Unrealistic flag waving silliness

Rating: 4/10 (6 January 2015)

##MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD##
It was amazing to see the real stars of the film which were the Shermans and the only working Tiger tank in existence strut their stuff. But the rest was daft.
Brad Pitt and his mates survive some amazingly unrealistic combat as they bond with their new crewmate who just before the end becomes known as Machine.
They would never have made it past the anti tank guns in reality. Never mind a Tiger tank and a large group of SS soldiers.
But luckily Brad and Co come across the most inept bunch of clowns in the German army.
Hopeless infantry who cannot destroy a tank from 10 feet with a panzerfaust and run blindly about to be cut to pieces as if in an Arnie or Sly movie instead of seeking cover and destroying a crippled tank with the panzerfaust at least half a dozen of them are carrying. A Tiger crew so useless they don't know how to slew a tank on one track and protect their rear. Who blindly go forward instead of simply blasting Brad and his company to bits from distance. Two anti tank guns that could not hit a barn with a banjo. Add to that a blind sniper and the Nazis showing respect whenever a lead character is killed by stopping firing for a minute or so to allow the actors to emote a bit.
Of course seeing Brad slaughter Nazis will probably entertain the same bunch of Americans who whoop and holler when Sly was wiping out Commies but as a realistic film it's too ridiculous for words.
It was mildly entertaining and the acting was good from the five leads but realism took a holiday and was replaced with religious patriotic fervour as Brad decides to stand his ground against the Nazi onslaught.
The final scenes were mildly insulting as the rookie is given a pass by an SS soldier and allowed to live after wiping out so many of the SS soldiers pals.
Not a bad war film but one would expect a bit of realism from such a film in this day and age.