Rating: 
Summary: finally
Review: Excellent film. Wish movies like Pearl Harbor followed this style .
Rating: 
Summary: Gripping take on a horrific day in history
Review: Familiar with the famous U2 song, "Sunday Bloody Sunday"?? Well, here's a look at the events that inspired that song.On January 30, 1972 Catholics living in the Northern Ireland's city of Derry march for human rights denied under British rule. But this wasn't an ordinary march by any means. Thirteen marchers were shot dead during what was later termed "Bloody Sunday". This movie alternates between both sides of the firing line. Efforts of the march's organizers leading up to the march along with several young men who participated in the march are captured. In addition, the military readiness of the British soldiers is also revealed. This movie unveils savage acts of the British soldiers as they fire upon the defenseless crowd. I recommend this movie to anyone who is interested in this horrific day. It will make you think twice about the role of the military in Northern Ireland.
Rating:
Summary: Irish pride, British smame
Review: I am 1/2 Irish, 1/2 British, by heritage, I am a history major and international relations minor, I have written many papers on Anglo-Irish relations for both subjects. It was the U2 song that got me intrested in the subjects. I have learned alot about my heritage, and the more I learn, the more I am ashamed of the 1/8 of me that is English (the other 3/8 are Welsh). I have read about the day from many different people; uninvolved 3rd party historians, Gerry Adams (who was not there), and both Irish and British authors, but seeing it, and knowing that it was a joint froduction of both the Itish and British film boards made me see a light, a comming together to heal old wounds. This move made me realise that while the English were evil monstars on that day (and on others) the IRA retailated in June of 1972 killing 9 UDA men and 2 soilders, I am a Nationalist, I want to see the North annexed back to the Republic where it belongs, but it can not be done through killing.
As for the movie, it is not for everyone, if you want to learn more about the day or the Troubles in general it is a good way to start.
I have read so much about the conflict that many of the disturbing and heartrenching facts have become common place in my head, but this film made me cry, and still does everytime I watch it. If you have any interest in the situation and want to learn more, I STRONGLY suggest you watch the film.
Rating:
Summary: A subdued five stars...
Review: I bought this movie not quite knowing why or what to expect. I'd heard of it and, living in a town where movies of this calibre are replaced by more 'popular' fare, wished to see it. I bought it on a whim. I give it a subdued five stars because all of the hoopla surrounding it actually hinders viewing it. I'm not sure about all the hype as to its style and all that other technical stuff. I found it to be a very engaging and almost matter of fact film. It's shot in a documentary style which worked for me. As the short documentary at the end notes there were no cranes, no boom microphones, no fancy technical equipment that gives a certain feel of artificiality to most films. After a while you do feel as if you are there. And it works. The characters are real enough and the action and drama surrounding them works well enough that you get to feel what they were feeling on that particular day. The past history of the conflict is hinted at enough to place the significance of the particular day. Not knowing much about the conflict (except what I've gleaned from U2's song of the same name) I found it very engaging. I'm not sure what the criticisms are and I wasn't so blown away by the film as to rave about it but I give it a solid five stars. It's unlike any film I've seen recently and it did not seem so biased as some have indicated (those behind the film are Brits) but it does present both sides of the conflict with true human emotion. All in all, justifiably worth seeing.
Rating:
Summary: To choose despair or hope
Review: I can't believe there isn't more comment on this film, more outrage either way. After having marched recently and heard accounts of demonstrations from credible accounts (not corporate media), I believe demonstrations that turn violent often do because the police had been given carte blanche from leadership before the demonstration even starts. Look at Oakland and the way the police showed up in full riot gear, gas masks, etc. and immediately began shooting all manner of 'non-lethal' bullets at protesters and dockworkers alike. Jerry Brown gave directions to put fear into the crowd and anyone who might consider similar action. As for this film and its content, I was quite impressed with the realistic portrayal. I loved when one para corrected another para by calling them 'terrorists'. They're in their home being shot on by an occupying army. How relevant is that? It was very easy for me to see oppressed people from around the world in the plight of the Irish. It took the South Africans many, many bloody years to gain their freedom. "Was there a need to kill civilians?"
Rating:
Summary: Irish Republicanism Is Far From Dead!!
Review: i had to have a friend in Armagh Northern Ireland record a copy of this for me, send it, and go through a $60.00 hassle having a UK tape converted so i could see a grainy copy of this movie!! i was never sure it would reach American shores!! glad to see it has come to us here in the USA. this movie was done by a Brit filming company and i am glad to see it portrayed in the light as it took place!! it is HIGHLY recommended by me if youre a historian, or just want to know what happened in Derry of 1969!! over 800 yrs of many and my ancestors plight under Brit occupation!!! its a must see, well done movie!!! cheers!!!! it will open the eyes of those who dont know and bring possibly a teary eyed memories for those who do know or were there!? you will not be sorry for a good night watching this movie! the actors in it are class as well!!
Tiocfaidh Ar La!!!
Rating:
Summary: Remarkable, Factual Account of Horrific Day
Review: I just viewed my copy of Bloody Sunday and I was stunned. This is, quite simply, a tremendous film that portrays a day of absolute horrow in a way that captures the emotion and stays true to the factual accounts of what happened. It certainly does make the British forces look bad, but it should. The facts speak to unreal over-aggression by the British military that day and any true to life account needs to show what actually happened. Throughout the course of the film, you watch the development of this day from both sides. You are witness to those searching for civil rights in Northern Ireland and their efforts to organize a peaceful march in Derry. You are also witness to the British government and military forces, who expect a conflict and vigorously prepare for one. Finally, the film reaches its climax when the British military fires on those in the civil rights march and continues to engage them, killing 13 and wounding 14 more. Bloody Sunday is one of those days that needs to be remembered in vivid detail....not only so that justice can be served for the killing of innocent Irish citizens...but so an attrocity such as this never occurs again. It is a worthwhile subject, a stunning film, and one which I would strongly recommend to anyone out there looking for some good, quality viewing...especially those of Irish heritage.
Rating:
Summary: Superb movie, perhaps a little unfair on the British
Review: I loved the cinematography in this movie. It gives the effect of actually being there. Also unusual was the fact that there is no music or score to this movie except for the closing credits. The director of this movie was going to take a lot of heat no matter which point of view he took. I thought that the movie perhaps made assumptions regarding the British troops which were a little unfair, but at the end of the day the overall story of the movie is 100% accurate - British troops shot 26 civilians, killing 13, while suffering no casualties themselves.
Rating: 
Summary: Respectfully dissenting
Review: I understand that the producers wanted this mockumentary to be as close to "the real tying" as possible but they might also have kept in mind that the film, as dialogue-rich as it is, loses a great deal for viewers who are not well-versed in Northern Irish dialect. I had to watch it twice all the way through before I really grasped everything required to appreciate it. If this had been made solely for domestic consumption in Ireland the question would not be relevant. However, marketed as it has been for overseas consumption, one must ask at least why there were no subtitles provided.
I also question the motives of the filmmakers in putting together a feature film that "fools" the viewer into thinking it's a documentary. Kudos to the brilliant acting jobs by known and unknown actors alike and laud the choppy camerawork, which was right on the money. But what was the point, really? Why all this effort expended to make a feature that resembles a doc but isn't? And the insertion of Tim Piggot-Smith (of "Jewel in the Crown" infamy) as the hard-ass commander is heavy-handed since this actor is routinely cast as sadistic military types and has probably never played a sympathetic role in his life.
I personally would rather see a balanced documentary of the actual event, so that I can know for certain that what I'm seeing truly happened.
Rating:
Summary: I still remember Warrington
Review: It seems that Catholic tragedies are the only events which warrant the attention of filmmakers. The IRA, INLA, Real IRA and Continuity IRA are responsible for bloody monday, tuedsay, wednesday, thursday , friday, bloody Brighton, bloody Enniskillen (11 civilians murdered), bloody Warrington (two little children, ages 12 and 3 murdered), bloody Warrenpoint (18 soldiers), bloody Omagh (29 civilians), bloody Guilford (5 civilians), bloody Birmingham (21 civilians), bloody City (3 civilians including a 15 year old girl),bloody Harrods (five civilians), bloody Claudy (8 civilians)... There isn't enough space for me to list all of them, but the list goes on.
The stastics say it all: In the whole course of the conflict Republican groups have killed far more people (2153) than the security forces (365) and Loyalists (1080) put together. In addition they deliberately target civilians (example: Harrods 1983, Omagh 1998) and have even forced civilians to become suicide bombers for them (Patsy Gillespie, Londonderry 1990).
This film is lacking, not for its portrail of the events of the day which is done quite well, but for what it omits. For example, the very same year (1972) was Bloody Friday (22 IRA bombs murder 9 civilians). No mention is made of any of these other events in the film. Nor, by the way, is there any mention of the fact that the Catholic alienation was due mainly to policies of the Unionist parliament in Stormont and not the British government.
So, in my opinion, see the film, but don't use it as your only source of information about the conflict.
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