Very Disappointed

Rating: 3/10 (12 May 2015)

I could not get to the cinema to watch this so went out and got the DVD and sat in front of a wide-screen TV (for effect!). Damn, what a big come down.
The hype said it was the best ever WW2 movie since Ryan.. blah, blah, and I knew that the Director was getting as much authentic kit and equipment possible to make the film as 'real' as he could, so I was ready.
Unfortunately, they obviously did not research WW2 Infantry and tank tactics at the same time. I thought.. this has potential, with the opening scenes showing a rear area of a battlefield. It looked good, fine detail etc.
Then the 'war' started a proper. Dug-in German anti-tank guns with surprise on their side, cammed up and just waiting for the yanks to enter the 'Killing ground' that they had set up! Wiped out by a few Sherman's with (WTF!) a long gaggle of infantry strung out behind.
The German infantry decided that the best place to be was in small holes in the ground in the middle of a field, rather than the perfect tree line behind them where the anti-tank boys were! Shame on the Director for allowing the execution of the unarmed German prisoner. Yes it did happen, but it was a rarity. The guy was not even SS. And to show the GI's watching and apparently enjoying it, turned my stomach. A stain on those brave men's honour.
MG in the basement... a normal German tactic which the GI's would have known about so would have been prepared for. There were also enough troops to go in and clear the place before the tanks moved in.
Tiger battle. The only good thing about this was the Tiger itself. This was the original Bovington 'Tiger from the tank museum, originally captured in North Africa. I have to admit, I did wet my pants a little watching this beast in action! Unfortunately it was crewed by half- wits and not an experienced Waffen-SS crew with a kill tally as long as my arm. Remember, these heavy tank battalions (which included Michael Wittmann, credited with the destruction of 138 tanks and 132 anti- tank guns), were the elite, often with experience on the Eastern front where the odds were always stacked against them. They were masters of their game. 4 Sherman's would have been a gun-cleaning session for them!
Firstly, they would have taken out the main threat, Old Braddy-boys Firefly, ending the film right there and then. Then, from their concealed position, they would have picked off the charging Sherman's one by one in the time it takes to count one-two-three! Tiger crew... back into the woods for a cup of coffee and some Yank rations for breakfast!
Oh no, Braddy boy was not having it! Let's get to the Tigers rear and waste him that way. He will oblige us by not turning his turret around and driving in a wide circle. Lord forbid that the Tiger driver slews the tank around (on a penny) and pops him first. On the Eastern front, the Germans were destroying 7-10 tanks for every one of theirs and were often outnumbered 10-20 to one in a fight. Enough said!
Final battle. Crossroads... key point... vital apparently?
One crippled Sherman verses a battalion of Waffen-SS. Sherman wastes hundreds of Germans before finally getting overrun. Hurrah for the yanks! Cr#p!
Waffen-SS see crossroads, send in recce to check it out. Rest of battalion move into defensive positions... because who knows, it might be a perfect ambush site? Sherman opens up, a few die. Bring in Panzerfausts (to the rear). Pop a couple in the rear and watch it brew up. Finish off Braddy-boy. March down road and clear up the cooks! Get wasted later by the Grenadier Guards (perhaps... tongue in cheek).
Instead... mass wave attacks (Russian front early war). Not a single Panzerschreck (German Bazooka) in site, no support weapons... no tactics, no blooming idea! Finally, and this really p'ssed me off. Waffen-SS man discovers Yank survivor under tank. "That is all right," he says in very poor German accent, "Zee Yanks have just wasted a lot of my mates and totally humiliated the Fatherland. I Vill let him live 'cos he is good egg. Have a nice day Amerikan. Ha, Betty Boop, Vat a dish."
Or.. "Gott in Himmel, a Godampt Yank!", Grenade, second grenade or perhaps a flame-thrower?
Very disappointed, the whole film sucked. But, Bovingdon Tiger, yeah baby!