Saints and Soldiers

GoldenRivet · 10-02-09, 12:14 PM

I watched a movie last night called "Saints and Soldiers" which is based on true events.

Has anyone here seen it or heard of it? It was apparently a straight to DVD release with a budget of less than $800,000 ... Like many straight to DVD films, sadly i had never heard of it, so i find myself watching it for the first time 5 years after release!

Plot synopsis:

A small group of American Infantry escapes during the Malmedy massacre in December of 1944. In the confusion and tension of the moment, one of the American Soldiers manages to get hold of a German Rifle. Their goal now is one of survival as they make their way back to allied lines during the freezing winter weather.

The group of 4 soldiers comes upon a British Recon Pilot with his parachute stuck in a tree. This recon pilot has spotted the gathering of German Armor in the Ardennes and has vital intelligence to deliver to the nearest allied HQ. this information concerns the counter offensive which would become the battle of the bulge. Knowing that the delivery of this information would save thousands of lives only serves to increase the vitality of their trek toward allied lines.

During the course of the film it is revealed that , the main character, a corporal named "Deacon" was a missionary in Berlin some years before the outbreak of war, and he is fluent in German. This only serves to erode the trust the other men have in him when he seems to be a German sympathiser in some of his behavior in some specific situations (which cant be expanded on here for fear of spoilers).

It is also revealed that he is highly religious, and the group's medic more or less insists that there is no God nor any afterlife or point to religion at all.

the two men squabble over their difference of opinion regarding religion in various scenes of the film.

The group of soldiers with their British pilot in tow are now faced with the task of marching 20+ miles in near blizzard conditions, evading German patrols, and surviving against mother nature and the enemy elements with almost no weapons... all the while having their trust for one another eroded by various story line elements.

I thought that this film should have been released in theaters. and im surprised to read indications that it never was released in theaters.

I thought it was a great war movie with a fantastic "human element" present throughout the film.

i give it 4 our of 5 stars... personally, it is not the action packed budget block buster of saving private ryan or flags of our fathers... but it is a fantastic movie for being low budget... i wouldnt hesitate to give this film high marks by ranking it right up there with those other films.

I recommend it if you havnt seen it.

it can be viewed on hulu here

http://www.hulu.com/watch/32278/saints-and-soldiers

(This is not a piracy site of any kind... these films are legally placed on Hulu.com freely by their publishers and producers)

10-02-09, 12:14 PM	#1
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	Saints and Soldiers I watched a movie last night called "Saints and Soldiers" which is based on true events. Has anyone here seen it or heard of it? It was apparently a straight to DVD release with a budget of less than $800,000 ... Like many straight to DVD films, sadly i had never heard of it, so i find myself watching it for the first time 5 years after release! Plot synopsis: A small group of American Infantry escapes during the Malmedy massacre in December of 1944. In the confusion and tension of the moment, one of the American Soldiers manages to get hold of a German Rifle. Their goal now is one of survival as they make their way back to allied lines during the freezing winter weather. The group of 4 soldiers comes upon a British Recon Pilot with his parachute stuck in a tree. This recon pilot has spotted the gathering of German Armor in the Ardennes and has vital intelligence to deliver to the nearest allied HQ. this information concerns the counter offensive which would become the battle of the bulge. Knowing that the delivery of this information would save thousands of lives only serves to increase the vitality of their trek toward allied lines. During the course of the film it is revealed that , the main character, a corporal named "Deacon" was a missionary in Berlin some years before the outbreak of war, and he is fluent in German. This only serves to erode the trust the other men have in him when he seems to be a German sympathiser in some of his behavior in some specific situations (which cant be expanded on here for fear of spoilers). It is also revealed that he is highly religious, and the group's medic more or less insists that there is no God nor any afterlife or point to religion at all. the two men squabble over their difference of opinion regarding religion in various scenes of the film. The group of soldiers with their British pilot in tow are now faced with the task of marching 20+ miles in near blizzard conditions, evading German patrols, and surviving against mother nature and the enemy elements with almost no weapons... all the while having their trust for one another eroded by various story line elements. I thought that this film should have been released in theaters. and im surprised to read indications that it never was released in theaters. I thought it was a great war movie with a fantastic "human element" present throughout the film. i give it 4 our of 5 stars... personally, it is not the action packed budget block buster of saving private ryan or flags of our fathers... but it is a fantastic movie for being low budget... i wouldnt hesitate to give this film high marks by ranking it right up there with those other films. I recommend it if you havnt seen it. it can be viewed on hulu here http://www.hulu.com/watch/32278/saints-and-soldiers (This is not a piracy site of any kind... these films are legally placed on Hulu.com freely by their publishers and producers) __________________