Rating: 
Summary: Straight from the book
Review: This movie was strangely very similar to the book, word for word. [i'v read both] But what was not the best about this movie was the overdone portrayal of American soldiers as arrogant and "manly". Also, the plot was rather hard to believe, if you think about it. But watching the movie, it pursuades you into thinking, yeh, this could happen. The mood is great and stays consistent throughout the movie, and the acting is beliveable. You can believe the what the movie tells you. The only annoyance is the arrogance of the characters [like i said, overdone]. I applaud this film, and recomend you to see it if you are into the drama type movies. Action thrillers, beware, this one makes you think.
Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely My Favorite Movie of All-Time
Review: Please understand that my artistic tastes are quite high, and this movie scores on all levels. I have an English degree and I love awesome fiction; this movie is an exceptional novel translated to film flawlessly. It is the sole occurrence of my liking the movie better than the book.In most movies, there is always something off. Either the story is just okay and the cinematography is phenomenal, or the acting is stellar and the direction is weak. Not for this movie. Everything is dead on picture-perfect. The cinematography is stunning and perfectly timed, the acting is incredibly high-caliber, the storyline is tight and difficult to second-guess, and it moves along at exactly the right pace. Perfect in every way. Regarding the story, it is very moving on a number of levels. You become very much involved in the plot, and even as a casual viewer, you can easily empathize with and almost participate in the situation these young men are in. The symbolism is frequent, yet still easily grasped by the common man, making it that much more effective. Please don't pay heed to those on here who give this movie a poor review. It will be a viewing you will cherish forever, simply for the fact that it captures the human condition, with its innumerable facets, very well in a short timeframe. It's unbelievably sad and almost unacceptable to think that this movie came and went without notice. The symbol in the opening sequence, the statue of the archbishop holding his head in his hands, perfectly encapsulates the sentiment of the movie. Mankind, with all of its structures, methodoligies, and education, is completely unable to obstruct devastation, tragedy, and time, regardless of the purity we try to emulate. In the end, our collective heads are obtusely disconnected from our bodies and actions. If you're looking for bang-bang kill-kill war drama, or if you aren't able to process the writing on your cereal box intellectually, pass this movie up. Otherwise, it is a must see. I own it and have shown it to 15 people at different times and places. None were disappointed. A must see.
Rating:
Summary: A GENUINE CLASSIC
Review: I had no idea what to expect when I saw this movie on HBO a few years ago. It was a cold wintery night with snow on the ground when I settled into this movie and its a viewing experience I wont forget. Its a flawless film-I would rank it right up there with the other great war movies (Come and See and Saving Private Ryan)Thats why I finally bought the video from Amazon.
Rating:
Summary: Quite a movie...
Review: Im glad I heard about this from some buddies on WWII Forums i visit, because I just saw it today and it really is all that its made out to be review wise. One thing that is absoutely wonderful is that the common Wehrmacht Shutze isnt made out to be a bad, evil, murder, which in reality he wasnt, but isnt shown like that in most Hollywood shows. Other reviews tell how the story folds out, and this is by no means a happy movie. Its dark with its lighthearted moments where Germans want to throw snowballs instead of grenades, and build a snowman with a message among other such friendly acts. A Midnight Clear also has a very good cast with future stars in the ranks. The acting is convincing and character development is well played out through the film. Im glad i heard about this, and it is an excellent sleeper movie. It dosent try to be historically accurate, but with the exception of a German not using the bolt on a Mauser once, this movie is very well done with very little that even WWII history 'buffs' like myself can complain about. Please watch it, you might just learn that the vast majority of German soldiers in the Wehrmacht (German regular army) WERE NOT in the Nazi party just by seeing the actions of the 5-7 in this film.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best War Movies ever made!
Review: Midnight Clear is at the top of the all-time greatest hits list of war movies. The story is very unique and keeps your interest throughout. There are no boring or wasted parts. It is a good old fashioned war movie but with much more to it than most. Probably the most fascinating feature of this film is it's brilliant imagery and setting. It is set in winter and as the American GIs make contact with their German counterparts, the surroundings are covered in a beautiful sea of white snow. The scenery is real and you can feel the cold wind blowing in your face and the snow beneath your feet! The first time I saw the movie was when it came to theaters and I thought it was great. Now, after buying the video and seeing it almost every winter since, it just keeps getting better...and that's an amazing acomplishment for the film makers. A classic war that ages like fine wine! The cast was excellent and you'll probably recognize some familiar faces and the action was as real as it gets. Bottom line: if you are a war movie fan or collector, DO NOT MISS this movie!!!!!! No war collection can be without it! PS: if you like this, another sleeper that is a must have is, "When Trumphets Fade", another WWII action packed classic!
Rating:
Summary: My Number One War Movie
Review: I had never heard of "Midnight Clear" before I spotted it on somebody's online favorite-war-movies list. This movie replaces "Private Ryan" as my top WW II movie. It made my husband cry, and he is as big as a sumo and doesn't weep easily. Now "Ryan" has moved down to number 2 on my list; then "Das Boot" comes in the 3rd place. "The Longest Day" is in a special category: If Gilbert and Sullivan ever did a war movie, it would be choreographed like "The Longest Day." My favorite scene in this spot-the-star epic is the one of Peter Lawford in that ridiculous big, wooly turtleneck sweater and beret prancing along with the bagpipe player. Delicious. Now that's war! Put "Longest Day" beside "Midnight Clear," and you have the polar opposites of the aesthetics of war as depicted in movies.
Rating:
Summary: A very poignant war story, much more complex than Pvt. Ryan
Review: "A Midnight Clear" has to be one of the best war movies I have seen in a long time, which is rather surprising given how it's not a true "war movie" per se. The film follows a squad of young army recruits just before the Battle of the Bulge who are sent to a chateau near the front lines to give an early warning to the rest of the army when the Germans come through. The story unfolds at a leisurley pace and takes it's time exploring the different personalities and motivations of each character, as seen through the eyes of reluctant sergeant Will Knott, better known as Won't. Each character is a very different and complex individual with his own emotions and fears. Especially touching is the Gary Sinese character Mother, who is very distraught over the fact that his young wife at hime has just had a miscarrage and the way the other characters try to help him out and confort him. The film itself is gorgeous with most of the action occuring in a beautiful chateau in the middle of winter. Overall, I enjoyed this film much more than "Saving Private Ryan," for although it was a good movie in it's own right, none of it's characters (other than Tom Hanks and Matt Damon) were particularly memorable, nor did it take the time to explore any deeper meanings or emotions of the characters. All in all, "A Midnight Clear" is an excellent film that will appeal to everybody, not just the war-film affictionado.
Rating:
Summary: This is THE movie to watch for Christmas!!
Review: The "miracle" in this story is that humanity always shines in, if not override, the insanity of war. A hauntingly beautiful movie, right from the first narrative by William, Will Knott, or better known as Won't. The poignancy is truly heartfelt in scenes when the 19 year-old American soldiers confronted their German counterparts in the Ardennes countryside, who want nothing better than to have snowball fights and celebrate gifts and singing Christmas carols. Though more a "pacifist" movie, the depictions of the violence of war was a necessity, only to prove a point, that war IS violent and insane and that any teenager or chirldren thrown in the situation, would try to make the best of situation and their spirit will withstand the ugliness of the situation. Befitting that the violence is set against the backdop of a blanket of pure white snow (by the way, what is it with Ethan Hawke and snow - Dead Poet's Society, White Fang ...) As for the young soldiers, they were well portrayed by these wonderful "up-and-coming" actors who have now gone on to star in Chicago Hope (Peter Berg), Ellen (Ayre Gross), numerous movies for Ehatn Hawke, Gary Sinise, Frank Whalley and Kevin Dillon. Forget about all those "traditional" christmas movies - It's A Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, or even Home Alone et all (except maybe A Christmas Carol, sans which Christmas wouldn't be Christmas). THIS is the movie to watch this Christmas, one that I've watched every Christmas since 1994!!
Rating:
Summary: A Most Unusal War Movie
Review: 'A Midnight Clear' tells the story of a small band of American GI's lumped together in an intelligence unit because of their high IQ scores. The characters are well rounded and show their intelligence as when one soldier recognizes the serious situation they're in when he spots 'SS' markings on a German half-track. This band of young soldiers is posted in a chateau to observe and wait for a possible Nazi offensive and report their findings back to their lines. The offensive comes, with great ferocity and in a terrifying scene shows just how it must feel to have a force of great violence bearing down on you. Then follows a strange pattern of events, mostly built around the fact that in these waning days of the war the average German conscript was more interested in staying alive than fighting. The movie takes many odd turns. Many good performances especially Gary Sinise as a soldier who suffers a breakdown and John C. McGinley as an arrogant Major that is such a creep he even steals the chains off the tires of the squad jeep when they're not looking. A tense psycological drama with dark humor and a memorable conclusion.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Portrait of the confusion of War
Review: A group of American soldiers sent on a recon mission to the middle of no-where France, find out the true meaning of war, and who the enemy really is. The Germans are just as scared as they are. An excellent show of the true realities of war, it is a film that should be watched by anyone, anywhere.
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