Regis Media Review – “1917”

We’ve seen war movies done a million times over at this point. I feel the only way to get people into the theaters for a war movie is by trying to make it explosive and action-packed. Rather, truly great movies tell a gripping story and emphasize the emotional impact war would have on a soldier. The best and most memorable stories are the ones that people identify with. 1917 is one of those stories.

1917 tells the story of two British soldiers (Blake and Schofield) sent to deliver a message that will force them to travel through no man’s land. The distance they travel is nearly abandoned as the British have pushed back the Germans. Their General is determined to continue the pressure, believing this could be their ticket to victory.

The message dispatched to Blake and Schofield contains information that reveals that the Germans actually planned their retreat and are preparing an ambush with much more firepower, capable of taking down the entire battalion of which Corporal Blake’s brother is apart of. The two corporals are ordered to deliver it by sunrise, or else they will lose thousands of British lives.

As a movie fan, 1917 blew my expectations away. I’d put it in the category of unusual surprises I get from time to time. I thought the score was great and added a lot of emotion to the already gripping story being shown. Obviously, the cinematography was the highlight as that was the selling point of the movie. To shoot any movie in a single take is a feat in itself, let alone in the chaos of war. The single take creates an immersive and personal experience that you will not soon forget. The actors did a fantastic job, bringing a special sense of humanity to this unforgettable conflict. The concept of having popular cameos for side characters throughout the movie is a neat addition for anyone who’s a fan of celebrities.

In the spirit of this being a History related topic, here’s what our history teacher Ms. Leeper had to say about this Oscar-winning film:

“A cinematic masterpiece of both technological innovation and historical accuracy. I liked the depictions of trench warfare and felt that the film humanized the experience of soldiers during WW1”