2nd_Ekkard

A revolution took place and the german media never mentioned it: Except from some ignorant right wingers the general media was not willing to comment on this first major production on the topic of german prisoners of war. The original version from the fifties and the book are interesting - this movie is watchable for a big public. I appreciate the courage of the moviemakers to touch this forbidden legacy of germany. Great, heartbreaking cinema, that leaves you in tears at the end - as far as I am concerned.

A great mini that will probably never run on german tv. I can´t remember seeing such strong, almost breathtaking scenes, when it comes to combat. The camera guides right into battle. It´s the type of description of reality of war, I only remember from the book "Stahlgewitter` of german author ernst juenger. Though I like Band of Brothers for a certain sense of reality, I am afraid most us-productions (including this one) are not very realistic when it comes to the germans in ww2 - or as you probably would say - the nazis. This became a fact to me after listening to many american war movies and especially the american version of "the boat", a german war movie. The parts of the german soldiers in their translation were turned into some ridiculous comic-sadist style. I guess americans will never understand that war is evil on all sides - until they will share the terror of an industrialized war in their own country. An experience they never made. So all you american war buffs, you want some real germans at war and not through your glasses of rambo/bush stereotypes? Then watch "Stalingrad (J. Vilsmaier)` or "Cross of Iron (S. Peckinpah)`. Or one of the german movies I commented on. Still I liked BoB for entertainment and the type of realism you also found in the close combat scenes of "saving private james ryan.`