Rating: 
Summary: I Gave it five stars because it has Michael Crawford in it.
Review: I love Michael Crawford but the truth is, I have rented it twice and still can't figure it out. I can rarely even catch what they are saying but I have a feeling it wouldn't matter if I could. It is a typical Richard Lester movie...bizzare. I'd buy it, if it weren't so expensive, and continue trying. Why IS it so expensive? I probably WILL end up buying it anyway. Michael Crawford is the reason.
Rating: 
Summary: Beatles fans be forewarned
Review: If you're seeking this movie out as a Beatles fan there are a few things you ought to know. First of all, despite John Lennon's handsome mug being prominately featured on the cover of this videotape, he only features in about 15 minutes of this film. (It is NOT how John Lennon's character Gripweed won the war - as the artwork on this tape might lead you to believe - but rather how Michael Crawford's character won the war). Secondly, John does not have much of an opportunity to act silly when he IS featured on camera so if you are expecting another performance like "A Hard Days Night" you will be disappointed. Thirdly, John's last scene in this movie is somewhat uncomfortable to watch given the tragic way in which he died (John's character is mortally wounded in combat and he addresses the camera one final time lying dazed and bleeding). Some of the British humor and the accents in particular are hard to interpret but not any more so than "A Hard Days Night" or "Help". Being that it's a Richard Lester film some of the same actors seen in "Help!" are featured here but this is by no means a vehicle for Lennon's acting career.
Rating:
Summary: Short & Sweet
Review: In my opinion, one of the most off-beat comedies ever produced! With the likes of John Lennon, Michael Crawford, and my favorite character, Juniper, portrayed by Jack MacGowran, this movie is a must purchase for any collection. Constant laughter from start to finish... if you're hip to the dry humor the British are famous for. Trust me: get it!
Rating:
Summary: Short & Sweet
Review: In my opinion, one of the most off-beat comedies ever produced! With the likes of John Lennon, Michael Crawford, and my favorite character, Juniper, portrayed by Jack MacGowran, this movie is a must purchase for any collection. Constant laughter from start to finish... if you're hip to the dry humor the British are famous for. Trust me: get it!
Rating:
Summary: Simply Brilliant
Review: Lester's satirical look at the horrors of war - and the ill-conceived glorification of it in war films - is perhaps his most brilliant effort ever. I'll go further, "How I Won The War" may be one of the most unjustly ignored and underrated films of the past 30+ years. Granted, Lester's dense symbolism, Brechtian framing devices, layered sound and use of flashbacks/forwards will confuse some, put off those who are looking for the light comedy of Lester's "A Hard Day's Night", but if you put those assumptions aside and let "War" wash over you, you will be rewarded with a rich and mature comedy with bite. Major credit also goes to Lester's screenwriter, Charles Wood (who also scripted "Help!"). Excellent performances throughout (including a quite eerie Lennon death scene), with special mention to Michael Crawford, who pulls off a difficult role as the hapless Lt. Goodbody. The late Roy Kinnear shines (as usual). This film is not for everyone, but it is for anyone who appreciates tales well-told and cinema that attempts to do more than simply entertain. The don't make 'em like this anymore, and more's the pity.
Rating:
Summary: missing the point
Review: Many people watch this movie for the same reason as did I: they were Beatles fans and wanted to see Lennon. I was about 13 when I stayed up until about 5am watching this movie on cable, and, for one thing, being exhausted really adds an element to it, but I think that people who are disappointed in it because they were expecting something different are missing the point. I though the movie was a brilliant farce and is one of the greatest British comedies ever. Keep in mind that British comics have very little compuction about what they do. I thought that Lennon's performance was very natural and irreverent, just as it was in A Hard Days' Night and Help! and I certainly wasn't disappointed in it in the least. Crawford was surprisingly thin, but also gave a great performance. The movie is just meant to be a weird, eye-opening experience and one must approach it from that angle. Granted, it isn't for everyone, but all the people whom I've shown the movie loved it and got a copy for themselves. So, if you're a wee-teensy-bit off-kilter and daring when it comes to movies, watch this one several times, because you catch new stuff everytime (mostly due to the actors speaking so fast). It's one of my favorites.
Rating:
Summary: missing the point
Review: Many people watch this movie for the same reason as did I: they were Beatles fans and wanted to see Lennon. I was about 13 when I stayed up until about 5am watching this movie on cable, and, for one thing, being exhausted really adds an element to it, but I think that people who are disappointed in it because they were expecting something different are missing the point. I though the movie was a brilliant farce and is one of the greatest British comedies ever. Keep in mind that British comics have very little compuction about what they do. I thought that Lennon's performance was very natural and irreverent, just as it was in A Hard Days' Night and Help! and I certainly wasn't disappointed in it in the least. Crawford was surprisingly thin, but also gave a great performance. The movie is just meant to be a weird, eye-opening experience and one must approach it from that angle. Granted, it isn't for everyone, but all the people whom I've shown the movie loved it and got a copy for themselves. So, if you're a wee-teensy-bit off-kilter and daring when it comes to movies, watch this one several times, because you catch new stuff everytime (mostly due to the actors speaking so fast). It's one of my favorites.
Rating:
Summary: Confusing but fruitful
Review: Not as funny as the advertisements make it sound, there are good things to be gleaned from this film if you hang on till the end. The footage from wars and older movies adds something to the new film, and there are several moments that make you cry and a few that just give you a good feeling. Overall the film is not too gory, and is pathetic in a way that makes one understand the actors' feelings about the futility of the Vietnam War. It's pretty necessary to view the movie at least twice to understand most of it. Michael Crawford (Phantom of the Opera) is good but immemorable in the lead role; John Lennon isn't as bad as the critics would have you believe, but is not in the film enough to make a purchase worthwhile to Lennon or Beatles fans.
Rating:
Summary: This is my second review
Review: Rented it AGAIN and watched it wearing headphones. I understood every word and loved it. I will now spring for the the big bucks to buy it. This movie is a classic...still Richard Lester madness but that is part of its message. War is madness.I recommend this movie...with headphones.
Rating: 
Summary: Brilliant, dark satire on the darkest of subjects.
Review: Richard Lester created in "How I Won the War" a film that simply cannot be categorized. Symbolism abounds in the film, and in alternating instances, its overtness and its subtlety can prove confusing. For this reason, the film needs to be viewed more than once. The blatant attack on the military mindset is brilliantly executed. In swift strokes he makes a mockery of military officers and warmongers; one scene in particular has two British officers exchanging bubble gum cards of war scenes, with one insisting in a haughty accent "I want school bombing ... I do." Michael Crawford and John Lennon are joined by an excellent supporting cast, including Victor Spinetti the brilliant (but unfortunately "late") Leo McKern. Crawford plays the role with just the right amount of smarminess, egoism and overt stupidity that it calls for. Lennon and McKern's innocence causes the closing segment to be doubly powerful. Overall ... a fine film worth seeing, especially for any fans of social commentary.
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