“Monumental Disappointment” (1 Viewer)

[King & Country]

Hi Guys,

I went to see ”The Monuments Men” last night with a fellow collector. For months I had been looking forward to seeing it and from various bits of “behind-the-scenes” YouTube videos and some pix it certainly “looked right” . The reality alas was a big letdown. The movie couldn’t make up its mind what kind of a war movie it wanted to be…a little bit of this…a dash of that…and perhaps just a splash of something else!!! A force of several hundred real art historians and experts were whittled down to George Clooney and a motley half a dirty dozen…that would not have lasted five minutes in a real combat zone…John Goodman alone would have collapsed with a stroke or a heart attack instantly I am sure…Military ranks appeared to be assigned on first-come, first-served basis. Then, there was an obligatory Brit and Frog who were the unit’s only fatal casualties. Add into the mix Cate Blanchette as a French Resistance Art Curator complete with ‘Allo, ‘Allo accent. Plus for good measure…an SS officer who looked a wee bit like Himmler and an actor who looked nothing like Goring and you have a regular “dogs dinner” of a flic.

Take my advice avoid this fiasco like the plague…Save your pennies and buy “Generation War”… Now that’s a real war movie!

All the best and happy viewing,

Andy C.​

 

[villagehorse]

Yea I was wondering whether this war movie would cut the mustard, the scenes made it look comical with the stars going thru basic training and struggling. Standing on a mine and everyone asking why would you step on a mine, very funny not. One front line scene looked like it may have potential with military vehicles scattered, but I will now wait for it to come to tv and I suspect that will be very soon. Thanks for the heads up. Robin.

 

[uksubs]

Are just wait till it come out on DVD and watch it on lovefilm

 

[Guy]

I save my euro cents for the new "STALINGRAD" movie coming out next week . The trailer looks very promising
guy

 

[WesternOutlaw]

The movie has been on my list since seeing the initial trailer. The day after the release, I had heard it wasn't too good. One of my co-workers saw it last weekend and enjoyed it. I plan to buy on BluRay when it comes out; perhaps it will be out sooner than expected. Appreciate the review.

 

[Poppo]

I haven' t seen the movie, but only by reading the title I can easily believe the comments....

I totally agree that " generation war" is a very well done, historically correct, emotional and well played movie.I must say that the best historical movies about ww2 are made by the germans.

 

[Poppo]

I save my euro cents for the new "STALINGRAD" movie coming out next week . The trailer looks very promising
guy

Guy, don' t save them for that movie...I saw it ,only some pieces on the net as it was impossible to follow all that extra boring, propaganda, slow russian film. Russians aren' t able to make a decent war movie, they kill the viewer with interminable speeches, melodramatic situations, unrealistic scenes...But if you ll see it, let' s tell us your commentaries:salute::

 

[uksubs]

I save my euro cents for the new "STALINGRAD" movie coming out next week . The trailer looks very promising
guy

Sorry to say Guy that had a bad write up as well!

 

[wwiibuff]

I agree Andy. I went to see it several days ago and was disappointed as well.

 

[Guy]

I save my euro cents for the new "STALINGRAD" movie coming out next week . The trailer looks very promising
guy

Poppo and uksubs, thanks for letting me know. I'll save my euro cents for something else then, a new figure perhaps ????

 

[nysoldiers]

I recently saw Generation War in our local "arts" cinema. I did enjoy the film and thought the acting was competent.
I agree with some of the critics, however, that the real horrors of the Nazi regime were brushed over. Hard to excuse
or humanize those who participated in or witnessed the atrocities perpertrated on innocent civilians, especially women and children.
Not to start a debate here but I truly believe that if I saw an officer kill an innocent child I wouldn't think twice about putting a bullet in his head.
All in all I would reccomend the movie with the caveat that the producer/director was motivated to put a more sympathetic face on
the German soldiers who were part of the Nazi war horrors.

 

[Poppo]

I recently saw Generation War in our local "arts" cinema. I did enjoy the film and thought the acting was competent.
I agree with some of the critics, however, that the real horrors of the Nazi regime were brushed over. Hard to excuse
or humanize those who participated in or witnessed the atrocities perpertrated on innocent civilians, especially women and children.
Not to start a debate here but I truly believe that if I saw an officer kill an innocent child I wouldn't think twice about putting a bullet in his head.
All in all I would reccomend the movie with the caveat that the producer/director was motivated to put a more sympathetic face on
the German soldiers who were part of the Nazi war horrors.

I m not sure the director wished to put a more sympathetic face on the germans : as you wrote, one ss officer shot a jewish child, and one of the main carachters didn' t oppose to that: this is not sympatethic for germans. Other example, another main carachter, the german nurse denounced a jewish nurse and let her arrest: also this is not sympatethic for the germans.Another main german carachter shot prisoners and also this doesn't make them very nice. Another main carachter, the ambitious german singer girl has a relation with a grim gestapo officer for having success and carrer...Also this doesn' t make her look very nice...

Sure some little negative critics can be done on that movie, but mainly I find it very, very welll done and realistic.

 

[Iron Brigade]

Hello Andy:

Thanks for your information about the new USA made movie. The previews I saw on TV recently did not move me to see or not see the movie, but I was leaning a bit towards not seeing it. You have pushed me over to not seeing it period! On local TV news just yesterday it was noted that there was a U.S. Army Major during WW2 who came from our local area who was one of the real "Monuments soldiers", but his name was not used in the movie.

Gary

 

[PanzerAce1944]

A coincidence as I also went to see this film yesterday myself. The actor who played the German SS officer was also in "Downfall" as a German General.
Probably OK to watch on DVD but nothing to rush out and see in the Movie theater {sm2}

 

[jazzeum]

I saw it a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed it. Showed the hunt for the art the Germans looted and in that respect taught those who might not have otherwise known about this. Was it the world's greatest movie? No but it was enjoyable and I would urge you to see it if you want to do so. By the way, the theater was almost sold out in a late afternoon showing.

Brad

 

[nysoldiers]

I m not sure the director wished to put a more sympathetic face on the germans : as you wrote, one ss officer shot a jewish child, and one of the main carachters didn' t oppose to that: this is not sympatethic for germans. Other example, another main carachter, the german nurse denounced a jewish nurse and let her arrest: also this is not sympatethic for the germans.Another main german carachter shot prisoners and also this doesn't make them very nice. Another main carachter, the ambitious german singer girl has a relation with a grim gestapo officer for having success and carrer...Also this doesn' t make her look very nice...

Sure some little negative critics can be done on that movie, but mainly I find it very, very welll done and realistic.

Maybe sympathetic was the wrong description.....more human would be appropriate. We know that war can cause emotional breakdowns and inspire revenge and cruelty.
Ordinary men can get caught up in the propaganda and survival instincts may take over. Still very few Germans involved with the atrocities of concentration camps (which were not shown),
mass killings of civilians in conquered territories, torture and killing of partisans and other crimes of humanity tried to stop or even protest these despicable acts.
Like I said I did enjoy the movie and though it was well done artistically and historically. I just can't feel any kind of empathy for the soldiers who witnessed these crimes.

 

[hotel3alpha]

All,

Well I guess I will just wait for the DVD release or go see it at the dollar movies. However, comma there are a few documentaries out there about art that are just fantastic. One involves the Monument Men, a heist and an American Private Collector. They are:

The Rape of Europa-the story behind the Monuments Men. Fantastic documentary.

Stolen-the Boston Heist and the old vet who tries to recover them. The works have still not been recovered since they were stolen in 1990.

The Art of the Steal-the single most horrible story of a private collector, his collection, his passing and the aftermath.

Anyway, if you looking for the juicy details these docs are the way to go.

John

 

[arnhem44mad]

Couldn't have put it better myself Andy!

Scott

 

[wayne556517]

Hi Guys,

I went to see ”The Monuments Men” last night with a fellow collector. For months I had been looking forward to seeing it and from various bits of “behind-the-scenes” YouTube videos and some pix it certainly “looked right” . The reality alas was a big letdown. The movie couldn’t make up its mind what kind of a war movie it wanted to be…a little bit of this…a dash of that…and perhaps just a splash of something else!!! A force of several hundred real art historians and experts were whittled down to George Clooney and a motley half a dirty dozen…that would not have lasted five minutes in a real combat zone…John Goodman alone would have collapsed with a stroke or a heart attack instantly I am sure…Military ranks appeared to be assigned on first-come, first-served basis. Then, there was an obligatory Brit and Frog who were the unit’s only fatal casualties. Add into the mix Cate Blanchette as a French Resistance Art Curator complete with ‘Allo, ‘Allo accent. Plus for good measure…an SS officer who looked a wee bit like Himmler and an actor who looked nothing like Goring and you have a regular “dogs dinner” of a flic.

Take my advice avoid this fiasco like the plague…Save your pennies and buy “Generation War”… Now that’s a real war movie!

All the best and happy viewing,

Andy C.​

Andy C. i totally agree have to be the worst pile of sh*** i have seen in alooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong time,the treading on the mine BS and they all stay with him and the patriotic music in the back ground i nearly vomitted,118 minutes of my life wasted.

 

[Mitch]

I have seen Stalingrad its Pants. Save your money for those figures I am sure a range will be forthcoming
Mitch

Poppo and uksubs, thanks for letting me know. I'll save my euro cents for something else then, a new figure perhaps ????