So, best Malayan movie I have ever seen, but in comparison to the world of Military action flicks, it is definitely only in the Top 100.
The character development is not really distinctive and the characters' motivation does not reach beyond honour, believe, tradition and greed.
Nonetheless, if you are a fan of the display of military equipment and apparently kind of realistic combat scenarios of elite military units, I can definitely recommend this movie - but the knife fight at the end was not really necessary to be honest.
But I always enjoy military action movies where the soldiers do not act like Rambo and stay calm and composed during fire fights - and use their vast variety of awesome equipment.
So definitely worth a watch - simply do not expect a breathtaking experience!
Reviews
6 Reviews
The Great Battle
(2018)
Middle Earth battle in Asia
20 February 2021
The title exactly describes this movie: A great battle.
While watching, you definitely will be reminded of great battles scenes from Middle Earth (but obviously without mythical creatures) like Helm's Deep or Minas Tirith. Perhaps you also get a small feeling of being in Jerusalem during Kingdom's Heaven.
A charismatic cast of characters with somewhat unique personalities ( look out for the Gimli-Legolas friendship), a small defence army fighting a nearly hopeless fight against an overwhelming number of attackers, a plot which serves the needs of such a movie, an atmospheric score and - of course - great and diverse battle scenes with many bad dass moments.
Do not expect big history accuracy - but honestly I think this was also never attempted or wanted - and you should also not look for a historic depiction in such a movie.
Overall, a war movie worth watching if you know what to expect and if you sometimes just want to see spectacular fight scenes with a nice and easy to follow story in Asia.
While watching, you definitely will be reminded of great battles scenes from Middle Earth (but obviously without mythical creatures) like Helm's Deep or Minas Tirith. Perhaps you also get a small feeling of being in Jerusalem during Kingdom's Heaven.
A charismatic cast of characters with somewhat unique personalities ( look out for the Gimli-Legolas friendship), a small defence army fighting a nearly hopeless fight against an overwhelming number of attackers, a plot which serves the needs of such a movie, an atmospheric score and - of course - great and diverse battle scenes with many bad dass moments.
Do not expect big history accuracy - but honestly I think this was also never attempted or wanted - and you should also not look for a historic depiction in such a movie.
Overall, a war movie worth watching if you know what to expect and if you sometimes just want to see spectacular fight scenes with a nice and easy to follow story in Asia.
Battle Ground
(2013)
It just did not connect
18 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Well, thank you for trying - but this movie just does not connect with me.
Good opening showing the horror of trench warfare and the senseless wave of attacks. But besides these few minutes I was absolutely not impressed with the rest.
The fate of the three stranded men did not really interest me, characterisation was too stereotypical. The young guy being scared and a coward but finds courage in the end/the Germans being pure evil/the commander who does not care about a soldiers life ...
And do not get me started about the emotionless and useless subplot of the wive at home being pregnant. Who could have thought that this abortion by an untrained nurse could ever go wrong?
I always value the attempt behind low-budget movies, but this time all the close-ups do not cover the fact, that a larger scale was simply not achievable.
Oh, and the last nail in the coffin was definitely the scene where German troops leave their lines into No Mans Land to kill these 3! men, although they mentioned and saw the British snipers overlooking said area - so obviously stupid to create tension!
Good opening showing the horror of trench warfare and the senseless wave of attacks. But besides these few minutes I was absolutely not impressed with the rest.
The fate of the three stranded men did not really interest me, characterisation was too stereotypical. The young guy being scared and a coward but finds courage in the end/the Germans being pure evil/the commander who does not care about a soldiers life ...
And do not get me started about the emotionless and useless subplot of the wive at home being pregnant. Who could have thought that this abortion by an untrained nurse could ever go wrong?
I always value the attempt behind low-budget movies, but this time all the close-ups do not cover the fact, that a larger scale was simply not achievable.
Oh, and the last nail in the coffin was definitely the scene where German troops leave their lines into No Mans Land to kill these 3! men, although they mentioned and saw the British snipers overlooking said area - so obviously stupid to create tension!
9/10 for this Action Spectacle
18 February 2021
The only point of criticism: Do not expect a deep, meaningful or complex story!
Accept and enjoy the movie for what it is: An amazing action flick with great cinematography and diverse fight choreographies!
Close combat knife fights, shoot-outs, fight scenes with trained dogs, a motorcycle pursuit - many of these with amazingly choreographed one-shot takes. Do also turn up the volume and listen to this blasting soundtrack!
Oh, and lastly, fights with Yayan Ruhian & Cecelia Rahman (The Raid 1/2) never fail to amaze me!
Watch this flick if you love a "not-too-serious" action blockbuster with great, badass choreographies!
Accept and enjoy the movie for what it is: An amazing action flick with great cinematography and diverse fight choreographies!
Close combat knife fights, shoot-outs, fight scenes with trained dogs, a motorcycle pursuit - many of these with amazingly choreographed one-shot takes. Do also turn up the volume and listen to this blasting soundtrack!
Oh, and lastly, fights with Yayan Ruhian & Cecelia Rahman (The Raid 1/2) never fail to amaze me!
Watch this flick if you love a "not-too-serious" action blockbuster with great, badass choreographies!
Mosul
(I) (2019)
It is a must-see experience!
17 February 2021
I am deeply impressed by this movie for several reasons.
This movie succeeds in conveying the true horror and struggle of the war on IS for the locals - but not by using famous actors, over-the-top stylish action scenes, western "Good vs. Bad" morals or anything Hollywood usually does.
A simple (and partially real) plot, atmospheric score, an authentic look and feel and, most importantly, no "cool" choreographed fight scenes. War is frightening, chaotic and terrible, mistakes are being made, moral codes are blurred and innocent people getting harmed and killed just because they are at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Mosul simply depicts these things - and from my point of view (as a lucky guy from Germany) helps to understand a bit better the sheer terror in some areas of the Middle East.... Without the obligatory Hollywood Western Army strolling in and saving the day in the end...
Watch this movie and really focus on it - oh, and you should try to watch the movie in Arabic with the according subtitles as you will be emerged even more.
This movie succeeds in conveying the true horror and struggle of the war on IS for the locals - but not by using famous actors, over-the-top stylish action scenes, western "Good vs. Bad" morals or anything Hollywood usually does.
A simple (and partially real) plot, atmospheric score, an authentic look and feel and, most importantly, no "cool" choreographed fight scenes. War is frightening, chaotic and terrible, mistakes are being made, moral codes are blurred and innocent people getting harmed and killed just because they are at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Mosul simply depicts these things - and from my point of view (as a lucky guy from Germany) helps to understand a bit better the sheer terror in some areas of the Middle East.... Without the obligatory Hollywood Western Army strolling in and saving the day in the end...
Watch this movie and really focus on it - oh, and you should try to watch the movie in Arabic with the according subtitles as you will be emerged even more.
Outside the Wire
(2021)
Watch & Forget
17 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Well, I have seen better acting, better scripts, better action scenes and better twists.
There are movies, which are worse - but definitely a lot of better movies out there.
Once more, our beloved USA is there to protect us all from the bad Russians...all mixed in with a rogue human/robot, nuclear danger and some badly done Asimov "twist". And of course, a Happy End!
Do not watch this movie, if you are planning on doing a movie night and focusing on the movie. Watch this movie, if you do not want to focus on it and i.e. use your phone every 10-15 minutes...
But (and I am really trying here) in order to finish with something positive...the few explosions due to drone fire look okay-ish and the robot warriors are also kind of well-designed
Once more, our beloved USA is there to protect us all from the bad Russians...all mixed in with a rogue human/robot, nuclear danger and some badly done Asimov "twist". And of course, a Happy End!
Do not watch this movie, if you are planning on doing a movie night and focusing on the movie. Watch this movie, if you do not want to focus on it and i.e. use your phone every 10-15 minutes...
But (and I am really trying here) in order to finish with something positive...the few explosions due to drone fire look okay-ish and the robot warriors are also kind of well-designed
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