Rating: 
Summary: It is an officer's duty to escape the enemy
Review:
Great flick in which desperate Allied fliers go to unbelievable lengths to escape a German POW camp. Brits, Yanks, and Poles are portrayed. The ingenuity of these men is remarkable, but you have to figure they're all fliers, many were engineers and professionals in fields ranging from photography to tailoring. Given enough time they were able to construct amazing tunnels with barely anything.
A great World War 2 film, shot in 1960s Germany. Intriguing characters, great storyline, and unbelievable feats of bravery, brains, and bravado. Highly suggested if you're looking for an intelligent action-drama.
-- JJ Timmins
Rating:
Summary: One of the greatest war movies of all time. Don't miss.
Review: This is, quite simply, one of the greatest war movies, or war stories, of all time. It is the story of allied POWs in Stalag Luft 3, a special camp built by the Luftwaffe to house the toughest and smartest US and British POWs. The film is based upon a true incident, and although it takes some liberties with the facts, it can be forgiven for this. This is a great movie.
This film has it all. Great acting, a wonderful plot, a fast-paced story line (none of those tedious, pointless, endless interludes in the middle that European movies like so much), and excitement. Films like this come along once every decade, if we are lucky. The DVD is very good, the audio is crisp and the video seems to be quite good. About as good as can be done with a movie shot in the 1960s. I simply cannot imagine anyone not liking this movie. By the way, there is no gratuitous violence--this is a film that the whole family can enjoy together. Over and over.
Rating:
Summary: Steve McQueen's Best Film!
Review: Steve McQueen, James Garner, Charles Bronson, James Coburn, and other actors did an excellent job acting in "The Great Escape". The movie is based on a true story about several hundred Allied POWs planning a mass escape from a German concentration camp. The DVD has an adequate picture and sound quality. There's only one extra on this DVD and that is the 24-minute documentary. I suggest you see "The Great Escape" right away, if you have not seen it. I guarantee you will not be disappointed!
Rating:
Summary: My all time favourite
Review: To be honest, the great escape is my favourite film of all time. It is exciting, dramatic and even in some places funny. Naturally to people who are not sure about buying this film I seriously recommend it!!!
Rating: 
Summary: the great escape is great
Review: The Great Escape is a long movie, almost three hours. It concerns a planned escape of 250 men from a German POW camp. The movie does sit a little on the campy side, and doesn't show the horrors of war or the pow camp, but it is entertaining to watch. This isn't anyone's strongest movie. James Coburn's part is weak. McQueen's acting borders comic at time. But it is a decent movie to watch. The dvd contains a 24 minute behind the scenes featurette. It's a good featurette. Instead of recapping the movie, like so many others have done, it does go into the making of, and is really well done.
Rating:
Summary: A truly fantastic adventure...
Review: The Great Escape is one of those films in which many elements combine seamlessly to produce a very entertaining and thrilling experience. In addition to the fabulous all-star cast that includes Steve McQueen, the film features great cinematography, music, and a thrilling plot complete with interesting characters. To make a long story short this is one of the most enjoyable adventure films out there. As one might guess from the title, The Great Escape is about a punch of POWs attempting to break out from the camp - a pretty common theme in war movies. Their attempt, however, is anything but commonplace. For in this case the Nazis have the brilliant idea of concentrating all the escape artists into one supposedly perfect camp (as the Commandant so eloquently puts it - "putting all the rotten eggs in one basket.") Naturally, this allows these brilliant men to quikcly form a tight organization to create a scheme to match the camp. Giving away any more details about the plan would be taking a lot of the fun of out the movie, for part of its appeal lies in the way it demonstrates the enormous resourcefulness of the men. Besides that, though, many particular scenes, such as the motorcycle chase at the end or various pieces along the way, stand out. Anyhow, overall, The Great Escape is a very memorable film and deserves a viewing. Have fun!
Rating:
Summary: What happens when rotten eggs try to get out the basket.
Review: It's the Second World War, and in order to prevent the cleverest of prisoners from escaping, the Germans have built the Stalag Luft North, a special maximum security POW camp just south of Berlin, specially designed to contain those with a history of escape attempts. The concept is simple, as the German commandant explains: "All the rotten eggs are in one basket. We intend to watch this basket very closely." But as it turns out, there is "madness in their method", because in the process the Germans have enabled the most ingenious and courageous men to pool their talents and resources: "The Germans have put every escape artist in Germany in here." These men refuse to "sit out the war as comfortably as possible" because "it is the sworn duty of all officers to escape!" By forcing the Germans to busy themselves in preventing escapes and chasing escapees, these men nobly try to distract German troops away from what they should be doing by occupying them with these constant diversions. Most of the movie revolves around the detailed anatomy of an escape attempt, and the final part details what happens to those who did escape by boat, bike and train. Unlike epic war classics like "A Bridge Too Far", "The Great Escape" doesn't recount military tactics on a large scale, but focuses in on a single operation and individual characters. What unfolds is a brilliant movie on many levels. Firstly, the escape attempts are thoroughly ingenious and creative. One has to marvel at the ingenuity and brilliance of these men as they used limited resource to acquire the necessary equipment and prepare for the audacious mass break-out of no less than 250 men, all equipped with new clothes and official papers. This is problem-solving on a gloriously grand scale! To distract the Germans from their activities in digging the three tunnels "Tom", "Dick" and "Harry", they fling themselves into decidedly unmasculine pastimes such as gardening, bird-sketching, and singing Christmas carols. Secondly, the characterization sparkles. We meet an assembly of men including Roger "Big-X" Bartlett, the mastermind behind the operation; Hilts the motorcycle ace and "the cooler king"; Henley, "the scrounger"; Danny "the tunnel king"; mild-mannered Colin Blythe, "the forger", Sedgwick "the manufacturer", and the Scottish Ives "the mole". The sight of two men entering the "cooler" (solitary confinement) for the third consecutive time is hard to forget. Thirdly, the atmosphere is completely authentic, with uniforms and buildings all being exact replicas of the real thing. The only blurring of reality seems to be the camp conditions, which are portrayed as being hardly unpleasant. Fourthly, although there are a few instances of blasphemy (eg for G's sake), there is not much blood and gore, and yet tremendous action and suspense. Fifthly, there's an all-star cast, including Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, James Donald, Charles Bronson, Donald Pleasence and James Coburn. Sixthly, Elmer Bernstein's music sets the tone wonderfully, with a theme that is nearly as well-remembered as the whistling march from the legendary "Bridge Over The River Kwai". In the end, what gives this movie so much power is that it is a true story. Based on the 1950 book by Paul Brickhill, who was a survivor from the camp, "The Great Escape" is remarkably accurate in the events and people it depicts. All the central characters are composites of real people. And the escape attempt is historically documented in its detailed. This makes the events recounted in the movie all the more tragic: of the 76 who escaped, 11 were recaptured and returned to the camp, and 50 were brutally shot execution style by the Germans. One of the final questions vocalized by one of the characters at the end becomes a burning question: "Do you think it was worth the price?" In one sense it was, because it was by diverting German energies to efforts like these, that the Allies were successfully able to complete the D-Day mission. Yet there is also a very real sense of the tragic cost of war. Without resorting to gratuitous violence, blood and gore and portraying the bloody hell of war, "The Great Escape" combines humor, adventure, action and suspense, and yet shows war's tragedy. There are many memorable scenes and magical moments (McQueen's motorcycle jump probably being the most famous and best remembered - although it was actually performed by a double) in this three hour long story of indomitable spirit, courage and heroism. This is a movie that has stood the test of time, and won't lose its magic or its message with repeated viewing. The Germans may have thought that their POWs were rotten eggs, but you'll sure enjoy watching them try to get out of their basket.
Rating:
Summary: Intense escape action!
Review: Based on a true story, this film tells of the escape of a group of Allied soldiers from a POW camp in Germany in WWII. The many stars include wise-guy motorcyle rider Steve McQueen and James Garner as the American officers. The real star is Richard Attenborough as the brains of the escape plan. He has been previously caught by the Gestapo and is risking his life by escaping. His performance is very touching and heartbreaking. The script is riveting and uplifting. The courage and sacrifice of these heroes should long be remembered.
Rating:
Summary: "Cooler!" "Right."
Review: What can I say about a movie that has had everything said about it?! Everything good, that is. I can only rehash and re-glorify the greatest war movie I've ever seen!! Great characters, gripping story, and memorable music. What more could you want?
It's been told an re-told on here so many times, I can't say anymore than anyone else on here.
POW's, desperate for any way to escape (which includes trying to mingle in a crowd of Russian prisoners in the beginning. SO GOOD!!!), are restationed at U-know-where. Little do their German capturers know what a mistake they have made, bringing together the finest escape team ever! (in uh, my predijuiced opinion!!). Filled with action, drama and a fine dose of soldier guy humor, this movie can never be over-watched!
'Cooler King' Hilts, Big X Bartlett (the major mind behind this big dig...), Danny 'Tunnel King' Volinski and so many more characters you just have to care about!!
I just can't, and really shouldn't bother trying to exalt this movie to it's fullest, because it's already been done! This is back when REAL men were actors, (ugh, 'Hilts', 'Danny' and 'Hendley'? All portrayed by hunky men? Can you find guys who even look a millimeter as handsome as those guys did these days?!). Can any fan of GE picture Tom Cruise playing the part of 'Danny'? Oh the picture bring riotous laughs. Brad Pitt as 'Hilts'? Heaven forbid. Those guys are all wimps. Take a look at this movie, besides the fact that this story and the whole entire thing is better than anything you find today, the men depicted are real manly men, not these fairies parading around. But besides my dislike of those afore mentioned stars, just read the other reviews, you'll understand by the time your done, you shouldn't be sitting here reading this!! BUY THE VIDEO!!!! Nearly zilch for bad language, and nothin' towards violence, this is just a fantastic film.
Rating:
Summary: Steve McQueens Greatest
Review: This movie is one you'll be watching over and over again!!!! It's one of Steve McQueens greatest.It is filled with action and adventure. It will keep you glued to the edge of your seat. The movie is wonderful. It is Steve McQueen at his best. It is a must see!!!
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