A shattering ride

Rating: 10/10 (20 November 2001)

Have just seen the Redux version, some 22 years after seeing the original. Suffice to say everyone came out of the cinema fairly shattered e.g. none of the usual happy gossip. This film is a masterpiece. I have to disagree with some reviewers who thought that the French plantation scene was unnecessary. I thought that to have a French perspective on the war (after all, they'd been there, done that ! ) added a lot to the story. Superb in every way. My only other comment, if you are in your twenties, for instance, make a date for yourself to see it again in whatever format will be around in 20 years time. This really needs to be seen again when you are older and when, I believe, you can get so much more out of it. No doubt a provocative comment, but it sure applied to the two of us tonight.