Steel Tempest

Well, I've never laughed so much for a long time. This side splitting romp had me laughing fit to burst! What? It's not supposed to be a comedy? Bad computer generated explosions, dodgy approximated rank insignia and a Knight's Cross that's awarded to our hero complete with Velcro backing (yes, just watch when Braun's CO 'sticks' it to his neck) make for a sub standard effort, even by amateur standards. The extras are obviously just jerking their MP40's and Sturmgewehr 44's when they 'fire' and the whole story takes part on an M.O.D. training site in Hampshire and at Neidpath Castle near Peebles in Scotland, which is supposed to be a Belgian château but betrays it's unmistakable 'Reiver' architecture.

Despite all the faults this film is remarkably entertaining. One can't wait for the next gaffe, the next instance of bad acting. I like it, but not because it's a good film. It's a bad film only surpassed by Cromwell Films 'The Bruce', a failure on a greater scale with a bigger budget.

I hope Braun reached the toilet in time before he received his Knight's Cross. Just watch the minute or so before that scene!

Most of the other reviews hit all the bad stuff so I'll just hit the two that irritated me the most. The Battle of the Bulge was fought in the coldest winter in around 100 years so where is all the snow and ice? The helmets that did not have camo covers are of the painted the pre-war apple or pea green, are poor replicas and most of all the party shield (the one that is red with Swastika) decals were ordered removed in 1940, so they would have long ago been painted over or scratch off. The little details can make or break a mediocre movie and, in this movie, they miss a lot of the little details.

I knew nothing about this before viewing and purchased the DVD from an out of print DVD merchant in the USA. The movie takes place on the Western Front in December 1944. An SS unit called the Second Abteilung must take a bridge, move into a city (apparently French)capture supplies, and wait for the panzers to arrive. Although "Ardennes offensive" or "Battle of the Bulge" is never referred to, it is obvious from internal evidence that the film takes place two days before the famous bad weather cleared and the day after it did when Allied aircraft were unleashed full force (that caused the Germans to retreat) Having lived in Britain for six years and participated in a couple of historical recreation groups, I concluded early on that the actors were themselves from a British historical recreation group which I believe from the end titles is called the Second Battle Group. The acting is competent and the group has done amazing things with the resources they had. The flavor of the times is there and the movie focuses on small unit actions at platoon strength down to squad level. There is no encumbering love interest here. Just men and war. The crew has done a great job on details that will please war enthusiasts and it does convey a certain degree of realism in small unit actions. This is not "Where Eagles Dare," but a competent independent film that clocked in, I believe, at about 70 minutes. Filmed in Scotland and on military training grounds in Hampshire.

Worst WWII movie of all time. Crappy CGI, no recoil when rifles or machine guns were firing, absolutely no markings on the tanks or half tracks. OMG, and I didn't know that the UN fought on the side of the Germans in WWII. A lot of the Germans were wearing BLUE SMURF helmets in this abomination. They must have bought them at the German army surplus store on the way to the shoot. Earlier today I watched 1939 The Battle of Westerplatte. That movie was just a C hair above this stinker. Awful, awful movie, so why am I still watching this? I'm a glutton for punishment I guess.

just as 'plan 9 from outer space' is!

the plot is based on the battle of the bulge. the script is dire...'we need more ammo' blah blah is repeated endlessly. the 'actors' all seem to have retired after making this crap. bob carruthers has obviously got all the gear and props right, pity someone didn't splash out for some blanks for the guns as men pointing rifles without a puff of smoke or recoil is pathetic. its easy for me to say this is the worst ww2 film I've ever seen.

this is just a 'ooh look at all this ww2 equipment we have...lets make a feature film with it'

the film ends pretty abruptly with one of the most laughable banzai heil Hitler suicide charges...well i say charge, more like nearly a footstep!