JohnVanBrunt

Although it's mostly in Russian with subtitles, I was drawn in deeply and remained so throughout the duration. This is the most gripping WW2 film I've seen since Saving Private Ryan. The direction, acting, cinematography are all top notch. It tells the story of heroic Russian sniper without glamorizing war. Instead the horror of war is pervasive and though she is a survivor her story is tragic. It's also very interesting to get a glimpse of Stalin-era Soviet culture. It's a must see for anyone interested in WW2, history, biographies, or intense drama.

There is nothing redeeming about this movie, and it's a real shame because the book ranks among my all time favorite sci-fi stories. Unfortunately for the producers of this piece of trash that meant lots of editing. Even more unfortunate, the men doing the writing and editing were completely incompetent. At times you wonder if they got the point of the book at all. My guess is no.

I admit this was a very difficult screen adaptation. Trying to put that story into one movie was a lost cause from the start. BUT, that doesn't excuse the end product. A team of chimps could have produced a better film, and it makes me angry to hear (and THINK) negative thoughts when I hear "Battlefield Earth".

Sad.

From the beginning this movie struck me as melodramatic and poorly acted. The director is overly fixated on 'creating the scene'. As the film takes place in Cuba sometime well in the past (maybe the late 19th century?), it's understandable to flaunt the romance of the setting, but it comes off like a slutty romance novel. Of course the erotic scenes with Jolie and Banderas (and later other men), only add to that feeling.

The purpose of the music is to add to the mystique and romance of old Cuba even more. The problem is that while it's adding to the setting, it's hurting the story. This movie is supposed to be a bit of a thriller, and music is always a big part of creating suspense in film. The music here just doesn't get the job done, and it really hurts the flow of the movie.

Because of all these issues this movie really drags. A lot more footage should have been chopped in the editing room, but its redemption is that if you wait long enough, you find it does have a point and a good one at that. The melodrama never really leaves, but the story nonetheless comes together in the end. I can't say I'd particularly recommend it, but it's watchable if you're patient.