Brian Thibodeau

I'm paraphrasing here because I suck at telling jokes, but there was a funny bit on England's NOT THE NINE O'CLOCK news (a funny sketch program from the very early 80's) that said that after having been late for the first two World Wars, the Americans were determined to be much more punctual the third time around!

Critics say they just kept picking the wrong wars, but it looks like they may have got it right this time, but again the war had to be brought to them. Whatever the case, the environment has been created in which jingoistic war movies should fare quiet well, whether or not they stick to the facts.

Jason_Els

They did the same thing for Master and Commander by making the Americans into the French with the "everyone hates them anyway" -thinking at work. I hope this article isn't correct but I'm sure there are so many Americans completely ignorant of history that they won't even notice the film will be inaccurate. And that's sad.

I watched a wonderful show done by the BBC (I think) that put a modern-day English family "in the war" by forcing them to live on war rations and essentially living as though it was during the war years. The hardships these people faced were frightening. Bad food, little fuel, no new clothes, no cars, and the father off at war. It really opened my eyes to just how difficult things were in Britain and only increased my admiration for the people who endured it. Mrs. Miniver may have had a secret stash of cosmetics and clothes but the vast majority of Brits didn't.

I don't think historical distortions do anything for films like this. Thinking of Master and Commander or The Patriot, the distortions really don't add anything to the story other than the idea that doing so will increase their appeal to American audiences who won't know what's true or not.

I hope that this film doesn't dishonor those who sacrificed so much to hold on to their freedoms.

For beauty is only a step removed from a burning terror we barely sustain, and we worship it for the graceful sublimity with which it disdains to consume us. - Rainer Maria Rilke

My DVD Collection

Joe Szott

Unfortunately, most of our "history" books were originally written for entertainment, as are all books. The line between history and reality will always be blurry, and should be. Many times the amount of credibility a depiction gains is much more influenced by the believabiilty and desire to belive the account than the actual facts. This compounded by the old adage, "the winners document the event" pretty much guarantees that what we read is never truly accurate past the last 100 years.

If you don't believe it take a peek at the life of Richard III, you might be surprised at just how much a talented writer can warp "history".

Steve Schaffer

Rant against Brit chauvinism deleted.

Steve S.
I prefer not to push the subwoofers until they\'re properly run in.