Epic escape movie

Rating: 9/10 (7 December 2013)

This movie is based on real life story . For dramatic purposes some things were changed , yet it isn't a complete fiction . The movie manages to be both entertainment and a honest tribute to the real-life prisoners.
The cast includes stars like Steve McQueen , James Gardner , Charles Bronson , Richard Attenbourgh and James Coburn. No Oscar worthy performances here , but more than solid team work makes it a pleasure to watch . Each character has got it's own personality and is memorable. The dialogues are full with sly sense of humor ("There's a madness in this method" , "I'm watching him. I'm a lifeguard") . The whole movie is full of gentle and effective humor ( for example McQueen and stolen keys , McQueen and potatoes) . The screenplay is good , with believable and clever solutions to problems of prisoners (What to do with the sand ? ) .
This movie is a war comedy , yet it has a heart. The movie becomes more and more serious the closer the end . Unlike most of today's Hollywood movies the drama here is connected with the comedy completely naturally."The Great escape" isn't a depressing drama , but it never forgets about the humanity of it's heroes . There is fear , loss and paranoia here too. There are two really heartbreaking scenes here – the motorbike chase and the sacrifice of one of the prisoners . In the end the movie asks important question – was it worth it ? It REALLY depends on your point of view.
A true classic. Epic in it's length (2 hours 42 minutes) , yet never boring . Satisfying both as entertaining comedy and drama. I give it 9/10.