The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

Die Helden erledigen hier die Nazis allzu souverän, ohne einen Hauch von Spannung, dass ihnen etwas zustoßen könnte. Nicht einmal der vermeintlich härteste Gestapo-Mann Til Schweiger bringt etwas Bedrohliches oder Dämonisches zustande. Doch Blut und Messerstiche gibt es in dem Film reichlich, so dass von Familienunterhaltung nicht die Rede sein kann. Außerdem gibt es ein Übermaß an Schießereien und Explosionen, die im Milieu der Schiffe und des Ozeans attraktiv piratenhaft wirken. Im Großen und Ganzen ahmen aber Jerry Bruckheimer und Guy Ritchie einfach Tarantinos Inglourious Basterds nach, zwar mit Stil und einem tollen Soundtrack, aber mit einem Drehbuch ohne schlaue Dialoge und mit Figuren, die cool aussehen, aber die innere Struktur eines durchschnittlichen Marvel-Films haben. (14.07.2024)

A relaxing ride for a good mood. Guy Ritchie watched Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds and thought he could make something cool like that too. Well, it's not that good, but it's fun to watch. A stylish wartime flick with a western score, a great Henry Cavill and Alan Ritchson as the ultimate killing machine; it doesn't get boring and is shot so casually that it lacks any fatality or major tension. The best action falls in the first half of the film, where they liberate Apple. The passages without the main party are not much fun even though Eiza González is very good at it. This should have gone to the cinema, the ending is at night and the spurting blood is hard to see. (20.05.2024)

While it's nothing groundbreaking, it's still a fine, stylish and entertaining Guy Ritchie film with excellent casting. The British army recruits a group of mercenaries to cause trouble for the Nazis and killing Nazis is always fun, just a shame it's not R-rated, because once Alan starts working with his knife, the blood is painfully absent.The caste acting is impressive. Henry Cavill and Jack Reacher (who gets better film by film) rule the roost, sex symbol Eiza Gonzales never gets boring, Til Schweiger as a Nazi is a delight too. It's got a very entertaining pace, nice fun and stylish action and there's plenty of it, the plot isn't great and the tension and atmosphere aren't as intense as Inglorious Basterds, but I had a good time and it's impossible not to like this bunch. 75% (10.05.2024)

Regarding the casualties on both sides, the real Operation Postmaster was a very dull affair, but why on earth does it also pertain to Guy Ritchie's film? Members of No. 62 Commando are supposedly the inspiration for Fleming's legendary spy, but their African mission is just a compilation of lazy writing, sterile posh talk, and action that is as far from authenticity as Churchill was from the role of honorary president of the Abstaining Non-Smokers Club. The only redeeming aspects are small details like the rather uncreative Cleopatra costume, Cavill's charming accent, or the fact that Schweiger is aging into Horst Buchholz. Visually, it certainly deserves a better rating, but specifically for Ritchie, it’s unforgivable that he’s shooting blanks. (20.05.2024)

I am very angry at the absent marketing of Lionsgate studio, which has caused my very favorite director Guy Ritchie to mark another flop in a row. The film with an almost indecipherable title captivated me in such a way that I really enjoyed the distinct directorial style in the action scenes, the pace slows down around halfway through and it weakens, but the final massacre brings everything back on track. And as expected, Henry Cavill and the increasingly popular Alan Ritchson have their fingers on the trigger, two more people whom I really don't wish this failure upon. Actually, I am shocked by the mixed reviews this anticipated new release is receiving, and hopefully there will be some rectification. I can only hope that the film will earn its redemption later (in fact, now unfortunately) on VOD, because it practically didn't get a chance in theaters. It's a great pity, and hopefully this won't stop Ritchie. (20.05.2024)