Review of Saints and Soldiers (2003) by James D — 18 Dec 2009

A great war film based on actual events. This movie is one of the war films that can have even the lesser war fans, watching and feeling the emotions of the characters.

If a good film were measured by the diversity of its characters and their growth through the events of the film this film would get its 5 star rating. The characters, start off all at deferent levels of development and grow with each other. They learn from each other, the way the characters are designed means that while the film has it's dramatic war part, you can still get a laugh out of some of the scenes if you are willing to see the humour in them, this makes for good watching as it gives the viewer a sense of hope in he darkest times.

The acting can only be described as brilliant, and the set and costume design was something that movies aim for, the viewer really gets the feeling of being there at the time.

The actors worked well as a team and one gets the feeling they had fun filming this movie.

The movie its self gives the viewer a view of the sense of hope even when all seems lost and a sense of determination to not give up and sit this one out. As the group battles through the cold winter, each of them plagued with their own personal problems and problems with each other, that can only be resolved through admitting their problem with them selves.

Braving the snow and Nazis in order to save the lives of others or die trying. While watching the movie you can almost smell the trees and feel the cold snow that covered the land.

Through the on screen growth of the characters, the viewer develops a link with each of them on some level, and will inevitably find one that reminds them of them selves, this means that most viewers will find this movie touching as well of heart warming and action packed.

Having given the movie all of this praise it must be mentioned that the movie is not, like most war films, suitable of children. This is not because of excessive violence or language but because of the kind of emotional link that one builds with the characters, something that most children will not see, and that if they do will change the view they have on people and life for ever, and take away the few years they have of believing there is no such thing as good people that do bad things, and that the good guys always win.

As a closing note, I would like to once again say how wonderful this film is and that it is a most see for all film fans, wither they be fans of drama, action or war, they will love this master piece.