Rating: 
Summary: Overdue film of forgotten shameful major chapter...
Review: The two excellent and intelligent German-reviewers of this film here certainly add significantly to the reviews including their fathers or grqandfathers comments, but although I dont necessarily doubt the existence of this plaque in the forest today exclaiming 55,000 US KIA, I think you will find that figure is fairly wildly innaccurate, whether its on a German plaque at the scene or not. 33,000 combined casualties of ALL kinds is the consensus of figures that turn up on a web-search, including from sites assisting war-gaming the battle.
55 000 would seem incredible out of about 300,000 US KIA in the entire war, all fronts.
At 55000, you would effectively have 4 divisions wiped-out to a man, not merely destroyed as fighting-units or decimated, but wiped out no survivors. It was bad, but not on that scale statistically! German-plaques aside, if you start checking, I think youll find Im 'rechts'.
But you are correct this battle is deliberately played-down in Hollywood compared to the still relatively huge US death-toll, and relatively huge US bungling and callousness, of legends like Bradley who had a tank named after him.This film addresses that, and this battle should have been looked-at in non-flag-flapping terms previously, it is classic-grounds for the anti-war genre. It could have been better in terms of technical advice, and like 'Private Ryan' we have this strange and difficult to comprehend 90s language in 1944 soldiers.
They didnt talk then like they do now, soldiers or any other people-why would a supposedly highly intelligent director and writer imagine or allege they did, and lose this branch of continuity, which unlike German Mk IV tanks costs the same whether authentic or bogus.
Remember the sniper in 'Private Ryan', keeping-up the bizarre running commentary about enfilades and 'I got no shot!'
Who is the race-call battle commentary intended for(hes not supposed to know we are there) and why is it in 90s video-game amusement parlor punk language?
This is a good and over-due film of the anti-war genre, but like Private Ryan even, the standard-setter, it left room for improvement, and a lot of it low-cost improvement.
Rating: 
Summary: The german point of view
Review: As my granddad fought in Hürttgen Forest on the german side (he was part of the Waffen-SS)I was very enthusiastic to watch this movie with him (he is now 79). He was very dissappointed because he told me that fighting bach then was much more surreal. The whole day and night thre was intesnse shelling and nobody knew really from where the shooting came. Fog and rain made the whole place to a scenery which seemed to come from another planet. He said he never understood why they wanted this bloody forest. They just had to wait with their 42 and gun them down. And they came again and again. Today you find this information table in Huerrten saying that 55 000 US-soldiers died there and sometimes when they build streets and building they still find human remains from both sides. To make it short: Grandpa gave it 3 stars for trying hard, but having been there he said it was just different
Rating:
Summary: Good Graphics but Explosions are Fake.
Review: This is one of few (if the only one) movies that depicted the Battle of Hurtgen Forest in 1944. There is not much action in this movie since it is centered around a G.I. Having been made by HBO, some might expect, as it is, the graphics are not top notch. This is no Saving Private Ryan. It is obvious in this film the explosion, being low grade as they are, are just fireworks. How ever the movie does present the brutality of war to the viewer. Pieces of people are recreated very well. This is a good movie to buy to keep the memory of the battle alive. Worth the price of under $10. An average rating for an average movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Why was the Hurtgen forgotten ?
Review: Puruse the mainstream textbooks, and you will find little mention of the battle of Hurtgen Forest, a drawn-out and futile battle between the German and US armies. Whether due to the fact that is was inconclusive, or overshadowed by the Battle of the Bulge, only the more informed history buff tends to even pretend to be familier with the battle. And that is a shame, because it depicts another episode in the sometimes poor conduct of the US Army leadership. Clearly the local commander should have been relieved of duty for the wholesale waste of men while pursuing the same failed plan. What I appreciated most about the movie is that the actors conveyed that sense of futility: keep throwing men and material at the same objective over and over, and keep on failing, yet also fail to change strategy or show creativity in dealing with the problem. In that sense, it reminds one of the depection of WWI trench warefare. The movie succeeds in showing the foot soldier almost at the point of breaking, of mutiny, brought about by the despair of the situation. Only by giving the protaganist a false sense of hope does the commander even come close to taking the minor objective in what was the larger battle of Hurtgen Forest. The director also attempts to show some level of authenticity, using authentic weapons, what appears to be authentic tanks and tracked assault guns. Was that a real Panzer Mk. IV I saw ? Quite a difference from the bogus 50's and 60's war flicks where everybody on all sides were driving US tanks. In addition, I thought this was one of Ron Eldard's best roles: do not ask my why, but I think this talented actor deserved more recognition for this project. Also notible was Dwight Yokam, as he was able to give his incredibly small role nothing of substance: his lack of acting skills almost does the incompetent general's part justice, but in the end he even fails at that. Fortunatly his on-screen time is very brief.
Rating:
Summary: Great movie!!!
Review: Best war - antiwar movie ever seen! Great thriling story with believable stuff and acting! At last a movie where not two or three guys kill a hole enemy army! Worth seeing it!
Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely Terrible!
Review: A movie about one of the low points in America's WWII Northern European offensive. A lofty subject but a pitiful attempt. It seems to be a low point in movie making as well. There are so many flaws in this film that it's hard to know where to begin. This by far has to be one of the worst war movies out there. In addition to the mediocre script, the acting and directing is abysmal. The characters sound more like they were drafted in the Vietnam War than as WWII G.I.s. The idioms, mannerisms, and expressions are so far from reflecting the values of the 1930s/1940s that it's laughable. The costumes and stage are equally poor. It's immediately obvious that there was barely an effort at seeing to any accurate tactical reenactments or making the equipment seem authentic. A good antiwar movie isn't realized by trying to make every character a grotesque Machiavellian caricature that is too absurd to be even believable. I originally received this movie as a promotional item; I watched it once and gave it away in disgust. One star is too much credit for this work and a negative five would be too kind.
Rating:
Summary: Terrible film, terrible history
Review: Dreadful film, too many historical inacuracies to even mention. Just dreadful. Pass it up and either read a good book or watch a decent documentary. My favorite part is when the German infantry are "pulled back leaving the Artillery out in front", or wait- maybe it was the fire hose flamethrowers, or no, the backwards west wall obstacles, or.. or.. It has ONE good monent when they are walking in the woods- then they ruin it by having the guys stand around talking next to the front line foxholes. Oh the pain....
Rating:
Summary: A dreary day in the infantry.
Review: this movie seemed to be a lot more authentic than "the big red one" which in comparison is rather transparent and static. "Trumpets" was made by a television studio, this is only apparent because no big action takes place; mostly small unit patrols and such, but it's a great movie.
Rating:
Summary: For WWII Buffs Only
Review: I was slightly disappointed in this movie in that I was expecting it to be a slightly more profound than it was. However, it is still a good movie if you are someone who is really into and studies WWII since there aren't many films made about the Hurtgen Forest. The acting is good, as well as the combat scenes, I just think the story could have been a little better and might bore people that don't really know or care much about the war.
Rating:
Summary: A Little Known Battle
Review: The makers of this film attempt to tell a story of the relatively unknown battle between American and German troops in the Huertgen Forest. In bringing across the point that this battle was tough they succeed. There is also a hint that, in a larger sense, this was an unnecessary battle. Overall the film is well done with the exception of the battle scenes. Mostly the battle scenes are contrived and in some cases unbelievable. There is at least one that brings home the full horror of war if the viewer is willing to understand what is happening to the characters. As an entertainment that attempts to shed some light on a little known event I would strongly recommend this film.
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