Civil War

I never thought I'd be shivering down the spine when I watched this, but with current events across UK the theme of this film is perhaps a bit too close for comfort.America has broken down, with the President ordering F- 16s to attack the revolting masses in USA. Rioters vs. U.S. military endeavour to fight back and survive, the military themselves turning on the White House. All the chaos, disruption and carnage you'd expect from a Civil War. As to WHY this film was made may be a reflection on America's current national psychological crisis. Who would've thought it would translate directly to UK with current events and their dark possibilities ?The film 'Contagion' made 10 years before Covid disturbingly predicts the chaos of that era with alarming accuracy, I only hope this film remains fiction only both in USA and UK.A good film if you're a survivalist prepper on the grim realities of societal breakdown.

A new movie from writer/director Alex Garland. Who did 'Ex Machina'. Among other things. This is a war movie.At some point in the near future, there's a new civil war going on in America. Rebel forces, including both California and Texas, are fighting against the forces of the US President. Two veteran war photojournalists [Kristen Dunst and Wagner Moura] take a rookie one under their wing. Along with another veteran who tags along. Their aim is to get to Washington and get to interview the President before the war ends.Their journey is fraught with a lot of danger and very graphic violence.The lead actors are all great. Despite what some reviews say, this does have a plot. It's as mentioned Get to Washington before the war ends and see the President. So it does have one of those. And the main characters do have character arcs and development along the way.This tries very hard to be realistic. On what was probably not the biggest budget in the world. It does some pretty good work with that. In terms of the devastation you see. It also tries to be realistic in terms of what war is like. There's no gung ho heroics here. It is grim and gritty and brutal and uncompromising, and also very scary with threats of violence at u. You do come away from this thinking that this is what war must really be like. So the film achieves it's aim in that respect.Where it may or may not fall down for people is context. Or lack of it, as you will. Since the war has been in progress for a while when it starts, you're just put in the middle of this America with no explanation of exactly how it got this way. Some find California and Texas working together implausible. But I think the point there is that we should all work together to sort out our problems. So that worked for me.The President though is someone we never get to know. Beyond vague hints of being in a third term, you never get to find out why people have rebelled against him. And he does come over as frankly a very two dimensional caricature. Which is a bit of a pity and doesn't really help.The ending works fine. Although you might have to suspend your disbelief with some of the last ten or so mins in how it gets there.This is pretty memorable film making. I think as can be seen from the reviews it is a bit love or hate. It did work fine for me despite the issues mentioned, and I am glad I gave it a go. Although it didn't stick in the mind after. I would thus say worth a try. So long as you're not expecting gung ho action, because this is certainly not that kind of movie.There are no extras on the dvd.Language and subtitle options:Languages; English.Subtitles: English.

This film seems to divide people, I fall into the ‘loved it’ half as I found it equally compelling and horrific.This is about journalism at its purest, don’t get caught up on why the war started, it doesn’t matter, the film follows those only interested in documenting the conflict.The use of music to disarm and counter the images works so well and so much is portrayed without words.Loved it every time I’ve watched it.

​Starship Troopers for Photojournalists. This is a film about photography, foremost, and some sort of societal critique somewhere down the line. ​The action in the end is well staged, but void. Candidate for worst last words, ​ever? ​As too often the personal relationship between ​an adolescent and a ​self-doubting ​role model figure​ – think shots of ​young protegee gazing into middle distance​, sun setting, etc.– displaces a more interesting story line (like what is actually happening there). time better spent not watching this.

Not my particular cup of tea

I loved this movie. It summed up the feelings going into the last American elections. The story is a simple road movie made extraordinary by the characters on their own journeys and the background dynamic.There are moments of simple filmography catching the moment. Lying in a meadow while people trying to out snipe a sniper. Just a moment focused on a flower. Why don't anyone else in my family rate this movie.

Great DVD very happy thank you !

The plot could have been so much better. For me the movie is not well made at all, I found it extremely boring. I cannot recommend this movie unfortunately.