Fury [Blu-ray] [Region B] [2014]

We watched this for the second time on Saturday. I forgot we had watched it previously some time ago, it is a very good watch and well worth a second viewing.

Great film thanks P&P was fantastic thanks

Fury (2014) Blu Ray, Region B, UK version. Authentic tank battle warfare; correct period clothing and maps. Director David Ayer graphically shows us just how horrific World War 2 was; with the US military particularly savage; no likeable characters, we found, apart from the press-ganged clerk-typist. Pros: cinematography; 2nd unit action choreography, tension; no on-screen sexual assaults; an act of mercy from just one soldier, who happens to be German; US war crimes depicted, music score by Steve Price. Negatives: excessive blood and gore; too much use of the second worst swear word; particularly nasty scene of a lone German soldier having a forced execution, for wearing an American long coat, and shot in the back; denied being taken as a prisoner of war, though begging, he showed photos of his wife and child - speaking in German, which the tank commander speaks fluently. No heroes, so recommended. If you prefer war films with authenticity; some historical accuracy, or based on a real event(s), or life experience of war, I recommend: "Apocalypse Now ReDux" (2000) which is the only version that has the scenes on the French owned plantation, in Vietnam- deleted from the original cut, and "The Final Cut". We hear that at the end of World War 2, President Roosevelt "wanted the French out of Indo-China", that the US supplanted what became the Vietnam Cong"; but incorrectly states the massacre of the French military at Dien Bien Fu was an accident, and involved bad weather. My understanding is that the US Government had an agreement to pay the French with munitions to fight the Vietnamese forces for them, but, later, then abandoned them to their fate in that notorious act of treachery. I do not know of, or believe, French forces, in vain, supported by parachuting to their deaths to die with their fellow Frenchmen! The Thin Red Line"(1998); Platoon (1986); "We Were Soldiers Once"; "Hacksaw Ridge". Also, 2 x documentaries: "The Savage Peace", how German civilians in previously captured territories, were subjected to the same treatment as used by the Nazis, as they were made to walk back to Germany, or imprisoned. "Ho Chi Minh and Uncle Sam", how the US Government refused to engage with the head of North Vietnam, thereby forcing him to request support, and logistical and military assistance, by China. (I have not recommended "Saving Private Ryan" as experts have put on record that it is 90% fantasy, 10% reality. Also, actor Richard Todd, when asked, angrily stated it was "rubbish" and "didn't happen like that!")

War movie. Stand alone. Not a franchise film or a sequel to anything. Not based on any true story. They don't make many films like this anymore. In April 1945, the Nazi war machine was in it's death throes, reduced to forcing children to fight for them. The western allies would occasionally though encounter resistance. And it was very determined resistance when they did. Thus the US army in western europe took almost as many casualties that month as they did in June 1944. Not least because the Nazi's still had much better tanks. Fury takes place within that setting. Loosely based on the battle of Kassel, when the US army did encounter heavy resistance in the area, because it was where Tiger Tanks were made and their crews trained. Exhausted and being drained of manpower, they were in a war that was going to end soon. But not immediately. Brad Pitt plays a veteran Tank Commander nicknamed WarDaddy. Commander of a Sherman tank nicknamed Fury. When one of his crew dies, his replacement is a clerk/typist called Norman. A young man trained not to kill Nazis, but to type sixty words a minute. WarDaddy has no choice but to make sure Norman gets used to his new role. Particularly when the crew face terrible odds and a tricky choice... Those who want to nitpick the film for historical inaccuracies will find plenty of little details to keep them happy. Those who want to complain about Hollywood rewriting history won't, because it's not about that. It's about war being Hell, and soldiers just doing what they can to do their job, and to survive. And there were service veterans from all allied nations on set acting as advisors during shooting, so if they hadn't been happy about anything it portrayed, you can be sure they would have said something. The War is Hell part is like the opening Omaha Beach assault in 'Saving Private Ryan'. Unflinching in it's depiction of what weaponry can do and how fragile human life is in the face of that. Just like the opening to the Spielberg movie, you will find the combat scenes in here to be things you can't look away from. And things that you won't forget in a hurry. One scene involving a tank battle is absolutely one of the most gripping sequences in a film you'll see all year. It takes a very different tone in the middle with a long scene showing an encounter between the crewmembers and two German women in a liberated town. The scene does feel slightly misjudged at times, and perhaps a bit overlong. But it is historically accurate, as veterans do tell tales of how soldiers and civilians, after initial mistrust, did then get on. The cast are all very good. Brad Pitt carries the film effortlessly. Jon Bernthal [Shane from tv's 'the Walking Dead'] makes an impression. And Shia Lebouef does turn in a very mature performance. Some may wish to be aware that a fair bit of the dialogue is in German. With subtitles. These cannot be turned off. The film ends with a long set piece that does require some suspension of disbelief. It does end on a powerful final shot. Yet this sequence does highlight why this isn't quite a five star movie. It just, somehow, doesn't have the emotional connection really required to hit you and make it such. Which is why, as good as many of the character moments are, they just won't stick in the mind as long as the combat scenes will. Still, a film with a lot going for it. In what is a rather rare genre these days. So it's worth judging for yourself. The disc has the following language and subtitle options: Languages: English, French, Russian, Ukranian. Subtitles: English, Arabic, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Greek, Hindi, Icelandic, Norwegian, Portugese, Russian, Swedish. The disc begins with four trailers and one very short advert. All of which can be skipped via the next button on the dvd remote. The trailers all appear again in the previews section of the extras anyhow. The dvd has just one extra: Band of Brothers. A ten minute long feature on the cast meeting war veterans then getting to film in a tank together and bonding as a result. It's on a par with most featurettes these days, in that it's very good viewing if a bit short.

This essentially a story of a teenager who was sent off to war after just 8 weeks training and joined a very small band of soldiers and expected to act like a man, with considerable war experience, immediately. Of course he faced many struggles with his conscience and natural fears but eventually overcame them with the much needed guidance and support from his team leader who genuinely wants and indeed needs him to grow up quick and become a good soldier, albeit via a "cruel to be kind" manner, but it was a much needed lesson. Gradually you see him grow into his "man at war" boots who eventually earned the full respect of his 'Brothers at war'. The ending was sad but not unexpected. RECOMMENDED VIEWING.

An outstanding film

'Fury' is a brutal WWII movie and a snapshot of life as a tanker in the dying days of WWII (1945). David Ayer and everyone involved with the making of the movie deserve credit for making a film that makes you think about the hell and horror of WWII. Ten reasons why I love the movie: 1. Authentic weapons and uniforms were used where possible. 2. Great acting performances from the tank crew and especially Brad Pitt. 3. The chilling portrait painting of Adolf Hitler in one scene speaks a thousand words... 4. The Nazi's MG 42 machine gun was known as the 'bone saw' or 'buzz saw' you'll see why it was such a feared weapon. 5. Wardaddy (Brad Pitt) conjures up some eggs for a meal; in 1945 eggs must have been worth there weight in gold for tired and hungry and exhausted soldiers. What a tremendous comfort and treat it must have been amongst the hellfire and brimstone... 6. The Nazi's were depicted hiding in hedgerows with their weapons etc. They were hardened soldiers having fought in Stalingrad and elsewhere > FURY shows them waiting to strike and pound the allies with 7.5 pak anti-tank weapons. The hedgerow battles were a nightmare In the D-Day aftermath of hell. 7. Bombers are seen flying over obviously on their way to bomb Berlin and Hitlers fortified bunker retreats - Wardaddy say's, 'keep pounding 'em boys'... A profound moment. 8. Trini Garcia 'Gordo' (Michael Pena) tells the story during the meal scene about the German army who were trapped in the Falaise pocket, All based on true facts. The Allies pounded the German 7th army (who were retreating) with air-power including 1,000 bombers, and Typhoon aircraft strikes which caused untold horror...The Germans were caught running scared like rabbits in the headlights trying to escape the carnage. Burnt out tanks and dead horses lay for miles in the hot French summer of 1944...A staggering 10,000 plus Germans were killed. Dante's inferno! 9. Attention to detail is such that a real German TIGER TANK was used in the movie. 10. Leaves the viewer with a profound and poignant experience. So many innocent needless lives were lost during WWII & WWI... It must be said FURY is a WWII movie that stands alongside BAND OF BROTHERS & SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. If you enjoy those movies, then FURY is for you.

brilliant