kathrynnsimon Review of General

General (2019–2020)

Great story ruined by poor execution and mediocre directing & acting

[1/10 · 18 December 2019]

As a Croat particullary Dalmatian, and passionate filmophile, I really wanted to watch, like and later suggest, wherever I could, story about most beloved soldier in Croatian war for independence from Yugoslavia. Such a GOOD PREMISE. "General" is real person Ante Gotovina, which had such an extraordinary and rich life (and still going on strong as a tuna fishermen in Dalmatia) and film about him could have been excellent TV serie. And it should be! But, after watchig 1st episode, I'm ashamed now. Great story devastated. I'm sorry that lead actor Goran Visnjic (who had lots of previous Hollywood filming experience) couldn't use few of his contacts to present full potential of the story to some decent studio. I'm definitely positive that reputable or even B production (whatever in USA or EU), would make a blockbuster from rich life stories of hero Ante Gotovina. Producers should sit, watch and learn how masters from Mexican studio did a great job with Narcos. Ante Gotovina learn warfare in South America as a legionarre serving campaignes in French Legion Etrangere, parachute elite corps, after engageing in Croatian war for independence, accused (by international court in Bruxelless "ICTY") then captured in Canary Islands and sentenced to 20 yrs in prison, later disregarded because all of the evidences about rightnesses, honesty and moral. If "General" TV series was directed by Clint Eastwood this would be masterpiece. Instead we got lousy execution, poor story, insane scene jumping, clumsy accents from actors, abysmal logic in ageing from different characters, usage of same actors for different roles, clouds representing persons, boring overacted monologues and dialogues, poorest CGI and awkward SFX, Serbs with desigations from different century, no bloodshed and gore from soldiers, etc. Shallow filming work! I read user reviews on regullarly because they are most sincere and unbiased feedback for movie buff like me, but never before wrote single review (surely was tempted after watching Convenat, but afer all, Convenant was fair maded movie despite of plenty flaws in the script). At the end, I can honestly say, in a great respect to Croatian hero Ante Gotovina, do not watch this crap. Because that is.