Paths of Glory (1957) Reviews
- Starring:
- Kirk Douglas, Ralph Meeker, (more)
- Director(s):
- Stanley Kubrick
- Category:
- War
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11 out of 11 people found this review helpful If you want the "same old, same old" type of war movie - skip this one. If you're a fan of thought-provoking, difficult films - this is a can't miss. In other words, if you're a Kubrick fan it'll ... Read More If you want the "same old, same old" type of war movie - skip this one. If you're a fan of thought-provoking, difficult films - this is a can't miss. In other words, if you're a Kubrick fan it'll be right up your alley. Man's inhumanity, the senselessness of war, the terror of warfare, all brought to the screen by one of film's best directors. Also, amazing to see the brilliance of Kubrick - so far ahead of his time. The long tracking shots through the trenches, the ultimately impossible attack on "The Anthill," the execution march - all look quite contemporary for a film that is nearly 50 years old. Nothing new for Kubrick, though - look how great the outer space shots in "2001" still look today. And then there's the song at the end. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
7 out of 8 people found this review helpful the events in this movie are chilling and highly disturbing. a company of soldiers refuse to perform a suicide mission and the french general decides to make an example of them by having a joke of a ... Read More the events in this movie are chilling and highly disturbing. a company of soldiers refuse to perform a suicide mission and the french general decides to make an example of them by having a joke of a trial and firing squad. the fact that this is a true story is even more disturbing. kirk douglas gives a good performance as the commander of the company who comes to their legal defense. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful A good, gritty war movie ruined with ridiculous plot twists and bias out the wazoo. This otherwise interesting film is an early Kubrick attempt that wants you to really, really know that the common ... Read More A good, gritty war movie ruined with ridiculous plot twists and bias out the wazoo. This otherwise interesting film is an early Kubrick attempt that wants you to really, really know that the common enlisted man is innocent, noble and good, but that the military, the military's officers, and all governments (here, played by the French government) are bad, bad, bad. Worse, many people actually believe this film and book is a true story, but it is not. The real significance of this film is that in the wake of the McCarthy hearings and blacklist scandals, Hollywood declared its own war on the military and government in general, and this movie is one of the early payback shots at the government (government always depicted in film as evil, untruthful, conspiratorial and bad) and this legacy is still with us in almost every paranoid left Hollywood film today. Heck, Robert Redford has dedicated his whole film career to this theme.. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful Again the supremacy of the oldies!! This was a tour de force by Kirk
Douglas as well as some of the other characters in a defining
drama of how it really was..no punches pulled. Like the much ... Read More Again the supremacy of the oldies!! This was a tour de force by Kirk
Douglas as well as some of the other characters in a defining
drama of how it really was..no punches pulled. Like the much later
Saving Private Ryan,this tells it like it was also...some of the supporting
cast were equally memorable..4 stars! Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful Sitting down to watch Paths of Glory, I had no idea what this film was about. I assumed it would be your average "go get 'em" war movie with victory saved for the heroes. Instead, what I saw was a ... Read More Sitting down to watch Paths of Glory, I had no idea what this film was about. I assumed it would be your average "go get 'em" war movie with victory saved for the heroes. Instead, what I saw was a dramatic film with intriguing characters who each in their own way stir some sort of reaction, whether it be admiration, disdain, or a sort of pity or regret in their flawed humanity.
No matter how you slice it, this movie is worth watching. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful Basically a morality tale about the compromises people are willing to make in the greedy quest for glory. Kubrick's style is clearly expressed. Kubrick fans and anyone looking for a meaningful ... Read More Basically a morality tale about the compromises people are willing to make in the greedy quest for glory. Kubrick's style is clearly expressed. Kubrick fans and anyone looking for a meaningful movie will enjoy this. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful A profound antiwar movie at its best. Who, today, could produce such a fast-paced drama? Not Hollywood, that's for sure. No gore, raw sex, and none of the staples Hollywood needs by today's standards ... Read More A profound antiwar movie at its best. Who, today, could produce such a fast-paced drama? Not Hollywood, that's for sure. No gore, raw sex, and none of the staples Hollywood needs by today's standards to keep the audience watching. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
4 out of 14 people found this review helpful Apparently during the fifties Kirk Douglas wanted to make "meaningful films". You know the kind of films I'm talking about: slow, boring and pointless. Kirk went on to make more exciting and ... Read More Apparently during the fifties Kirk Douglas wanted to make "meaningful films". You know the kind of films I'm talking about: slow, boring and pointless. Kirk went on to make more exciting and entertaining movies. Skip this film and watch 'Tough Guys' or 'Spartacus' cause this one is dreadful. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No |
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