cyber_bear Some of this movie is based on fact (in spite of what some others have said in their reviews, there was 'some' effort put into researching historical facts for this movie - there are of course historical inaccuracies).The smashing of records did actually happen (unlike the mini-series, in real life it wasn't a map in it, it was German money and Identification cards) as recorded in Pat Reid's book 'Colditz: The Colditz Story' (Pat Reid was the escape officer at Colditz and successfully escaped himself). According to the book, one POW tripped smashing a record that contained the money and identification cards and then the POW's smashed the rest only to find it was the only one.The TV series (1972-74) was largely based on Pat Reid's book and he was a consultant on the TV Series. He died in 1990 so wasn't available for this movie (and might even be rolling in his grave a little).The mini-series is loosely based on the book by Henry Chancellor 'Colditz: The Definitive History'. This mini-series however is only half about what happens inside Colditz and it's escapes. The other half is a story of a love triangle. The main problem with this, is it is an old story that's been told a thousand times before. (ie guy falls for his friends girl and moves in on her whilst his friend is away).Those after a nice gritty escape from Colditz castle saga are better off watching the TV Series from the 70's which is much more historically accurate and doesn't have the cheesy love triangle story in it (it does have a back story for David McCullum's character involving his young wife whom he very dearly misses and wants to get back to - scenes involving her back in the UK break up the grittiness of the rest of the series a little to stop it (the grittiness) becoming over whelming).The cheesy love triangle story and the 'looseness' around the historical accuracy is what I think ruins it for most viewers (though, from reading the other comments most don't seem to know what is and isn't historically true). Oh, regarding the escape of Sawyer in this mini- series that someone questioned. There was an attempt by an escapee to get out as a tradesman in real life. The escapee was caught and the Germans took photos of the escapee and the tradesman so they could tell them apart.The good points to this is that it was well acted, well directed, the locations (though in the Czech republic and NOT Germany) were good and the cinematography etc was well done. Damien Lewis in particular was very good. This makes it enjoyable as a movie provided you 1. can handle the love triangle (where the worst story line is but some of the best acting is), and 2. can excuse the historic inaccuracies in the movie (provided you actually know what is and what isn't). The movie never claimed to be 'historically accurate' in its defense.

gradyharp Colditz is a castle near Leipzig where during WW II the Nazis held Allied troops who were particularly at risk as escape artists. Many of the men had escaped POW camps prior to their incarceration in the huge castle, and the man in charge of the prison warns every new inmate that the castle is impenetrable: there is no possibility of escaping and those who attempt will be killed.The film begins in London 1939 as men are preparing to leave for the front. Among them is a slightly naive but warmly human lad, Jack Rose (Tom Hardy) who has fallen in love with Lizzie (Sophia Myles), in a sweet, innocent union that represents the concept of 'the love we leave behind'. Jack leaves for duty with fellow soldiers Nicholas McGrade (Damian Lewis) and Tom Willis (Lawrence Fox) and soon they are captured by the Nazis and placed in a POW camp. Of course, being cunning lads, they soon escape only to be captured again and sent to the ominous Colditz - all except Nick. There they bond with men from home such as artist Sawyer (Guy Henry) and from other countries including France and Canada - among them Rhett Barker (Jason Priestly) who is a manipulator able to buy goods from Nazi guards including drugs to which he is addicted.Nick is sent back to London where he meets Lizzie to tell her of Jack's safety. In time the two feel an attraction that proves to have fatal consequences because of Nick's obsession to have Lizzie to himself. Meanwhile the men in Colditz attempt multiple escapes only to be caught each time and put into solitary confinement. The drive to escape is aided by all of the inmates and yet their efforts are thwarted by colleagues turned informers for their own selfish needs. Artist Sawyer does escape and is assigned in London with the Intelligence outfit with Nick: he learns that supposedly Jack has been reported as killed in action (a letter forged by Nick to gain access to Lizzie's emotions) and the remainder of the story concerns the end of the war, the release of the prisoners from Colditz, and the fatal schism between the returning Jack and his rival Nick over the love of Lizzie.Director Stuart Orme manages to keep the pace of this over three hour long film, allowing the viewer to meet and understand and care about a very large cast of characters (writers Richard Cottan and Peter Morgan have created deft personalities). Filmed in London and the Czech Republic the atmosphere is correctly captured and the large cast of characters includes many very fine cameos. If there is a single message to summarize a complex story, it is the old adage 'brothers in arms, rivals in love'. This made for television miniseries is well acted and is another opportunity to see the background stories of World War II. Recommended viewing. Grady Harp

gjwhite65 I'd wish some directors stopped taking the liberty of making a parody of history ( except comedies of course),never mind the performance of actors, locations etc.While I understand the need for drama and romance we all have a duty with the truth. Many POWS were imprisoned in Colditz, they were there for a reason: attempting to escape on several occasions showing an extraordinary resilience, stamina, and sense of duty.Yet the film does its best to soil their memory in the mind of the people who do not know any better.As far as I remember nowhere in the credits the director has the honesty of saying that the story is fiction. LEST WE FORGET.

Libretio COLDITZ Aspect ratio: 1.78:1Sound format: Dolby Digital(2 episodes)A desperate POW (Tom Hardy) plots escape from Colditz after learning that a former inmate (Damian Lewis) has returned to London and stolen Hardy's fiancée (Sophia Myles).Lively addition to the 'heroes of WWII' subgenre, filmed on location in London and the Czech Republic, and directed with cinematic flair by Stuart Orme (THE PUPPET MASTERS). Richard Cottan's screenplay (co-written with Peter Morgan, based on the book by Henry Chancellor and the 2000 TV series "Escape from Colditz") cross-cuts between events at Colditz castle - where Hardy and fellow inmate Laurence Fox (DEATHWATCH) hatch multiple escape plans, only to be thwarted by a combination of bad luck and reckless bravado - and the less-interesting relationship which develops between Lewis and Myles, though the two plot threads merge neatly for a melodramatic finale. Lewis gives the showiest performance, playing a selfish character whose charming demeanor masks a propensity for greed and violence, though Hardy and Fox are suitably intense in crucial supporting roles. James Fox (father of Laurence) and Timothy West make extended cameo appearances as senior members of MI9, while former teen heartthrob Jason Priestley plays a Canadian POW whose burgeoning drug habit pays lethal dividends. Fine cinematography and production values.