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Gallipoli

Gallipoli (1981)

August. 28,1981
|
7.4
|
PG
| Drama History War

As World War I rages, brave and youthful Australians Archy and Frank—both agile runners—become friends and enlist in the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps together. They later find themselves part of the Dardanelles Campaign on the Gallipoli peninsula, a brutal eight-month conflict which pit the British and their allies against the Ottoman Empire and left over 500,000 men dead.

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Dorathen
1981/08/28

Better Late Then Never

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Teringer
1981/08/29

An Exercise In Nonsense

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Kailansorac
1981/08/30

Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

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Dana
1981/08/31

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

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DylanW
1981/09/01

In 1915, the Gallipoli campaign was commenced. Dictating the Australian version, two young runners, Frank and Archy, enroll in the Australian army, and, as a result, are sent to fight in Gallipoli.The emotional aspect of this film is incredible, due to a great script and performances by Mark Lee and Mel Gibson, who play the two protagonists. With more historical accuracies than inaccuracies, "Gallipoli" is an emotionally heartfelt film, bound to bring a tear to your eye and pull your toughest heart-strings. Mel Gibson is particularly spectacular, as the reluctant youngster soon succumbing to peer pressure.It is debatable whether this is considered a war film to some, as the movie is about Frank and Archy in Gallipoli, and how they are effected by the war, instead of Gallipoli, with many random characters involved. For example, "Gallipoli" is a character film set in the war, whereas "Dunkirk" is a war film with characters.

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WakenPayne
1981/09/02

Well, being that yesterday was ANZAC Day, a day where Australians everywhere look back on the Australian soldiers who fought and died for the state I decided to watch Gallipoli. While this is considered a cultural classic and all, I do think I should talk about this movie from a rather universal point of view rather then just an Australian one. This movie is good, I'd say it's worth watching but I am going to stick some warning labels on it.The plot is that 2 sprinters befriend one another and decide to enlist and fight in World War 1 because they have the perspective of "It's 1915 Australian Outback, what the hell else am I going to do?" so they go off and join up despite being under-aged and one thing leads to another and they part-take in a tactical plan done by the British that's so terrible that the mere mention of the location where it took place will have Australians instantly think of what happened.I'll say if there's anything that I would say hurts the film as a whole, it's the soundtrack. Okay, the string piece at the beginning and when they're about to go over the top is good and really sets up the mood but when they start running and there's an obviously 80's synthesizer playing it's so distracting. I'll also say that if you're looking for a movie that mostly deals with the front line then they don't get to Gallipoli for over an hour then after a half hour or more, the movie's over, I'll defend this though by saying this builds up character development so I'm not unhappy with doing that. I'll also stick a warning label on British watchers, outside of the undeniable fact that the British were tactical morons in real life. The movie for the most part portrays them as uptight, snobby and repeatedly saying the words "I say!" I know not everyone would be as sensitive towards being portrayed like that but I do feel I should in case.Aside from that this movie is a beautifully shot, well acted appropriately dark and grim war movie. The fact this director went on to do bigger things in Hollywood is of no surprise to me whatsoever. The acting here is something I'll continue to mention in the sense that Mel Gibson by my count seems to be the only one that went anywhere until his controversial spats but I digress (I may also put Bill Hunter under that category but I'm sure if I go abroad people unfortunately won't know who I mean) and that really is not fair, there are scenes like when Jack tells his uncle he's joining up and his uncle can't stop him, that scene is acted so well and with so much subtleties going on. I also was shocked at them actually shooting at a place like Egypt for a bit of it.All in all, I would say that this is worth watching if you're into this sort of movie. If you're Australian and haven't seen it I highly recommend doing so. I already mentioned my only warning label for other cultures but even then if you're willing to overlook it I'll still recommend this to fans of war movies.

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peefyn
1981/09/03

This movie is not unique in its approach to war: instead of actual scenes of warfare, it rather uses it as a backdrop. Many movies does this. I guess I'm mentioning it here because it did so successfully. You are forced to reflect over the pointless sides of war, and what motivated those who enlisted.The movie is about the first world war, and it manages to display in and its members in a way that makes them seem like people of today. Other than their surroundings, they behave much like one would expect people do now, and the movie is all the much better for it. Often the stiff characters in war movies, especially those set during the first world war, distances you from the characters. In this, their liveliness has the opposite effect, and you actually relate to the relationships and emotions you see on screen.The music has not aged well, and you'd think they'd know that the sound of laser guns in the soundtrack would not stand the test of time. Oh well.

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rjun67
1981/09/04

I remember being excited about watching this film before I actually sat through it, and when the end credits finally appeared, I knew I had been conned! 'Birth of a Nation' it was not, and even the totally rubbish 'Objective Burma', would have given it a run for its money! Just the title 'Gallipoli' promised so much and delivered so little, but that is just one failing in this bargain basement, Brit bashing, Fenian-friendly, pile of steaming horse manure! In a campaign in which the overwhelming majority of casualties were British, this film denigrates their role to the basest level, featuring them as fools and manipulators who are eager to sacrifice the flower of Australian youth. The tired old cliché of Anglophobia in Australian cinema has not dated well. We know much more about the Gallipoli landings now, and this film only makes a cringing, sentimental nonsense of what was, no more than a military failure! To watch this film on the centenary year of the Dardanelles operation makes the sneering and petty minded direction seem all the more insulting, not only to the British, but also the Indian, French, NZ and African troops who also died in great numbers. In reality the ANZAC troops were often as not, born in Britain and were eager to fight for King and Empire, but as usual the truth is substituted for a wishy-washy tale of a poor little Irish Catholic boy, who has an inbuilt hatred for the 'evil' English. The commanders - (all portrayed as chinless Brits in this film), may have been ill suited for purpose, but they were no worse than any other allied General's of the time (remembering this type of warfare had never been experienced previously). The film's epic-like title betrays the viewer's expectations in a unforgivable act of deception!...8 months, 10 Nations, and 570,000 men, whittled down to 15 minutes, 1 Nation and 40 men! The scope of the film is limited to an Australian desert location which stands in for a fake Egypt (complete with hardboard pyramids) and an unconvincing Turkey.There are no portrayal's of the landings or anything much to do with the events other than a cheap series of trench discussions and a paltry battle scene involving maybe 40 people (including 5 Turks/blacked up Auzzies). This type of budget warfare pays no tribute to any of the combatants, including the 'heroic martyrs' of Oz! In my opinion the only film to make me want to vomit more, is the appalling Canadian movie 'Passchendaele' which makes a similar mockery of the dead! Mel Gibson's acting is - as usual, pretty bad and the other characters don't have much meat to chew on, which takes away any empathy you may want to feel. Overall Gallipoli should be watched as a piece of propaganda and no more!

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