Passchendaele the movie

[ghamilt1]

Hi folks;

I just wanted to make you aware of this excellent film which will be hitting theatres in Canada on October 17. Canadian actor/producer Paul Gross 's "Passchendaele". I am including the website which has trailers;

http://www.passchendaelethemovie.com/

I have no idea what kind of press this film is getting outside of Canada, and have no clue if it will appear in theatres world wide. But when it comes out on DVD, WWI buffs will definately want to pick it up. It was debuted at the Toronto Film Festival and had great reviews. At $20 million, it's the biggest film production in Canadian film history and judging by the trailers promises to be an excellent movie. I would love to know what people in other countries think of this as history and as film. So over the next few weeks, if you happen to catch it, please add your comments and criticisms to this thread. Thanks everyone, and Happy Thanksgiving eh! (for Canadians who celebrate a month earlier than our American neighbors)

 

[megroot]

Well at this side at the Ocean we are waiting for this movie.
I have some remarks on this movie....
They forgotten that finally the Belgium's liberated Passchendaele.
There are some shots who are from other movies: The lost Batallion
The Trench
Un long dimanche de fiancailles (the crucifix blowing into pieces).
The most terrible thing is that the love story is disturbing for the whole movie. It gives a to romantic picture of this absolutely horror war.

But, when it comes to this side i gonna look....

Marc

 

[tonydawe]

Hi Glenn,

I'm looking forward to this movie, although I hope the love story doesn't get in the way.

I'm pleased to see Canada finally recognizing its critical role in turning the tide on the Western Front in 1917. I hope the movie is a fitting tribute to the tens of thousands of brave young men who made the ultimate sacrifice at Passchendale.

Wasn't Peter Jackson also working on a WW1 movie?

 

[Jamie Stokes]

Good to see WW1

What with all the WW2 movies, a visitor from another planet would wonder what happened to WW1.....

As for Peter Jackson, news from the rumour mill (year ago or so) was that he was looking at redoing the Dambusters movie......large scale planes, etc...
cheers

 

[ghamilt1]

"I'm looking forward to this movie, although I hope the love story doesn't get in the way."



The film is based on Paul Gross's Grandfathers experiences during WWI, so I'd like to think that the love story angle is just there to get the wife or girlfriend to sit through the movie .

"What with all the WW2 movies, a visitor from another planet would wonder what happened to WW1....."

Well, with most films being produced in the US (Hollywood) it's understandable. WWI doesn't seem to have played that big a role in the development of national identity in the U.S. whereas WW II certainly does. Besides, the clear "good vs evil" nature of the second war lends itself so well to movie making doesn't it. Things would have been different had the U.S. been involved from the begining, or if the American government not pursued isolation after the war, so its certainly conveivable that WWI would have been a much more significant factor in American culture, and we would see far more movies as a result.

The Great War is such an important part of the national conciousness in Commonwealth countries and those countries where the war as fought. It playing a key role in the development of a distinct Canadian identity and sovereignty that it almost overshadows WWII. I'm sure the same can be said for other former British colonies like Australia. It's just that we don't have a multi-billion dollar film industry in Canada...but maybe this is the start! I suppose I should wait until after I see the movie before I make pronouncments like that.

 

[vergilius]

I just hope that the historical thruth isn't too far away. Okay it's a movie and the full thruth would be too much to see but hopefully not too much hollywood. Thank you

 

[Chevalier de Malte]

Looking forward for this one ... personally I still love All quite on the Western Front, the fater of all military films, were the soapy romance does not conflict with brotherhood and horror of war.

Seems to be a good film but I am seeing a lot of hero type story, the horror of the trenches and mud looks not that obvious from the thriller ... for that it makes you want to see it : )

Ivan

 

[ghamilt1]

Hi Ivan and Vergilius;

Like you I am hoping for a great historic movie that shows it like it was, as far as that is possible in the make believe world of movies. I am very glad so many people around the world are looking for this film, and really hope it will be available on a World wide release.

 

[Ulrich]

I agree with Ivan. The original black and white film "All quite on the western front" is one of the best films over WW1. In that film you find no heroes. Only young people who died without sense.

But we will see what the new films shows

Ulrich

 

[vergilius]

I hope it's historical correct , otherwise there will be a lot of men turning around in there graves here in Belgium!

 

[Bluesking]

History will have nothing to do with this movie - it's Titanic 2 - a love story set against a historical event. The war will be wallpaper.

 

[Paul Kernan]

Man, I hope your wrong. It opened here yesterday to favourable reviews. Biased maybe?? Anyway I hope my original theory is correct...the love story is just a very small part of the story to attract the female audience in to an otherwise kick-ass war movie. Whatcha think, am I being too much of an opptimist?

 

[ghamilt1]

I hope so too Paul. I'll find out next Wednesday. That's when I booked about 236 grade 11 and 12 students to see it as part of their Social Studies program at the High School where I teach. It should generate some good discussion no matter what.

 

[ghamilt1]

O.K everyone;
Just got back from viewing the film with a large number of very well behaved students. I thought it was a great movie, but I also think that based upon many of your comments, a good many of you would be disappointed with it. There are some really good things for me to discuss with our students regarding national identity, the homefront, what it was like to live in Canada socially back then. But the movie is a little light in terms of "action" content, so I can see where fans of a good war movie might feel like they've been fooled by the woman in their life into seeing a chick flick. By the way, I am totally going to take the missus to see this, as it is possibly the perfect "date" film. Something for the girls, and something for the guys. It doesn't get better than that. Let me know what you thought if you've happened to see it.

Glenn

 

[tonydawe]

Thanks for the film review Glenn.

Perhaps they should call it Passiondale instead!!

I think I'll wait for it to come out on DVD.

 

[megroot]

Thanks for the film review Glenn.

Perhaps they should call it Passiondale instead!!

I think I'll wait for it to come out on DVD.

And we all know that Passendale was the third battle for Ypres.
So i agree with you Tony to change the title.
I know i can't ask here but i think the movie is not coming this way.
Is it possible to buy me a DVD or a copy for region 2 at that time.

marc

 

[Paul Kernan]

Glenn:

Damn, my worst nightmare realised Talked to a mate last night who had seen it and although strong on the romance side thought overall the movie wasn't bad. He said the battle scenes were very well done. He too liked the theme of colonial fervor progressing to a sense of national identity.

Paul Gross did say he based the movie (especially the battle experience) on the diaries/stories of his grandfather who served in the CEF during the battle. He tried to make the scenes claustophobic and confusing. His grandfather had told him that most soldiers' understanding of a battle extends to about 30m in any direction.

I'll probably still go and see it.

 

[vergilius]

Thanks for the film review Glenn.

Perhaps they should call it Passiondale instead!!

I think I'll wait for it to come out on DVD.

nice one