I think this film is pretty overrated (8.5 is pretty high). I think it was the way it started. All the pilots seemed so spoiled and juvenile and Moggy was a downright bastard. The scene with the mechanic who played squash disgusted me, as well as the ransacking of the beautiful house ... these people seemed like Asses! I guess the director needed to set up the contrast of hedonists to desperate last minute saviors of the motherland.
7/10
I suppose one's sirloin is another's porridge . So, Chrisso...did you watch all 6 episodes of the mini-series ?
How could you spend some 300 minutes with Hornet Squadron and not feel a great depth of sadness for the lost characters. What about the real (not CGI) airplanes used in the show ? What about the rich dialogue and beautiful cinematography ? The costumes ? The music? The production values ? On a television mini-series !!!!
In 1983 !
Except for the Hornblower series and perhaps, Foyle's War, there hasn't been another attempt on either side of the Atlantic for this quality of historic-themed television. That is why Piece of Cake is so highly rated...valued...treasured, by the rest of us.
I gather you're waiting for another Batman movie...or perhaps the Independence Day remake ?
Have a good time.
CmdrCody
Chrisso: I see you've forwarded your impressions of several older war pictures in your reviews. Very commendable to reveal your thinking to the Internet world.
I can see why you didn't care for Piece of Cake. Like the rest of the movies you panned, it is just too antiquated in contrast to 21st Century view of the world. There is just too much "propaganda" for your tastes.
Better watch something more modern like Transformers or Spider-Man.
Cheers.
CmdrCody.
Cody,
You are so totally full of yourself! Seriously, I say a film is overrated as I had trouble identifying with characters who were acting very badly and that is your queue to get all "holier than thou." Why do feel the need to get personal when you don't agree? Seriously, you are nobody's end all so step away from the mirror!
And I stand by my statement. Using IMDB ratings here are films plus/minus .1 of the this mini series' 8.5 rating.
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Life Is Beautiful (1997 Italian)
Casablanca (1942)
The Human Condition I: No Greater Love (1961 Japan)
The Human Condition II: Road To Eternity (1961 Japan)
The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer (1961 Japan)
The Great Dictator (1940 ... Charlie Chapman)
Piece of Cake (1983 British)
The Pianist (2002 semi-polish)
Das Boot (1981 German)
Generation War (2013 German Mini Series)
A Town Like Alice (1981 British Mini Series)
The Heavy Water War (2013 Norway … Mini Series)
Lion of The Desert (1981 Libyan)
Pretty good company eh? Perhaps too good??? I would say that this clearly supports my theory that "piece of cake" is massively overrated.
Cheers back
BTW: I have never seen Transformers or any Spider Man movies but I did really like the Batman films directed by Christopher Nolan. Nolan is currently working on a film about Dunkirk that I am excited to see! Will you be skipping that due to the Director's 21st century view of the world?
Having read the book, I found the tv version too bland. It didn't take money or Hurricane Mk Is to make it good, just a reluctance to use the form as a vehicle for cliche. Verily a Trabant with a Rolls Royce badge.
Marlon, Claudia and Dimby the cats 1989-2005, 2007 and 2010.
And another thing ... you state ...
"Except for the Hornblower series and perhaps, Foyle's War, there hasn't been another attempt on either side of the Atlantic for this quality of historic-themed television. That is why Piece of Cake is so highly rated...valued...treasured, by the rest of us."
You seem to have forgotten
Band of Brothers (9.6)
Danger UXB (8.7)
Generation War (8.5)
The Pacific (8.3)
War & Remembrance (8.3
Winds Of War (8.2)
Holocaust (8.2)
Again I rest my case O sage one
Opinions may differ on the show's quality, and how it matches up to the IMDB rating, but: nothing you said about it is really a criticism.
The pilots were supposed to seem spoiled and juvenile (well, quite juvenile; spoiled off and on, depending on who was in command), Moggy was supposed to be a downright bastard, the scene with the mechanic was supposed to be a dark(ish) look at social class in the British military, and they were supposed to be hard on the house (though "ransacking" is too strong a word).
You might as easily say:
Charles Foster Kane seems so overbearing and full of himself; he was a downright bastard; the scene with the opponent running against him for governor disgusted me; as well as the burning of the cool sled ... that guy seemed like a jerk!
On the other hand: your other post about the presence (or non-absence) of well-made historically-themed TV is apropos. There are others beyond those you mentioned as well, I think.
Hmm. Chrisso rated it 7/10 himself. He seems to have a problem with a series being rated somewhat higher than he himself rates it.
I remember not being able to stand Moggy for being such an asshole, and wishing someone would put him in his place. And yet I felt his death more heavily than many others - I think that's testament to some quality writing.