Story chewed up by too much action

Rating: 5/10 (5 February 2006)

"Munich" tries to cram too many shots and explosions per minute, leaving the characters behind. On the other hand Spielberg was obviously trying to carry a message, but the movie came out is too shallow to really immerse you and make you feel what he is trying to tell. There are a few key dialogs, but they sound a bit artificial -- maybe they could sound better, but not in this movie. Eric Bana also does not seem to keep up with the leading role, which in a way may be intended -- it is unclear if Avner is in control of the events or vice versa, but still his acting could be better. Overall, the movie is substantially worse than I expected.
A suggestion: see "Sword of Gideon" (1986) if you can find it, doesn't matter before or after "Munich". IMHO it develops better portraits of key characters, and generally gives the story a much better texture. It concentrates on people and ideas rather than the events, and that's what this story is all about. The messages in these two films differ somewhat, and you may agree or disagree with either or both, but either way "Sword" is absolutely worth seeing if you are interested in the subject. I would also suggest watching the documentary "One Day in September" (1999) before watching the movie(s), for more detailed background.
Also, don't take user ratings too seriously for these particular moves, because as someone else correctly noted here, many people pay more attention to political aspects than cinematographic.