Rating: 
Summary: Good Story Comes Short
Review: James Clavell (author of Shogun)wrote this story specifically for this movie. The Thirty Years War presents a unique setting for a movie and showing how religious fanaticism with political ruthlessness brings out the worst in people. The Thirty Years War is by far one of the bleakest conflicts to have touched Europe prior to the world wars of the 20th Century. The war brought utter misery and devastation across a vast stretch of Europe during the early 17th Century; mostly fought by mercenaries who had about as much religious ethos as their petty patron kings.The story follows the story of Vogel (Sharif), a scholar who flees the horrors of the war and comes upon a secluded and pristine valley untouched by the war and populated by Catholics. At the same time, a band of mercenaries led by their captain (Caine) fighting for the Protestants arrive at the same time wrek havoc. With blood about to spill and his life at risk, Vogel acts as an intermediary and is soon appreciated by the Machiavellic captain who sees the valley as a valuable base of operation. The pristine beauty and prosperity of the valley acts as a sharp contrast to the outside world wrought with pestilence and war. The mercenaries decide to an uneasy truce with the villagers to hold out for the oncoming winter. Tempers boil and rivalries begin to flare in all sectors. Great plot development but the casting of Sharif as a German scholar leaves much to be desired. Caine plays his role quite well as the Captain and even keeps up a good German accent. The script could have been a little more refined. The music seemed more like it was made for a T.V. show as opposed to a feature film. The special effects and props were also rather poor and seemed more like something for the stage. Worth watching at least once but I personally regret having purchased it: it makes a better rental.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the few stand out coldly realistic war movies
Review: Other reviewers of this movie have been all over the map claiming that this film was everything from an allegory for Vietnam, to a hit-piece against Christianity, to a statement on the nature of war. I agree that it does explore philosophical issues and definately has some of the latter elements, but I think a lot of reviewers here are missing one of the most salient characterisicts of this film. It was written and directed by an accomplished Historian, and as such, it is a Historically real movie in the way that very few Hollywood films ever are. If you like war movies, but are turned off by unrealisitc, sappy maudlin watered down plots (such as to some extent even the silly plot of otherwise technically excellent Saving Private Ryan) then this is one of the few which will really satisfy you. Reviewers may speculate, why did the director portray the Catholic and Protestant churches of the time in such an equally cynical, murderous light? What point was he trying to make about Vietnam or war in general by portraying the mercenary soldiers as such incredibly bloodthirsty raping murdering monsters? Why does he portray a landscape of devestation, depopulation and nightmare as a backdrop to this one valley? Why indeed? Did it occur to anyone that the answer might be because this is the historical reality of what happened in the 30 years war!? Look up the 30 years war in a history book or on the internet to check for yourself. This movie portrays soldiers as soldiers really are (or often become) in almost every war since the beginning of time, particularly these fratricidal type conflicts which are always the nastiest. It may have had a certain extra relevance during the vietnam war but this movie has the same timeless truth to it that Herodotus very first written history, which was about the Persian Wars, does as well. Many people weaned on Hollywood (such as the reviewer here who is "waiting for the director") are simply not familiar with a realisitc portrayal of war, of the brutality of soldiers, of the cynicism of leaders religious and otherwise. So they fish around for special reasons for the shocking violence, and wonder why there aren't neater, more satisfying answers to humanities self inflicted dilemmas here. Well, maybe it's be cause because there aren't any easy answers in the real world. Maybe the point of this film is to present the circumstances of that horrible place and time as accurately as one can in a conventional movie, and allow the audience to draw their own conclusions. I believe this movie will be popular for people who like war films such as Cross of Iron, The Winter War, Hamburger Hill, When Trumpets Fade, Paths to Glory, (the original) All's Quiet on the Western front, and the various Kirosawa movies, to name a few. If you like a hard core realistic war film for whatever reason, you will enjoy this one, and you will probably be pleased by it's overall integrity and intelligence to boot.
Rating:
Summary: We Killed God at Magdaberg.
Review: The film directed by James Clavel and based on his book is a dark and brooding peace depicting the world savage and cruel of the thirty years war. Michael Caine plays the Captain the leader of a band of mercenaries who come across a valley free from the ravages of war, plague and pestilence. Omar Sherif plays Vogel a teacher and traveller who too has in adversity stumbled across a promised land. The story that follows is a study of politics, love, war and religious dogma. Caine gives an excellent performance as a realist who understands only too well the nature of the latter, though finding solace and mutual education with the teacher Vogal. The films closing battle scenes could have been taken from a period woodcut of the time apocalyptic and hellish in there vision, the film stands today as worthy example of expressive rather than decorative historical drama.
Rating:
Summary: John Barry's best score!
Review: The movie is epic and somewhat flawed--but, this is John Barry at his best! the main theme/death of the captain will tug at your heart; the music soars. And, Caine is terrific. A must buy.
Rating: 
Summary: A bleak look into the nature of the human condition.
Review: This film has profound relevance today. Political manipulation, fueled by religious and ethnic difference, remains a major threat to world stability. When this film was released in 1971, as I remember, it reminded viewers of the Vietnam War. Some of the images will suggest to younger viewers the war crimes of Rwanda and Yugoslavia. Like those recent atrocities, the events in this film underscore the fragility of civilization and the corosive effects of Christianity and other divisive mythologies. Anyone who is cynical about the way political leaders exploit ethnic and religious difference will enjoy this film.
Rating:
Summary: Little appreciated at time of release
Review: This film is particularly relevant today with the spectre of religious strife as the principal threat to modern civilization. I am sure that when it was released in 1971, it raised in the minds of viewers too many unpleasant reminders of the Vietnam War. The opening scenes are similar to the events at My Lai and conjure those images. But anyone who is skeptical of religion will thoroughly enjoy this film. It explicitly indicts the Christian faith and its priestcraft for all the robberies, rapings, murders, and witch hunts that plagued Europe during the Thirty-Years War.
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