except for the last 30 minutes, i dont know why people keep this film in such high regard. "one of the best of all time", "brilliant", blah blah blah.. someone explain to me whats so special about this movie..
shareJust look around some of the other posts on this board. You'll be able to see it from many different perspectives, those who liked it and those who did not. then you can rewatch it and, with what you've heard from other people, you can make a judgement for yourself. The first time i saw it i liked it a lot but not as much as some otehr things i'd seen but once i thought about it more, read about it a little and i rewatched it again i understood much more of it. but i'm still not sure i like it more than 'rules of the game'.
share"one of the best of all time", "brilliant", blah blah blah.. someone explain to me whats so special about this movie..
It's not an escape film or an anti-war film, although it works better in either of those genres than most of their respective best examples. "Grand Illusion" is a film about the "grand illusions" in life which prompt people to do meaningless things to keep themselves occupied (digging holes to escape without thinking about WHY they're escaping; holding a French Captain in higher esteem than a French Lieutenant, etc., etc., see the whole movie for more examples), and about how selfless sacrifice is the only force on earch which can shatter these illusions and provide redemption. Watch it a few times and think about what's happening and it will become clear that "Grand Illusion" is one of the most deeply layered films ever made. Trust me.
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Cyprians That is one of the Best answers I have heard on these boards!!!! Thanks! I love this Film!! I am not sure why but Renior is a wonderful master IMHO!!!!
shareWhat I don't understand is why people come to the board of a historic film like this -- one of that's been discussed and praised for decades -- and ask "what's so good about it?"
It's not our job to justify for you why the classics are classics. Maybe if you spent five seconds googling this movie, you might find dozens/hundreds/thousands of links to reviews and essays that might give you a tiny glimmer of what people find "so good" about this movie. If that's too complicated for you, there are over fifty "External reviews" of this movie RIGHT HERE ON IMDB, which might provide some minor insight into the particular aspects of this movie that others find praiseworthy.
That said, Chwelve's answer is pretty good.
I know I'm shouting, I like to shout.
Well, he's French and his father was Auguste Renoir. It's just in his blood. He can't help it. But great movie though. I just watched it today for film studies. Very intricate and I love how it twists meanings in so many different ways, like when they say the baby Jesus isn't for eating. How great is that?
shareConsidering Goebbels made it a point to outlaw this film and called its director public enemy number 1...
I think a film never had a better review. Thank Jean Renoir made it to the United States!
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It is my #1 favorite film of all time. Why? It is a prime example of a cinematic formula perfected. Flawless in all aspects: Ideal director, actors, story, setting and time.
One might as well ask, "why is a diamond so beautiful?" or "Why does a rose smell so wonderful?" And....It makes me feel quite proud of my french heritage.
You know it's got layers and it's cynical.
But honestly I like this film because it may be the most positive war film I've seen. Granted sadness happens, but seriously for the most part these officers are at least trying to see past the absurdity of war.
I still like Rules of the Game more (slightly more intriguing directing IMO), still this has a lot to it when you examine it. Plus once again I could get over how much I admired the humanity of the characters.
Always enjoy a mouthbreather who posts 'what's so good about this film' and then never returns. Thank you for giving fans the chance to list their reasons for loving a great work.
shareIt was impressive to explore the absurdities of war without a single scene on the battlefield. Rarely have I seen a film so visually stunning with so much food for thought. It deserves to be on the top ten list of ALL films about war.
Send lawyers,guns and money/The *beep* has hit the fan
So you didnt get it....
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Applied Science? All science is applied. Eventually.
What... not an anti-war film? It´s arguably even more overtly so then, idk, Paths Of Glory. And if it´s not anti-war, then why were Nazis so hell bent on trying to make it disappear from the face of the Earth forever? It´s definitely not because it displays any pro-French militaristic fervor or the like.
"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan
I don't think I can do all of the delicate intricacies justice however...I enjoyed this movie on a very visceral level. I remember sitting in front of the tv as a young child and just being hypnotized. Reading all of the subtitles was a tax on my youthful attention span but I really wanted to find out what was going to happen to these two men that are friends but are supposed to hate and kill each other...
As I got older and studied film theory I now understand why it a technically strong film but if I have to convince a friend to sit down and watch a black and white movie with subs I tell them its just a damn good story.
The humour, the characterisations and the director's evident love and care towards humanity no matter the nationality.
A bird sings and the mountain's silence deepens.share
Acting. Photography. Most of all, Humanism on the actions and dialogue.
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-You won't forget me now?share
-No. I've got nobody else to remember.
I didn't like this movie either.
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