nammage I'm not one of those who get my history from films (or think I know a book because I saw the film it's based on) but if you're going to put such a tagline at the beginning of a film make sure there's some semblance of truth to it. Fiction from the beginning: 101st Airborne were not at the Malmedy Massacre, did not take place in the massacre and pretty much, in my opinion, insults the mainly 285th Field Artillery Observation Battalion who were. There are little nitpicks, of course, but that's huge. It's like the film U- 571 saying it was the American Navy who got the first Enigma machine when that was total fiction when in fact the HMS Bulldog of Britain's Royal Navy got the first one in 1941, and the US Navy only got one and that was in 1944 well after the British had already cracked the code. That's the biggest problem with American films such as these: they always have to be the heroes but not just the heroes: the first heroes, the ultimate heroes etc., everyone else pales in comparison (I'm American, by the by). There's a difference between being patriotic and just claiming patriotism that was never there to begin with.The only evidential events in this is the battles and places they mention; everything else is speculation and fiction for other purposes. Which is fine but be honest about it, at least. According to the commentary of the film on what actually is true are insignificant things (two guys of the same religion on different sides -- so what? It's like all Nazis were atheists, or something? -- a German POW made his food look like an angel: again: like all Nazis or Waffen-SS etc., were atheists? -- some US soldiers hid under a floor while Germans ate above them. So what? You know how many Jews during the war did that?) This film sure isn't about the Malmedy Massacre because that's that's over in the first five minutes. So, what is this film about? Four (or five) guys try to get to Allied lines without getting captured by the Germans. No. It's not about that. Oh, they got some intelligence by a British pilot they run into and must get that to the allies! No. Not about that, either. So what is it about? It's about the Mormon church (LDS) promoting Mormonism. That's what it's about. Now while it's finely thinned, not directly mentioned it is there and mainly with the main character who carries around his Book of Mormon (not the OT/NT Bible) and attempts to vainly convert another of the four who keeps pushing him away until the very end when he takes it from him at last. No more being a godless heathen atheist but now sees the light and becomes a Mormon, per sé. I'm sure that's the ultimate message.Eh, as an overall film: it wasn't that bad but it gets, at least from me, major points taken away by not displaying the actual battalion because, I feel, that does a disservice to those who not only died but also survived.

nmaypole An extremely well done movie. If you understand that it is loosely based on historical facts then you won't get all hung up on the few inaccuracies. For example, one reviewer objected to the medic carrying a rifle, but in real life medics were known to carry weapons, especially considering the scene where an ambulance crew was killed in the no holds barred German offensive. Medics aren't issued rifles, but are allowed to protect themselves and the wounded. The characters are appealing and their actions/dialog realistic. I was thoroughly entertained even though there were times that the movie was very sad. However, in the end, their goal was achieved and the movie had a nice ending. The only part that bothered me was the way the movie showed the massacre taking place. It showed the shooting starting by accident, when history has pretty much proved that the German unit commander ordered the execution of the American troops because he wouldn't allow his unit to be slowed by POWs. It seems like this war crime was softened to make it more PC. Also of note, if you believe Deacon to be LDS, understand that many missionaries who served in peacetime Germany did pick up fluent German and served in the US army.

thomas-379 I thought this film was very good. What I particularly liked was that this is almost the very first film I have seen where the weapons for each side were accurate. Not M-60 tanks dressed up as Panzers etc. They even had one German soldier with a StG44. Half tracks were correct on the respective sides too. My only minor gripe was that although the guy who played the British Pilot put in a great performance, why didn't they use a real Englishman? The acting was excellent. I saw it for the first time on Neflix. If you are a WW2 buff you will like this film. I'm surprised I never heard of it....maybe I'm not as up on films as I thought!

Christopher Rucinski I was engrossed in this film from the first minute. I am very impressed with Little's avoidance of the stereotypical "All Nazis bad, Allied forces good" non-sense. He does a brilliant job of showing that war has many faces, and tattooed across all those faces is regret - regret that they are they, regret they are not at home with loved ones, regret for what they must do and what they have done.Previous reviewers mention religion, citing this movie sways viewers towards certain belief systems. I did not feel that way at all. Rather, the characters in this film are exposed to such discussion of philosophy to promote acceptance across borders, regardless of uniform. If there's any underlying philosophical message, it's that things happen for a reason, and in war, it is especially important to believe such. It is an attempt to maintain sanity in times of great trauma and hardship.The production and photography was immersing, the film editing and sound design was masterful, and the acting was brave, elicited by a keen director. I'm no expert on WWII, so I'm sure there were some factual errors made on such a modest budget, but I felt for every one of these characters.