ACFG

There is an interesting split in the voting for this movie (at the moment at least). Those who go expecting a documentary are impressed, or at least not disappointed. I anticipate that those giving the film 1 out of 10 are those who expected a war movie or a re-enaction of the invasion of Gallipoli.

So - if you want to see actors, gunfire and gore, this film will not suit you. If you want to see an independent documentary about Gallipoli, without bias towards any one side (the only enemy in these events was the War itself) then you'll come away both impressed and sobered. I found it a very moving film, and even quite liked Captain Guy Nightingale by the end.

Watchable and feel-good in the "It's a Wonderful Life" style, but nowhere near as clever as It's a Wonderful Life. Stereotyped characters, script is sugary and predictable, a 10 year old could have written it. Overall, not one to pay to watch.

It had everything you would expect from a sugary movie - an irritating angel, snow, Christmas trees, children and candy, saving a child's life (including a very bad demonstration of CPR - you wouldn't save anybody's life if you did it like that), childhood reminiscences, parental reconciliations, refusal to participate in an extra-marital affair, morality lessons etc, etc.

Absolute travesty that it lost the Oscar to feel-good trash like Forrest Gump.

I like the fact that the Shawshank Redemption didn't bother tying up the loose end of the 'real' murderer remaining free. It was sufficient for Andy that he knew he did not commit the murders. He lived his life for the future, not for the past.

There is something very touching about the scene where Andy does some financial work for one of the warders, and all the prisoners get beer as a result. He just sits back and smiles - and his unselfish act has such excellent consequences for him, both with his relations with the other prisoners, the 'sisters' and the guards.

A beautiful film, cleverly shot with an eye to war-era detail, and (considering it is set during WWII) minimal violence.

A small cast weaves an emotive journey through the occupation of Czechoslovakia, the separation from loved ones as the pilots depart for England (the separation from the spaniel will touch hearts), spitfire scenes, love, friendship and betrayal. The theme of betrayal runs deep through the movie, from betrayal of love, to betrayal of friendship, and finally the betrayal shown by the communist regime to former RAF pilots post-war.

A desperately sad film, all the more so because it is so factually accurate. I would recommend it to everyone.