Review of MacArthur (1977) by Brian C — 09 Dec 2007
Seems to be a response to the success of "Patton," rather than a cinematic attempt to portray the life or career of Douglas MacArthur. Though Peck gives it his all, it feels contrived...hack work, at best...Silly dialogue, overly grandiose battle scenes which paint MacArthur as a fearless hero and leader...
In a decade (the '70s) where filmmakers were constantly stretching and redefining the boundaries of cinema, this movie feels like a step backward. When you consider that "The Deer Hunter" was made around the same time, this movie is downright stupid and ridiculous. Everything feels staged, just as it did in the war and Bible epics of the '50s and early '60s.
The only relevance (or use) for "MacArthur," currently, is to watch and compare it to all of the other brilliant war movies that came out around the same time, and in the years after. Watch this right after watching "The Deer Hunter," or right before you watch "Full Metal Jacket," and you'll see, before your very eyes, the evolution of war cinema... "MacArthur" will feel like a relic, a misguided clunker, and rightly so.
This review of MacArthur (1977) was written by Brian C on 09 Dec 2007.
MacArthur has generally received positive reviews.
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