Rating: Summary: They don't make them like this anymore... Review: War movie? Anti-war movie? For you to judge on this one.Fact is that this is a crude depiction of what happened a bit everywhere in the Korean war. Gregory Peck, a gentleman of an actor, delivers a very strong performance as an officer tasked to take that darn hill. His conflict goes both ways. He has to order his men to "get out there and take the Hill at all costs" and at the same time he has to keep their spirits together before they totally crack-up. In fact, you actually can feel the bombs and the mortars shelling you throughout the movie. Imagine how you would feel if you had actually been there... This is probably a good companion to "M*A*S*H" (the Movie and/or the TV series). It's just on the other side of those Hills. It's these boys who were delivered on Hawkeye's operation table. Never forget that! It's honest, well played and has much less war-glorifying aspects than one would imagine or expect. The DVD edition is a bit better than its VHS counterpart and is in the correct 1.85:1 aspect ratio.
Rating: Summary: The best of the Korean War Review: Without a doubt this is the best movie about the Korean war. While it is limited by the technology of the day in its making, it is nevertheless rated with "Platoon" in its depiction of the failure of upper command to appreciated the blight of the average ground soldier or to properly lead American's into battle. It was also one of the first movies of its time to offer African-Americans meaningful roles in a major picture. Technically the picture is flawless. While there is some streotyping of soldiers in the lower enlisted ranks, the level of this is less than expected for the time. Moreover, in very short order the picture illustrates the difference between the strategic, abstract, impersonal approach of the generals and the down-in-the-ground personal its-my-life-on-the-line point of view of the average soldier. The "..." Platoon attitude comes through clearly. This is one of Gregory Peck's best roles. Next to "The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit," Peck's ability to represent the typical American trying to do his duty in a world where values are changing (and not necessarily for the better) is outstanding.
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