A magnificent film about people, framed in a war setting

Rating: 9/10 (25 April 1999)

This is an extraordinarily well-made film in every respect, from script to acting to cinematography to editing to soundtrack. It's not a war movie...it's a poetic story about the souls of young men, framed in a war setting. It's almost 3 hours long, and it is not boring for one minute, though some of the longer battle scenes may give some people battle fatigue.
Easily one of the 100 best films of all time. See it in a theatre, preferably with a real screen and sound system.