Saints and Soldiers: Airborne Creed

I rated this movie higher than its average. The film had problems but the story isn't one of them. It is a good story, worth seeing. The problem is the pace. I'm not sure if it is in the direction or the editing but probably both. But it is just slow, plodding and disjointed. It succeeds though on some level due it's themes of forgiveness and redemption and also via outstanding performances by Corbin Allred as Rossi and Lincoln Hoppe as the German officer Erich Neumann. It is worth watching but frustrating because it could have been significantly more interesting.

Of the deluge of low budget World War II movies coming out of both Europe and the USA this little indie effort is better than most. I can see where great care has been given here to getting people who sound German to speak German, French to speak French. It may not have been shot in the South of France, but the DOP has spent some considerable care to give the film the warm tones of that part of Europe and the CGI shots blend nicely to convince of this too.

The plot is a little wish washy, men taking part in Dragoon, (The invasion of the South of France, August 1944) end up helping the French resistance on an unrelated mission. The number of characters is kept small and simple and the action scenes are nicely directed. The acting here is earnest, the cast aren't going to win any Oscars, but they don't make the mistake of over selling their performances like so many inexperienced actors would. Everyone here does a good job.

Its a small film and a small story, so don't be expecting Band of Brothers, but its well made with care and love and a great example of how to make a small but interesting film, as opposed to the terrible 'Rhineland' which felt like a bunch of re-in-actors out on a jolly. Here you can tell everyone involved wanted to make a good authentic film with a bit of heart, they succeeded.

If you liked the original your unlikely to be too disappointed, I personally wasn't and this has made it into my WW2 Collection.

Movies aren't necessarily made to be historically correct (anybody seen Star Wars, or Guardians of the Galaxy). This was quite true to the time period. In the end, it was a very enjoyable movie, and presented a "human" side of people. I wish we actually had that in our real lives here in the US. A great movie to help us leave politics WAY behind.

I enjoyed the first Saints and Soldiers movie back in 2003, & was surprised at how good Saints and Soldiers: Airborne Creed was on the second go around. The acting was very good from the top three GI's & also give top marks to the German officer as well as the cute little French freedom fighter. The reason for my high marks of the film also come the above story, writing & direction of the movie. The combat had good as flow as well, but mainly it was just a top notch story. If you have a chance to see Saints and Soldiers: Airborne Creed, get it a watch, it was well worth the hour & half of my time.

Again give Saints and Soldiers: Airborne Creed your time.

I want to thank the makers of this film for reminding us that enemies can show great love in times of great strife.

While there is a lot of action in this film resulting in a PG-13 rating, care was taken to make this viewable by the whole family and its rating would certainly have to be considered a mild PG-13.

This film goes far beyond the many mindless war films that simply glorify violence. Anyone watching this film would have a renewed sense of hope that we can live more peaceably together.

Kudos to the filmmakers and keep on doing what you do. Even if you don't have the Hollywood budgets, you make entertaining, truthful and inspiring films I can take my kids to. Thank you.