This movie took a very simple story with a powerful message, didn't complicate it or draw it out, and the result was a great movie. Great execution -- a 90-minute story told in 90 minutes, without a wasted scene to dilute its point.
One of Kubrick's more accessible films, and mostly riveting to watch. Douglas is phenomenal, but the philosophical questions raised about death, brains, power, sentiment, bravery and cowardice in the face of impossibility are the real stand-out stars of this film.
It's like a Kubrick film for people that don't like Kubrick films.
Intense movie showing the egotistical political atmosphere of the military and how the lower class, non-officers suffer for it. This climate has not changed and still exists. If anything, it's gotten more intense and competitive. Kirk Douglas, as always, does a marvelous job.
Seems to have been taken more seriously than it needs to be. Thought it was a clever, irony-soaked satire that ultimately revealed a power to move, and I disagree with people that call for an extra hour. It's a slim, focused, very well acted, bitterly amusing picture -- a minor gem but not the magnificent work that some seem to think of it as.
Ah, so great to see what a genius can do with 88 minutes - a wonderful, if bleak, anti-war film, told with a brutal but not hopeless humanism. Kirk Douglas is great as always, and the sense of moral outrage he conveys makes you wanna reach into the screen and start pummeling!
The final scene left me a little cold, and felt morally ambiguous - in the sense of confused, not the nice sophisticated sense, but overall it is great.
Would make a fine double feature with The Thin Red Line!
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Unfortunate Synopsis
This movie took a very simple story with a powerful message, didn't complicate it or draw it out, and the result was a great movie. Great execution -- a 90-minute story told in 90 minutes, without a wasted scene to dilute its point.nishithrs
Perfect length, its focused and uplifting.frankqb
One of Kubrick's more accessible films, and mostly riveting to watch. Douglas is phenomenal, but the philosophical questions raised about death, brains, power, sentiment, bravery and cowardice in the face of impossibility are the real stand-out stars of this film.It's like a Kubrick film for people that don't like Kubrick films.
Paulorsadv
Comedy? WTF.ClassicLady
Intense movie showing the egotistical political atmosphere of the military and how the lower class, non-officers suffer for it. This climate has not changed and still exists. If anything, it's gotten more intense and competitive. Kirk Douglas, as always, does a marvelous job.devilsadvocado
That is how you end a film.Rosenrotta
One of the best anti-war films is now on the Imdb comedy list? What the actual F?evildeadthing
Seems to have been taken more seriously than it needs to be. Thought it was a clever, irony-soaked satire that ultimately revealed a power to move, and I disagree with people that call for an extra hour. It's a slim, focused, very well acted, bitterly amusing picture -- a minor gem but not the magnificent work that some seem to think of it as.KaramAkerfeldt
100/10 would watch again so hard.JCS
Very good. The military is more brutal than war perhaps.Dieguito
For me it's the first masterpiece from Kubrick, and definitely the best from Kirk DouglasKaramAkerfeldt
Oh wow.Ralf
Powerful and sublime!dchauvin
The futility and injustice felt throughout is wonderfully intense. Sensational performance from Douglas too.In my view Kubrick's best "narrative driven" film.
Kinchski
Ah, so great to see what a genius can do with 88 minutes - a wonderful, if bleak, anti-war film, told with a brutal but not hopeless humanism. Kirk Douglas is great as always, and the sense of moral outrage he conveys makes you wanna reach into the screen and start pummeling!The final scene left me a little cold, and felt morally ambiguous - in the sense of confused, not the nice sophisticated sense, but overall it is great.
Would make a fine double feature with The Thin Red Line!
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