Review of The Real Glory: Reconstructing 'The Big Red One' (2005) by Sean C — 17 Sep 2007

I don't get the hype around this film. It really is one of the lesser films about WWII (and there have been a lot). Basically Lee Marvin leads a squad of troops from one battle to another. They are all pretty much the same and the film spends a great deal of time focusing on explosions and gunfire.

The characters lack any real depth, and come off as tired archetypes: the scared soldier, the writer, the ethnic guy from a rough neighbourhood etc. I guess it works ok as an action movie, which is why I'm giving it three out of five.

I was entertained by the big bangs and continuous slaughter, but I didn't come away from it feeling enlightened or moved.