DVDs: Sean Connery

While Patton was in the south, pushing through France on the backside of the old Maginot line, Montgomery hit upon an idea to seize a series of bridges across the various rivers that made up the geography of the Low Countries, all the way up to Arnhem, one of the northern-most major bridges across the Rhine, a bridge outside of German territory, but a good jumping-off point for invading northern Germany. His plan won approval, and in one of the largest military operations of the war, a major push was developed to secure the bridges. This had the largest airborne component of any battle in the war, as troops were airlifted and dropped into position around each bridge, charged to hold the bridges until ground forces pushed northward linking up logistic and defensive lines toward each spot.

Operation Market-Garden was actually two operations -Market was the airborne component; Garden was the ground component. It was meant to take the Germans by surprise (which it did) and exploit their disorganisation (which was, sadly for the Allies, not as severe as intelligence predicted). The Allies were stopped short of their primary military objectives (securing an 80-mile corridor of bridges) by some 25-30 miles. Hence the name of the film, derived from the book by Cornelius Ryan, `A Bridge Too Far'.

- Film -
Cornelius Ryan's book was adapted for the screen by writer William Goldman and director Richard Attenborough, a leading director of British cinema, noted for such diverse films as Gandhi (for which he won an Oscar), A Chorus Line, Cry Freedom, and Shadowlands. Attenborough was nominated for a BAFTA directing award for `A Bridge Too Far' in 1978. Attenborough is also well-known in front of the camera, too.

Attenborough brought together a monumental cast for this epic film, worthy of Cecil B. DeMille in scope and size. At just under three hours in length, it is as unrelenting as the combat scenes it depicts. While not matching the graphic realism of films such as `Saving Private Ryan', it nonetheless does a good job at combining a look at grand strategies (from formation to failure), tactical maneuvers, and individual combat situations. The high command in Britain, hoping to capitalise on the continuing disorder in Germany arising from their adjustment to fighting a losing war on two fronts (three, in fact, if one includes Italy), saw the opportunity to strike. Through a series of misfires and misunderstandings, they end up fighting not local police forces (the Netherlands had been spared intense battleground warfare for most of the war, and thus was thought to not contain any real combat-strength troops) but crack Panzer division placed there, essentially on a rest stop before being deployed in more critical areas.

The planning and preparations are realistic, from a look at the intelligence gathering and analysis (these were the days before satellite imagery), the gathering together of equipment and personnel, the execution of the operations, and the demoralising realisation that Operation Market-Garden is not going well. One of the most outstanding scenes involves General Stanislaw Sosabowski (played by Gene Hackman) discussing the operation with his superiors - Sosabowski, a general of the Polish forces in exile in England, distrusts the operation, for good reason, but acquiesces to support the plan. His uneasiness is palpable.

The cinematography is terrific, considering it was done largely without `trick' shots - no helicopter shots, no CGI graphics, no slow motion or composite tricks. The airborne drops are breathtaking, giving the thrill and the danger a realistic tone. The film does not depict glider landings (some of the most dangerous types of drops, and presumably because of this danger, omitted from the filming). The desperation of the men who land without their equipment (or miss the airdrops later due to failed communications) is easily felt - the sense of the waste of war is driven home when one soldier sprints to get some desperately needed supplies that have fallen just outside of the secure zone - being shot by a sniper, the sense of futility is underscored by the breeze blowing soldiers' caps (which was the contents of the supplies for which the soldier paid with his life) drifting away.

The acting is stunning in many instances, but for the most part it is the usual good job rather than outstanding that one might hope for from such an elite group of actors. The music is memorable and appropriate. One drawback is that the editing of the film makes it a bit confusing to keep the various storylines going, particularly if one has studied the sequence of events in World War II history, which, while followed as a pattern, is not adhered to with rigour in the filming.

- Conclusions -
Operation Market-Garden was conceived as a plan to get the troops `home for Christmas', hoping to secure a passage into Germany prior to the winter, to force them into surrender. As history would have it, there were major battles to fight before the war would finish the following summer. This film captures a significant campaign in good format, showing the operational and human aspects in a high relief.

nur ein Starensemble ?      5 von 5 Punkten
"Die Brücke von Arnheim", ein Gedränge heutiger Stars macht diesen Film allein deswegen schon sehenswert, aber auch die Geschehnisse der Kämpfe um die Brücke werden sehr gut wiedergegeben ! Dieser Film gewinnt an Aussagekraft auch durch den außergewöhnlich guten Soundtrack, der es schafft, mit triumphal lauten sowie verlustreich leisen Klängen die Bilder hervorragend zu unterstützen ! Dieses Zusammenspiel und auch das Zeigen von Einzelschicksalen der Soldaten beider Seiten macht den Film zu einem Meisterwerk !

Der Film beginnt auch wie ein Meisterwerk. Den ersten Minuten gelingt es nicht nur, die Stimmung der damaligen Zeit einzufangen, den Glauben an die Lösbarkeit aller Probleme durch moderne Technik, das britische "Stiff Upper Lips", der drohende 1. Weltkrieg am Horizont, der diese Welt schließlich zerstören wird, nein, das alles sieht auch noch schön aus, in dunklen, bedrohlichen Farben, mit schönen und charmanten Helden und diabolischen Bösewichten und einer rasanten Handlung. Auch die Einführung von Oscar Wildes Dorian Gray liefert Raum für ein paar gute Witze und klasse Dialoge.

Aber was passiert dann? Mit einem Ausflug nach Venedig bricht die Dynamik der Story und die Optik des Films völlig zusammen. Der Bösewicht erweist sich als farblos, und die Schauspieler und die Regie leiern nur noch ein übliches Hollywood Ende herunter, offensichtlich ist die Motivation aller Beteiligten auf der Strecke geblieben. Ist der erste Teil noch fünf Sterne wert, muss die zweite Hälfte des Films sich wohl mit einem begnügen.

Wie kommt es zu einem solchen Bruch? Es heißt in der zusätzlichen Dokumentation auf der DVD, dass es in Prag bei den Dreharbeiten wohl einige Probleme gegeben hat, nicht zuletzt durch ein Hochwasser, dass die Produktion wohl in erhebliche Zeit und Geldprobleme gebracht hat. Möglicherweise hat das zu den oben geschilderten Ergebnissen geführt. Manchmal ist die Tragödie hat nicht in einem Film zu finden, sondern in den Umständen seiner Entstehung. Schade.

league of not so extraordinary gentlemen, still fun, barely      3 von 5 Punkten
I love Connery and REALLY wanted to love this film. I can say I sort of liked it...but that is the strongest emotion evoked by the film, outside of confusion. This movie had SO much going for it. A super premise and the promise of a thinking-man's fantasy-adventure flick. I mean I shall watch Connery in anything; he has a handsome and capable cast backing him, some great special effects...but someone needed to give them a road map!!

It was written sharply, with good dialogue sprinkled here and there, and nice touches like the "You may call me Ishmael" the chauffeur. Filmed with rich detail (a little darkly - sometimes you really had a hard time seeing what is happening!). Movie opens in 1899 where London Peelers are being chased by a Tank. Suddenly, the Bank of England is looted. The Brits blame the Germans in "pre war mentality". But we know there is a criminal mastermind with futuristic toys and he is not playing fair. Cut to a man calling himself M (double joke here!) recruiting Allan Quartermaine to head the League. On the team is Mina Harker, the Invisible Man, Dorian Grey, Dr. Jekyll and his alter ego, Captain Nemo and Tom Sawyer. Supposedly, some voodoo witchdoctor cursed Connery, and Africa will never let him die so, he, too share special powers.

While the idea of superheroes from Literature coming together to battle the Phantom (whose real identity is elementary!)is engaging, there is no real set up for it happening - just IS. Maybe they expect you to know from the comics? Well, excuse me, there is a vast audience out there that does not!! From that point on there is not pace, it is pedal to the metal now stop action. The action is filmed great - even the car chase through Venice?? Highways? I presume there was explanation for this that ended up on the cutting room floor.

In the end, you are left going is that all there is? Back to my original point, the seed is much like Young Sherlock Holmes, but there fantasy/fiction merger came to life with such brilliance. Then ending of LEG leaves room for a sequel, sigh, if they do, I hope they rent Young Sherlock Holmes and pinpoint how it is done RIGHT.