Yet another movie I knew nothing about. Based on the picture on the DVD, I figured out it was a war movie. And during the opening credits, finding out Lee Marvin and Mark Hamill were in it...I was definitely skeptical. War movie + B list actors = not boding well for viewing pleasure.
As I was watching this movie, I was trying to figure out for the life of me, why it is on the list. There was no famous director. The cinematography was just okay. So I was a bit perplexed.
After having read Roger Ebert's review of the movie I think I have it figured out. (Not before I actually emailed Mr. Ebert to find out why...as of press time I haven't heard back from him.) In the last line of the aforementioned review, he said: '"A" war movies are about War, but "B" war movies are about soldiers'. And I believe that is true. Not having seen many war movies (not really my favourite genre) I don't have many to compare to. The only one I can compare it to is 'Apocalypse Now'. And his sentiment rings true. 'Apocalypse Now' is definitely about the war - about the grittiness and the goriness and the anarchy of war. 'The Big Red One' is about the soldiers and how they cope with the war. So this was a good contrast in takes on a similar subject (even though one is about Vietnam and the other is about World War II).
Was it the best movie ever, no. Having watched it though, I am glad it was on the list.
One word to describe 'The Big Red One': Endearing.
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