daoldiges I was drawn to this film because of the combination 3-D and real life story/actors/war theme but was ultimately disappointed. It was kind of interesting and I do appreciate it for what is was going for but unless you have a specific interest in this type of project it is not required viewing.

Robert J. Maxwell This movie follows "Pork Chop Hill" in its description of an undermanned unit trying to complete its mission during the last days of the Korean War. It follows it in every other sense too.The actors are actual soldiers who are playing themselves, except for the KIAs. The writers have done their best to impose the usual stereotypes on the genuine guys but it's all kind of obvious -- the wisecracker, the jinx. No Texas braggarts or Brooklyn Jews. Probably not for lack of trying in the casting department but just because none were actually in the patrol. Or maybe one of the real troopers who had good taste simply refused to lie wounded on the ground and tell the others to forget about him and save themselves.The special effects are nothing special, the tension minimal, like the acting. I found the story line a little confusing at time but maybe because I had periods of microsleep. The ending is customary. The platoon of volunteers discovers a horde of Chinese soldiers marching along, calls in air support, and F-84s blow the "Chinks" into so much dim sum.I notice on the internet that the word "fail" is coming to be used to carry an unusual morphemic baggage -- a noun, as in "GREATEST WAR FAILS." This isn't the greatest fail but it's one of them.

Theo Robertson The Korean War 1950-53 was one of the bloodiest conflicts of the 20th Century but quickly became known as " The Forgotten War " Much of this is down to the fact that it took place between the Second World War and The Vietnam War . In the 1950s everyone used the different theaters of conflict of the second world war to make both anti-war and pro-war statements . By the time Robert Altman sussed out black comedy could be used as a theme for the conflict in MASH and that film and its subsequent long running TV series were already seen as metaphors for Vietnam . Indeed it's a common mistake but a popular one that MASH is set during the Vietnam War of the 1960s . The Korean War remains the Forgotten War This docudrama entitled CEASE FIRE sets out to show the war as it was and its realism is its selling point and casts real soldiers playing themselves . It's a noble effort but one that's doomed to failure . As my fellow IMDb members on this page who have taken the time and trouble to write a comment both are in agreement that in order to be so convincing it ends up becoming unconvincing . The problem is the actors who aren't actors at all but soldiers playing themselves are unable to put any dramatic emphasis in to their lines and this is a constant distraction to the movie . The war was categorized by if not outright victory being within sight then at least an armistice of sorts , only for another series of bloody battles being fought which became indicative of the conflict . CEASE FIRE tries to emphasise this cruel feature where hopes are quickly dashed but constant stilted and wooden delivery by the cast means much of the drama is lost as is audience involvement . It's a glorious defeat by the film makers but a defeat nevertheless

Homer900 I watch most war movies that come along (save for the retched Pearl Harbor and Windtalkers, but that is another review) when I caught this on the OLD American Movie Classics several years ago.In many ways, it was like watching a train wreck; you can't keep your eyes off of it. However, when you realize that the filming was actually done in Korea, just shortly before and just after the cease fire andin Korea, you find yourself mesmerized.After the credits rolled, you found out that all the characters were the actual officers and men of this squad.What stood out was the bad acting, very stiff "readings" (if you want to call it that) but at the same time, according to the host afterward, the actors ad-libbed a great deal of their dialog.The other thing that stood out was the weapons firing. They were using LIVE ammunition and it shows. The sound of the guns and the recoils are something that cannot be faked.It is not the greatest of war movies, but it is noteworthy in that it was filmed during war time as a production and not a straight documentary.