I felt the need to create an account on IMDb specifically to review this movie. From reading other rave reviews, they suggested it might be on par with other well-known war films.
I don't have anything against indie filmmaking, but this movie was ABYSMAL. Was I watching the same film as the other reviewers? Because the only redeeming feature was the fact that they managed to dig up some decent WW2 replica gear. However, let this be a lesson that props do not a war film make! By all means, rough cinematography and simple backgrounds can be easily overlooked so long as the story, dialogue, and acting are strong. However, all these supporting bases for the film are dramatically lacking! The storyline is painfully weak and predictable and steals countless suggestions from Band of Brothers and Saving Private Ryan. The dialogue is absolutely atrocious, and I'd recommend against using the phrase "hot chow" several times in a 90 minute movie.
The cinematography is clichéd and looks definitively amateur, not helped by the odd scene of red kool-aid being spat out by actor trying to die convincingly (Not to mention that most battles take place with the opposing sides 5 yards apart).
Regrettably I found Paul Wendell to be the WEAKEST actor out of all the leads' poor performances, (although the odd supporting character does carry off a decent line) and the undoubtedly dismal acting was not helped by the clichéd, cheesy and altogether unconvincing dialogue.
In between the scenes that are abruptly and inappropriately transitioned at about a grade 10 student's editing level, you will repeatedly find some charming fiddle music reminiscent of a slow evening at the Celtic pub. It shows up at odd times and leaves the viewer baffled as to whether he is supposed to feel sad or hopeful. An extremely ill-done attempt to force emotion into a dead horse of a film.
I appreciate that someone was passionate about making this work, but no-one aside from the actors' moms could possibly find any aspect of this film plausible or even acceptably executed. I'm not one to exaggerate, but minus the weak special effects and war gear, this could pass for little better than a film student's final project.
