"We just didn't quite make it this time"

Rating: 7/10 (22 August 2005)

ABTF is probably the most accurate war-film ever made. It could almost be a documentary. It tells the story of a gigantic airborne operation, which intended to end the war in Europe by Christmas 1944. The idea was to conquer three vital bridges behind enemy lines and push on with British tanks into the German industrial area of Ruhr. The operation was codenamed Market Garden.
Because of insufficient reconnaissance, bad weather, problems with the equipment and arrogance by the planners, the operation became a real disaster for the allies.
Huge sums were spent on making the scenes as realistic as possible and on hiring the best cast ever seen on cinema. The result is a good picture of the events 60 years ago. The acting is highly professional and the use of cameras is great. I still got the feeling like something was missing. Maybe it's because I'm of a younger generation than the filmmakers that some scenes seem a bit old-fashioned and almost melodramatic. The movie is good, but I think it could have been much better if some scenes were emotionally stronger and some melodramatic scenes were cut out. It is also annoying when the woman in the prologue says that the war is still going Hitlers way in 1944. You wouldn't expect such a comment in an otherwise so accurate movie. I think "A Bridge too Far" is very good as a documentary on war, but it's not a Cinematographic masterpiece. I recommend it to anyone interested in history and or war.
"It felt like the generals sent us to do something they didn't have the justification for" (a private of the British 1st airborne division)