British officers. The film is centered around Ivan Cooper played by James Nesbitt. He does an excellent job as a wheeler dealer politician who then becomes dumbfounded at the day's results. Tim Piggott-Smith does a marvelous job as the boneheaded Gen. Robert Ford who goads the British into the confrontation and then crows about it as a tremendous success. The short abrupt cuts didn't work as well for me. If they had started with longer sequences and progressively been snipped to shorter and shorter shots as we approach the massacre, the film would have had more of a sense of build. As it is, it does convey the sense of confusion with people talking at once, not listening to each other, and then the screen cutting to a completely different setting and sequence, leaving each part dropped but adding to a cumulative effect. Because this film is about an extremely important event, one that is unfortunately mirrored in too many unjust situations around the world, it does have a universality and resonance. On the other hand, because we don't spend long enough with each character, because we don't come to know the 13 killed or the 14 wounded, there is a facelessness to the proceeding. It would have been more moving for me if like "Veronica Guerin" we become directly involved with the characters and concerned with their outcome. Even so, it's a film that deserves to be seen. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: When Stormont Bans Our Marches
Review: "Sunday Bloody Sunday" was a John Lennon song from his "Some Time In New York City" set that introduced me to this sad day. "When Stormont bans out marches," was the chorus that rattled in my head for the early 70s. Then the U2 song came out. Now I'm pleased to see this film. It's hard to review this film without either reviewing the event itself and the political situation that surrounds it or reviewing the cinema verite style that director Paul Greengrass employs. There is no doubt that "Bloody Sunday" is powerful. I sat watching the credits roll afterwards and listened to the U2 song even after the screen went black. I found this film less effective that the docu-drama "Veronica Guerin." Gerald McSorely played Irish Mafioso John Gilligan in "VG"; and here plays Capt. Supt. Lagan who sits dumbfounded hearing the news, patently ignored by the British officers. The film is centered around Ivan Cooper played by James Nesbitt. He does an excellent job as a wheeler dealer politician who then becomes dumbfounded at the day's results. Tim Piggott-Smith does a marvelous job as the boneheaded Gen. Robert Ford who goads the British into the confrontation and then crows about it as a tremendous success. The short abrupt cuts didn't work as well for me. If they had started with longer sequences and progressively been snipped to shorter and shorter shots as we approach the massacre, the film would have had more of a sense of build. As it is, it does convey the sense of confusion with people talking at once, not listening to each other, and then the screen cutting to a completely different setting and sequence, leaving each part dropped but adding to a cumulative effect. Because this film is about an extremely important event, one that is unfortunately mirrored in too many unjust situations around the world, it does have a universality and resonance. On the other hand, because we don't spend long enough with each character, because we don't come to know the 13 killed or the 14 wounded, there is a facelessness to the proceeding. It would have been more moving for me if like "Veronica Guerin" we become directly involved with the characters and concerned with their outcome. Even so, it's a film that deserves to be seen. Enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty good film
Review: A pretty good film. My only complaints would be that you'd better turn the volume up because a lot dialogue (in critical scenes)is mumbled and carpeted with a thick accent. I ended up sitting in front of the TV with my ears pressed against the speakers in some parts, however this may reflect listening to the Clancy Brothers and Prodigals too loud. This is an important movie, especially for those of Irish-American heritage. It is simply a "snapshot" of a tragic day within an eon of conflict and hate. The elder generation taught my generation never to forget the famine or the cruelty of the crown. I, in turn, will teach my children never to forget Bloody Sunday as well.
Tiocfaidh Ar La.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty good film
Review: A pretty good film. My only complaints would be that you'd better turn the volume up because a lot dialogue (in critical scenes)is mumbled and carpeted with a thick accent. I ended up sitting in front of the TV with my ears pressed against the speakers in some parts, however this may reflect listening to the Clancy Brothers and Prodigals too loud. This is an important movie, especially for those of Irish-American heritage. It is simply a "snapshot" of a tragic day within an eon of conflict and hate. The elder generation taught my generation never to forget the famine or the cruelty of the crown. I, in turn, will teach my children never to forget Bloody Sunday as well.
Tiocfaidh Ar La.
Rating:
Summary: A harsh and human look at a terrible historical tragedy
Review: An emotionally crushing recreation of the infamous January 30, 1972 clash between British troops and Irish protesters in the town of Derry, which led to the deaths of dozens of civilian marchers. "Clash" is perhaps too strong a word -- this film (as well as several abortive inquiries) makes a strong case that the testosterone-amped British "para" soldiers simply went berserk and shot people at random, in hopes of "teaching them a lesson they'd never forget." The distinction between IRA warmongers and the civilian civil rights movement was apparently lost of the embattled English, but their actions at Derry helped lock the Catholic-Protestant feud into place right up to the present day. Filmically, this is an impressive work: the documentary-style handheld camera work, which seems a bit mannered and distracting in the first part of the film, pays off handsomely when the violence starts -- the fear and chaos of the event is made palpable in a suprisingly visceral manner... it's like a punch to the gut when the shooting starts.... and then it worsens and keeps on going for what seems like an eternity. Regardless of what you think of the filmmaker's political slant, the skill with which they built this film's dramatic impact is undeniable. Viewers will have to make up their own minds about what they believe actually happened that day, but this film proides a convincing argument on behalf of the civilian victims. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: im all for the irish,but this was just suicide!
Review: back many many years ago,the english took over........well pretty much everything.ireland included.the potato famine is really just some bull they put up to cover for the fact that they were starving the irish to death by attacking or taking all thier food sources.the irish are still under english rule now.theyre mad as anything,understandably.the ira and just about anybody else fights guierrilla style all the time against the english.the irish wanted to do a march in northern ireland commerating a victory over the english which was really inconsequential now.the english armed guards were everywhere and this irish guy led hundreds of people out to this march against unbeatable odds and unlawfully.his reasons were half baked,like martin king was his idol.first of all,martin king was a guy who cared nothing for the irish only africans.they marched and as expected,they were shot dead.its sad and sorry but you dont peacefully assemble against armed guards.its a documentary type film.its cheaply done.it is quite true.for the irish,its got to be indescribably horrible.the important messages are many.FREE IRELAND!many other once english ruled places are free now like china and india.theyve made thier point.give it up already!and lastly,the only real difference between a fool and a hero is wether or not you were sucessful.no one is going to remember the irish king wanna be as ca hero for leading his lambs to slaughter.
Rating:
Summary: Bloody Sunday
Review: Bloody Sunday is a well filmed show that brings to light of one of the most tragic events in Irish history. On a peaceful cival rights march, the British first opened fire on the Irish march, and were given permission to fire at will. Any one who is Irish, and knows exactly what happened on that faitful day, can now get an up close and real feel of what it was like to face the British para's, while peacfully marching for equal rights, in a land whose boundries were gerrymandered by the British. The movie is very acurate, showing that the British first shot on the defensless Irish. Years later the British government investigated the events of that day, called the Stalker Report. Once the investigation was finished, the British refused to release the results of that investigation. This movie, is not one sided. It accurately portrays the events of that day, showing that the Irish were repressed of their due rights, by an invading, colonial government.
| 
