Le berger

Ignore the negative reviews, someone with an axe to grind is trying to sink the ratings on this excellent short. My wife and I took a chance on this and loved every minute. Well acted, well directed, good story, not predictable, and best of all I was left feeling something inside, something good and uplifting. I would explain in more detail but I don't want to spoil the plot.

If you want to watch something that inspires and intrigues without vulgar language and violence and explosions, this is it.

I do have my own axe to grind with Disney in some ways-they have lost their way, and they insist of forcing people to watch the bad parts of some garbage they now distribute by denying access to VidAngel. BUT this short is beautiful and worth the watch. Make more of THIS, Disney.

"Stand with anyone who stands right. Stand with them while they are right, and walk away when they are wrong." - Abraham Lincoln.

Found this while browsing Disney Plus and decided to give it a try, particularly as it's directed by Iain Softley who doesn't get nearly as much credit and recognition as he deserves (does anyone remember the excellent K-PAX for example?).

The movie draws us steadily into the story and maintains a mostly quiet and thoughtful atmosphere yet with some tension when required.

Not only did I enjoy the story but the visuals too - I am going to assume that the outside views of the aircraft when flying were CGI and not physical models with CGI 'enhancements', etc and, if so, they were very well created with a good sense of realism.

In summary: I enjoyed it a lot - despite the relatively short running time it never felt rushed.

Recommended.

From a common sense point of view, the movie doesn't make much sense to me.

1. Secondary compass is a standard device for a pilot since forever.

2. Electrical failure doesn't equate to conpass failure. Especially in the pre-digital era, the compas and altimeter would still work with the engine off and now power. Same with speed meter. They were purely mechanical devices based on earth's magnetic field, pitot tube (dynamic/static pressures), air density/pressure/temperature. Fuel gauge also used to by purely mechanical back then, and that one seemed to work till the very end.

3. The behaviour of the pilot doesn't make any sense whatsoever. It's like he never went through any common sense training. If you have any sort of issues with the plane's controls early in your trip, you don't push forward for your destination, you get back and land.

4. If you have compass and altimeter failure and see a cloud front, you avoid it at all costs.

5. Basic training also covers (to this day) star and sun nativation. Yes, if you know the time and date, you can easily determine with good precision the cardinal points and navigate to land. It doesn't make any sense that he starts doing "triangle formation" over the see when he still had plenty of fuel. You find land at all costs and try to find an empty field or road or something. Given the full moon he had during that night, it should have been really easy. It absolutely doesn't make any sense to ditch over water with land km away.

6. Also, the way he tried to "save fuel" didn't make much sense to me either. If you want to maximise endurance, you basically have to fly at minimum power which still keeps you in the air while gliding the plane. Each plane has a different maximum endurance envelope/settings and it's a combination of engine settings, flight controls settings, altitude and speed - no "triangle formation" required.

7. Overall - absolute rubbish. The entire movie doesn't hold water from a technical point of view. The existence of ghosts is more believable to me than that pilots' behaviour.

This is a great way to spend 40 minutes. An engaging tale that is short, sharp and well executed.

There are a few flaws and the film isn't perfect but looking past a few inaccuracies, you have a great story set across a Christmas background which really gives this short and extra element, making this a good family watch.

It's possibly the little kid in me, watching planes and the classic Military themes intertwined with a Christmas backdrop but this is has a real nostalgia piece that is visually fantastic!

Lastly the casting is solid, Ben Radcliffe is charming in the lead role. While Travolta as Kavanagh is excellent, giving that feel of care and experience the role needed. This felt like a great role for Travolta in the twilight of his career.

All in all, looking for a short good Christmas watch and something I look forward to showing to my kids when they're old enough. The 8/10 maybe be little high for this but this film just sung to me.

A short story that will warm your hearts for Christmas. This movie gave me so much hope and reminds that the end of the year and the holidays are all about hope, and love. It was merry, suspenseful, and had so many emotions that it brought tears to my eyes. I am so happy I got to start my holidays with this beautiful movie.

For the plot, it is a story of a young flying officer who wants to go home for Christmas to his girlfriend whom he dearly loves, however mid air his flight suffers multiple technical failures and he gets stranded over the north sea. The rest, you better watch and find out.

I remember a lie which really touched me, I guess it goes like "Lizzie I am not scared but sad of all the things we would not be able to do together..." Definitely lovely!