A Última Jornada

Ever watch a movie that was so good, so well done that it ceases to be theater - it seems real? That's the feeling one gets watching director Saul Dibb's "Journey's End", a masterpiece on several different levels. The actors are superb, the sets unsettlingly authentic and with a spellbinding screenplay, despite taking place mainly in a wartime trench. The ominous background score heightens the film's feeling of impending tragedy.

It is WWI in 1918, somewhere on 'The Front'. The commanding officer is Capt. Stanhope (Sam Claflin), who apparently suffers from battle fatigue as he tries to keep his men, as well as himself, from feeling the effects of the growing despair that grips his company as they await the German's massive attack which has been foretold by a captured German soldier. Director Dibb captures the emotional tone in the claustrophobic officers dugout as we learn the motivations as well as the mental aspect of each. And there is no thought, of course, of a wise retreat.

"Journey's End" is more evidence of how european filmmaking has eclipsed that of the U.S. American studios are too timid to back a film considered too daring and that would break the mold of the cookie-cutter stories emanating from its assembly line. So, those of us interested in excellence in film must forage around. My star rating is in the heading as the website no longer prints mine.

This is definitely one of the best war movies I have ever seen. No Rambo actions in this one. The title really depicts what the movies is all about A Journey's End. The brutality of war. Good men die like that . In times of war orders are orders. It is sad. I wonder all this potential gone to waste . Over 60 million people died in world wars. Countries destroyed. I wonder how the world would have been liked if only ... I recommend you see this movie with high quality video . The sound is amazing& the cinematic . The acting is superb . If you think that war is exciting . Think again . You ought to see it. Deserves a better rating.

I was fortunate enough to see the premiere of this film at the London Film Festival, and went in with no prior knowledge of the story or the characters, and was blown away by the impact this film has. Each actor suited their role perfectly, with Sam Claffin adding a smooth, sophisticated yet equally mysterious spin on the title character, Toby Jones adding fantastic one-liner humour to give the script more depth, and the other characters making the film's narrative put you on the edge of your seat. Usually I brush over war films, as I find the production and aesthetic quite similar. However, this film left me with lots of powerful thoughts and I am grateful to be one of the first to see it! Its now clear to see that this was based on a play, as the majority of the scenes were shot within the same set, with the focus on the characters' progression and the narrative as a whole, but this really worked! This is a film I highly recommend seeing- superb acting, released at a fitting time (its release being 100 years after the end of WW1), beautiful cinematography, a powerful script, and so much more! I will be seeing this again at the next given chance. So stop watching these big Hollywood remakes, be ready to be lost in the charm of this war film, and witness something quite special, that will hit you hard!- Sam Bishop

Decided to watch this with my 13 year old son as he's learning about WW1 at school and I thought this may give him an insight as to how trench warfare would have felt for the men involved. He is a massive fan of all action cinema/TV from LOTR to GOT, and although I was completely involved in the film and felt the despair of every man on the front line, I feared that Zach might be disinterested as it was far more atmospheric than all out action. When we discussed certain aspect during the film he told me that his heart rate had been at about 120 bpm all the way through and that he was loving it. Tells you everything you need to know about this film. As stated before, this is not a war film, but a film about war and we loved it.

Aisne 1918, Officer Stanhope is in charge of a group of men, who are in a bunker, awaiting a heavy German attack, only Stanhope's mental health is declining rapidly.

I've grown so accustomed to big budget war films, and there are many I have loved, Journey's End may not match them on special effects or extras or lavish battle scenes, but one thing it does have, is an incredible story.

The story of the mental decline of the leading man, Officer Stanhope, who's trying hard to keep it together in an impossible situation, alcoholism and paraboia. It's almost impossible to put yourself in place if one of those men, and imagine the torment, waiting to be attacked whist in a confined space.

A wonderful mix if characters, from the struggling Hibbert, to the avuncular Osborne, and of course the sarcastic Mason, all I kept thinking of was Baldrick from Blackadder 4, some wonderful, sharp one liners.

What a wonderful cast here, Paul Bettany, Stephen Graham, Toby Jones and many more, all spot on, very sincere performances, characters you can actually believe in.

It's subtle, no heavy accompanying music, no lavish special effects, it relies instead on the art of storytelling. They got the claustrophobia of the trenches spot on, as you watch you almost feel short of oxygen.

I thought this was quite an impressive film.

9/10.