Like a lot of over hyped films, this one was over hyped.

Rating: 5/10 (7 February 2020)

This film had been built up in my mind from trailers, interviews online and by friends who had gone to see it at the cinema.
By the time I got to see it I was expecting too much, but had I been expecting just a great film, I was sorely disappointed.
The first thing was the acting. Dennis Quid is always great and he was here, as was Woody Harrelson who is always flawless. Aaron Eckhart and Patrick Wilson could be said to be very good, although Wilson sometimes appeared not to know what he was doing.
The plot was fabulous. I've read the book and seen 2 films so far about that famous battle and this was probably in the middle of the other two films. Cinematography was sub par considering the budget of over a tenth of a Billion dollars. When you've got CGI your camera angles and views and effects are limited only by your imagination, and clearly the cinematographer/CGI artist had none. It failed to impress and sometimes I think the effects were the point of certain scenes rather than the life and death bravery shown by the actors. (Playing real people)
The home view, showing wives and children was pathetic. I was never once made to feel any empathy at all for the partners left behind and the kids who might soon be fatherless. They got plenty of air time, it just wasn't very well acted or directed.
All in all I think the director did a pretty sloppy job all round and considering the colossal budget he had for this there really was no excuse at all. A great shame such a big film can only scrape 5 from me, and I think I am being generous with 5.