Overrated, Failed Within Test Of Time

Rating: 2/10 (10 July 2014)

This example of younger Stanley Kubrick's cinematography shows also younger Kirk Douglas as Col. Dax of 710 Regiment in 1916 during World War I. There were so many high praises of this film, that I decided to watch it closely, and... and I was deeply disappointed, as this movie surely has not stood the test of time and today is intercepted as a mere bleak, hollow, dark, vapid and rather weak exercise in D - depression, despair, disenchantment, drool and drainage. I agree, was was not all exciting and interesting, but this movie does not deliver any strong message, nor does it succeed to damn war as evil, or nor does it teach us any lesson at all. It is seen as a brisk, but shallow attempt of early film film-making, dire and failed. Kubrick did not persuade us that war is evil, the general ennui and detached air did not help us feel any bonds to main heroes, and even great final scene failed to cement the film reputation. Overrated, boring and zany at places.