The Way Back

Directed by: Peter Weir
UK release: 24 December 2010
US release: 11 January 2011 (limited)
Starring: Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris, Colin Farrell, Mark Strong, Saoirse Ronan



IMDB page

She said:

I am not sure I was fully prepared for how epic this film was. And boy, was it epic in every sense of the word. You see James and I had originally intended to watch Burlesque but, due to the cinema being stupid, that film had been taken off a day early for some Russell Crowe film preview (The Next Three Days) . So we decided to see The Way Back, and despite being as far removed as possible from the glitz and glam of a musical I for one am really glad we saw it.

It is a talent to make a film such as this I think; a film that is so long, extreme and unforgiving without ever boring the audience. In fact this was exactly what the film needed to keep the audience gripped. There was very little music emphasising the vastness, the solitude and isolation of the group of fugitives. It's a cliche but I felt like I was on this journey with them - I even felt thirsty when they were in the desert!

My only real gripe with the film was that some parts were almost skipped over. Yes, I felt that a run time of 133 minutes was not enough. I guess it is testament to the pacing of the film that I didn't get board after the first 1000 miles. This would have made a really interesting television series, but then of course no one would take on a TV show with that big a budget... well maybe Fox, but they'd only cancel it at season 2.

Better than I was expecting and fantastically made (Oscar nomination perhaps) but not the sort of film I'd watch over and over. I give this film {{{4 out of 5}}}

He said
Every once in a while a film takes me completely by surprise. Helen and I have seen nearly two hundred films in the past year and a half and I can count on one hand how many completely took my breath away. I am happy to say that The Way Back is that type of film.

Director Peter Weir has been more or less absent from the public eye over the last seven years, Master and Commander was released nearly 8 years ago and the much better known Truman show was released five years before that. Weir has proven here that his ability to tell an epic story is as finely honed as ever.

While I do think that Weir deserves a Best Director Oscar nod at the very least I really don't feel that any of the actors stood out any more than their costars. The film is completely believable from start to finish but I can't think of any one moment where I thought Oscar performance. It is a compliment to all of the actors that I never struggled to believe their characters reality.

This is a film worth seeing in theatres as the setting and locations are as beautiful as they are epic, but as Helen has said above The Way Back is not a film that invokes an impulse to watch it again any time soon. I give this film {{{4 out of 5}}}

They said:
We both secretly hope that there will be an extended version released when this film hits DVD as there are a few portions that seem to be completely missing from the theatrical version. This is a wonderful and epic film about the journey of seven men that chose to risk dying free instead of living as prisoners. We give it [[[8 out of 10]]]

QUESTION FOR THE COMMENTS: WHAT 'TRUE STORY' INSPIRED FILM IS YOUR FAVOURITE?

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole

Directed by Zack Snyder
Starring Helen Mirren, Hugo Weaving, Jim Sturgess, Geoffery Rush, Sam Neil



IMDB LINK

He said:

If I am completely honest I have very little to say about this film. It wasn't a terrible film, and the animation was absolutely stunning. I honestly think if the concept had been so far fetched, I might have almost convinced myself that this was a live action film instead of a computer generated one.

This film is a bit more violent than I thought was appropriate for a film aimed at an audience of pre adolescent children. This is a Zack Snyder film, and it has his signature on nearly every battle scene, of which there are many.

The real issue I have with this film is that though it had a fair amount of action, the pace never seemed to pick up. I don't think this is a bad film, it just really wasn't one that I enjoyed. I give this film {{{2 out of 5}}}

She said:

My views on this film are pretty similar to what James has already said. I felt myself a little disappointed at the end of the film that it didn't quite live up to expectations. I can't really place my finger on what the problem was but the makers just didn't quite pull it off. The story wasn't bad and gives scope for sequels but I think they tried to complicate something that should have been simple.

The animation was the film's saving grace. If you are a fan of the art behind computer animation then you will really appreciated this film. The owls were fantastic and, as James said, they were so lifelike they could have been the real thing. It is a marvel how animation has developed over the last 15 years - if you said to the creators of Toy Story back in 1995 to create a programme for owl feathers in torrential rain they would probably run away screaming.

I have to admit that I fell asleep during this film, which I don't often do. I am taking that as a sign it is a tad on the lengthy side. I wouldn't mind watching it again on DVD but I won't be rushing out to the shops to pre-order just yet. I give this film {{{2.5 out of 5}}}

They said:
We both agree that despite the fantastic artwork this film left us rather disinterested by the final frame. Probably worth a watch but not to be raved over, we give this film {{{4.5 out of 10}}}


Question time: Have you seen a film that left you feeling lukewarm recently? Tell us about it in the comments!