Elia Kazan’s and John Steinbeck’s Viva Zapata! features Marlon Brando in a charismatic, if mostly fictional, portrayal of the famous Mexican revolutionary leader.
Back to 1942 is an epic that tells the story of China’s devastating wartime famine. beautifully filmed and with a large budget, the film is sprawling, but fails to strike an emotional note, perhaps due to it overreaching sense of scope.
This classic 1963 World War II adventure film features one of the greatest chase scenes ever, courtesy of the inimitable Steve McQueen. The cast of who’s who actors and high quality of the story makes it the perfect Father’s Day gift.
This cloak and dagger mini-series from the BBC set in the years leading up to World War II is richly filmed, but poorly executed.
![A Man Escaped [Criterion Collection] Blu-ray Review](http://cdn.blu-raydefinition.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/a-man-escaped-criterion-blu-ray-cover-thumb.jpg)
Director Robert Bresson creates an effective, grim, yet inspirational film about prison life in occupied France during World War II. Economy of dialogue and cinematography provide the proper amount of tension. The efforts of the Criterion Collection archivists result in a quite watchable restoration.
![Army of Shadows [StudioCanal Collection] [UK] Blu-ray Review](http://cdn.blu-raydefinition.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/army-of-shadows-SCC-uk-blu-ray-cover-thumb.jpg)
Mellville’s wartime thriller about French Resistance comes to Blu-ray in the UK in a wonderfully restored edition from StudioCanal Collection.
![Ministry of Fear [Criterion Collection] Blu-ray Review](http://cdn.blu-raydefinition.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/ministry-of-fear-criterion-blu-ray-cover-thumb.jpg)
A classic WW II film noir, the Criterion Collection gives us one of Fritz Lang’s spy thrillers with decent remastering and a good period cast. If not at the top of the heap for this genre, it remains an engaging watch.
Company of Heroes is a straightforward World War II action film with a somewhat contrived plot, but it will probably still appeal to folks who like all-out action flicks.
![Ivan’s Childhood [Criterion Collection] Blu-ray Review](http://cdn.blu-raydefinition.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ivans-childhood-criterion-blu-ray-cover-thumb.jpg)
This 1962 film noir, director Tarkovsky’s debut effort, conveys the grim consequences of war as experienced by a 12-year old boy.The cast and cinematography create a powerful movies that still resonates 50 years later. A must-see for serious film connoisseurs.
Osombie is way over-the-top at times, but is still semi-entertaining for a ‘shut your brain’ off afternoon. If you have nothing better to watch, then give this one a spin for some mindless entertainment.
