The Fallen (2004)

Just perfect...

A lot of fun.

Wow! What a bizarre film! Unfortunately the few funny moments there were were quite overshadowed by it's completely weird and random vibe throughout.

Yo, there's no way for me to review this film without saying, take your *insert ethnicity + "ass" here* to see this film,like now. You have to see it in order to know what you're really messing with.

This movies is worth watching. I seen the so-call outstanding movie Saving Private Ryan; this movie is far, far better! This movie gives a excellent view, to me, of what it REALLY was like in the Italian campaign both with the Americans, Germans, partisans & especially the Italian soldiers. This movie and All Quiet On the Western Front are my best war movies. It is far better then Saving Private Ryan because the story line for Private Ryan is stupid, who would (being in their right mind) send a squad of soldiers into a combat zone to retrieve another soldier. There could of been other ways (communication wise) to contact the field unit to retrieve the soldier without risking lives to do it. Yes, Saving Private Ryan is an overrated film. I'll end this review on the movie The Fallen by saying again, see the movie!

'The Fallen' offers a take on the fractured loyalties of men when things start to go wrong in war.Set in Italy, and supposedly filmed on location, a struggling German defence is being held, as the Italian army teeters on the edge of collapse. Those Latins still wearing uniform are becoming riven with doubt. Some still have a sense of duty and national pride, others now obsess over their survival and welfare of families. Many are ready to surrender or dessert and are only discouraged from either by their 'band of brothers' psychology. Meanwhile Italian partisans who never supported Il Duce or the war are growing in numbers and audacity. Yet even here there are conflicting regional, religious and political ideologies.This would be a very difficult canvas to paint even in the hands of a director who can really handle 'the big picture'. And for me, at least, it doesn't succeed. All of the characters are just a little too ordinary. The script is simplistic - which may well be true to life - but doesn't really hold the attention.Some of the filming is nicely accomplished and there is a modern-day realism to the combat and firefight sequences. But the clumsy, confused and amateurish soldiers also lend a clumsy, confused and amateurish appearance to the movie. Some of the editing is choppy, which only adds to the appearance of amateurishness.The blurb lists a run-time of 106mins. I don't know how much I watched, but it was a fair chunk, yet I simply couldn't be bothered to see it through. The blurb also quotes something called 'The Reeler' claiming it is 'Saving Private Ryan, only better'. Yeah - In yer dreams.It's the old story: I wasn't induced to care about the characters. And if you don't care about the characters, then you don't care what happens to them, ergo there is no story.Not recommended.

I've rent the movie because i'm very fond on war movies and on the cover picture i've read " better than save private ryan"....mmmmm ...i thought cool! guys....is just a ridiculous movie. Almost fun. Nothing to do with a proper war movie. I want my money back! Why the f...k the peoples lies??????????? F NO SUBTITLES They tried to make everything cooler with the light....but they didn't make it. Sorry about this.....but the movie is awful. The italians are shown as "Mafia e mandolino"The American as stupid farmer The Germans as even more stupid farmer.The actor are ridiculous and unprofessional.Please....please......

Outstanding film, you must see it, and when you do, keep in mind that this is Ari Taub's first feature film. Where many directors would attempt something much less difficult for their first feature, Taub took on a major challenge by going back in time, and making it oh so believable. The uniforms, the weapons, the scenery, the music . PERFECT. The acting is superb, you probably will not recognize one face, but I'll bet you see them again. I understand that the movie recently won the best picture award ( audience choice ) at the Milan Film Festival. Congratulations Ari, I,m anxious to see what your next project will be.