A beautiful, stunning film...

Rating: 10/10 (14 January 2000)

This film just blew me away. It had me captivated for three hours, which really shocked me.
Don't get me wrong, it's not a flawless picture. It has too many characters and putting stars in small roles just so they can put their names on the poster is kind of annoying. But I am willing to forgive the film, for the poetic narrative and the beyond-all-superlative cinematography. For the performances of the lesser known actors. For the wonderful score. For the fact that it doesn't reek with repulsive patriotism like most other war films. And because it's almost three hours and I didn't get bored for one second.
The film reminds of a lot of Coppola's masterpiece "Apocalypse Now", in that way in which it gives an almost dreamlike feel to war (and by that I mean it's like a surreal nightmare). It shows that there is NOTHING glamorous about war, and that no good can come from it.
It's really hard to describe the film, it's a film that you have to experience to understand. But be forewarned that this film, like almost all good films, is NOT for everyone. If you think "Saving Private Ryan" was the best war film of all time, you'll hate this film, for it actually makes you think on your own.