If only the characters were deeper...

Rating: 8/10 (26 March 2001)

this film would be one of the best war movies of all time. The setting was right, the five leading roles (Jude Law, Joseph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, Ed Harris and Bob Hoskins) were good, good, adequate, perfect and perfect (respectively), the ambiance was perfect, the propaganda was kept relatively low, the action scenes were realistic, the silent scenes were powerful. But... ...who were those guys? Why were they fighting? What did they do before the war and what were they dreaming to do after it? All the germans were bad and all the soviets good? Was there any ideology behind the killing of thousands? And was it only me that wanted to know?
I gave the film an 8 -because it is a good film. If JJ Anaud (either as a director or as a writer) gave the characters some depth, I would gladly give it a 9 or even a 10. And I would buy the video for my collection. Come to think of it, I probably will...