I consider this a borderline movie; it isn't great, but the atmosphere is actually pretty good. Actually the atmosphere is great. You really get a sense of the gritty, dirty nature of trench warfare... even when the combatants find themselves all alone. There is a good spooky feel to the film, and there really is no clue as to what is really going on until a good chunk of the movie has already happened. While that is usually a frustrating element, I think it really works with the "fog of war" theme that this one portrays. For the look of the film, the real tension that develops, and some decent acting in this British war/horror movie, I could justify pushing this one into the "watch" column.
All that having been said, the story element is where this film suffers. While the cinematography and general feel of the film are perfect, by the time you get to the end, you kind of wonder why anyone bothered: why the characters did what they did... and why someone bothered to fund, produce, direct and act in it once they got to the last few pages of the screenplay. I'm not saying it's terrible, but some of the choices are questionable. The redemptive element of the story in particular is downright laughable, but I guess it works for a high end B-movie. If you like war/horror crossover movies, then you'll probably be ok with this one. Just, don't get your hopes up or you'll walk away feeling a bit disappointed.
Movie to Skip: The Sorcerer's Apprentice
I was a little confused by this movie. I understand that Disney has been trying to cash in on some of their old intellectual property by making movies about cartoons and theme park rides that have been around since Walt was still kickin', but this story was so distant from the Fantasia skit that it's kind of insulting to try to make us think that this movie is somehow tied into that old story. That reason alone should make most of us turn our backs on it and walk away. It's a lame practice, and Disney should know better.
That having been said, the eye candy is there, but the story isn't. Further there jus isn't enough 'hot guy' or 'hot girl' for the teeny-bopper crowd to watch this film in mindless droves either. And frankly, there just isn't enough at stake in this film for young adults or adults to get into it. And I won't even get into the "meh" performance of Nicholas Cage who is fairly handily out-acted by just about everyone else in this silly movie.
I've given this a fairly gnarly review, but it isn't so terrible that it deserves less than three stars, I guess. It just doesn't have much to offer that you can't get somewhere else. But for a family friendly film, I guess it isn't too bad. I just wouldn't recommend it when there are FAR better options for watching films with the family. I think if this had been an animated movie, staring Mickey Mouse, and about a young apprentice working for a powerful wizard... this one would have been a much better film. As it is, not great.
