Customer Reviews

Colditz: The Complete 2-Part Miniseries

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Colditz is a castle near Leipzig where during WW II the Nazis held Allied troops who were particularly at risk as escape artists. Many of the men had escaped POW camps prior to their incarceration in the huge castle, and the man in charge of the prison warns every new inmate that the castle is impenetrable: there is no possibility of escaping and those who attempt will be killed.

The film begins in London 1939 as men are preparing to leave for the front. Among them is a slightly naive but warmly human lad, Jack Rose (Tom Hardy) who has fallen in love with Lizzie (Sophia Myles), in a sweet, innocent union that represents the concept of 'the love we leave behind'. Jack leaves for duty with fellow soldiers Nicholas McGrade (Damian Lewis) and Tom Willis (Lawrence Fox) and soon they are captured by the Nazis and placed in a POW camp. Of course, being cunning lads, they soon escape only to be captured again and sent to the ominous Colditz - all except Nick. There they bond with men from home such as artist Sawyer (Guy Henry) and from other countries including France and Canada - among them Rhett Barker (Jason Priestly) who is a manipulator able to buy goods from Nazi guards including drugs to which he is addicted.

Nick is sent back to London where he meets Lizzie to tell her of Jack's safety. In time the two feel an attraction that proves to have fatal consequences because of Nick's obsession to have Lizzie to himself. Meanwhile the men in Colditz attempt multiple escapes only to be caught each time and put into solitary confinement. The drive to escape is aided by all of the inmates and yet their efforts are thwarted by colleagues turned informers for their own selfish needs. Artist Sawyer does escape and is assigned in London with the Intelligence outfit with Nick: he learns that supposedly Jack has been reported as killed in action (a letter forged by Nick to gain access to Lizzie's emotions) and the remainder of the story concerns the end of the war, the release of the prisoners from Colditz, and the fatal schism between the returning Jack and his rival Nick over the love of Lizzie.

Director Stuart Orme manages to keep the pace of this over three hour long film, allowing the viewer to meet and understand and care about a very large cast of characters (writers Richard Cottan and Peter Morgan have created deft personalities). Filmed in London and the Czech Republic the atmosphere is correctly captured and the large cast of characters includes many very fine cameos. If there is a single message to summarize a complex story, it is the old adage 'brothers in arms, rivals in love'. This made for television miniseries is well acted and is another opportunity to see the background stories of World War II. Recommended viewing. Grady Harp, July 07

I found this movie to be quite fascinating. There is a great cast of actors, mostly consisting of British actors considering the film is a British production.

The movie has a pretty good portrayal of what Colditz was like during the war, while having an interesting storyline.

This movie is a good mix of History and Drama. You learn about what Colditz was like, as well as an interesting storyline back on the homefront in England.

This movie is like, "The Great Escape" but with a British flare to it. So if you are a fan of escape and evade movies, then you will definitely enjoy this film.

Even though the movie didn't have the budget of some other WWII movies that come out of Hollywood, they sure made it look excellent. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone.

Colditz is an actual Prisnor of War camp that existed during WWII. This story centers on a group of men who are determined to escape at all costs. Some are successful and this is the story of these men. Their loves are documented and the terrible betrayal of one to another outside the walls of the prison is unimaginable. I was almost sorry to see the 2 part mini series end as the acting and plot keet us in suspense for the entire time.

Other than the fact that it has many familiar and seriously up and coming British actors in it, there really isn't anything remarkable about this mini-series. I remember hearing how British veterans were grumbling about this film and now I can see why: they were hoping that it would treat Colditz prisoners as earnestly as Band of Brothers treated the 101st Airbourne. Heck, they even had two guys who in BoB playing major roles, but they were disappointed and for good reason. This is a chick flick in the guise of a war flick, the same sort of stuff I remember them making in the 80's and 70's and before - Hanover Street, remember that? This film goes right up that same alley, except one of the characters is so flawed that he stoops to villainy just to keep a girl. Yep, those British veterans who spent time in Colditz had every reason to grumble. Colditz was turned into a backdrop for a romance instead of truly going into what happened to the real veterans. This is a mediocre script/film with a lot of talented people in it.

Having read the story of Colditz many times, I can attest to the loose adherence to the truth in this film, but that is okay. The acting is excellent, cinematography good to excellent, props and costume excellent, plus more.

However the storyline as regards Damian Lewis's character (which is dominant)- Nicholas McGrade - is pathetic. McGrade is a tongue-in-cheek rebel who stabs a friend in the back through his selection of a lover. If you detest stories, as I do, that will provide you with a morally coherent ending but drag you through the sewer for hours before you reach that point, than avoid this flick.

To give the reader just some idea of what I am referring to, at one point in this story, McGrade exposes the beautiful and innocent character played by Sophia Myles - Lizzie Carter - to a Nazi air-raid, rather than seek nearby shelter, and leads her to a burning building in which women and children are pershing, in order to illuminate her mind to the alleged reality that she (Carter) and he (McGrade) are uniquely blessed to be living life at such an intense level. Only an immature person could conceive of screenplay in which it is supposed that Londoners - any of them worth writing about - were rejoicing about the so called excitement of witnessing friends and neighbors pershing in The Blitz.

Do yourself a favor, reject this movie and read the book instead.ESCAPE FROM COLDITZ

When I rented this from the library I was under the assumption that it was an update on the original Colditz storeies by major Pat Reid. I was totally shocked to find that it actually was a made for tv drama.
I find it sacriligious to base a romantic drama on what was one of the most notorious German POW camps, as to why they did this, begggars belief,when the actual true life adventures of life in Colditz, are far more interesting.
As to the portrayal of the Germans brutal treatment of the prisoners is a total fabrication, it was quite the contrary.
The three books written by the famous Colditz escapee Pat Reid are well worth getting, if anyone is actaully inetersetd in the truth.

This review will focus on the quality of the Blu ray disc, since the plot and performances were reviewed by everyone else. The image quality is equal (perhaps slightly above) to an upscaled DVD. Do not expect the crisp image of a recent big screen movie, you will be disappointed. The colors may be a bit more intense than a DVD, but the sharpness leaves a lot to be desired. Obviously this is a made-for-tv miniseries, but still. There are no extras whatsoever, no chapters, not even a trailer or subtitles (which makes Damian Lewis' character a bit hard to understand at times, since he speaks with a heavy Irish accent). In conclusion, this is a decent movie on a poor Blu ray disc. For under $10 though, it's worth a buy if you like WWII/prison dramas.

During World War II, Colditz, an elevated castle near Leipzig, Germany, was converted to a high security prison for Allied prisoners with a propensity for escaping. With specialists in evasion and escape gathered together, Colditz was usually abuzz with those planning and preparing to escape. Colditz (2005), is a World War II miniseries for Granada British TV, centered around the activities of Allied officers held captive in the formidable castle. Based in part on the book Colditz: The Untold Story of World War II's Great Escapes (2001), by Henry Chancellor, this production uses some elements from history, to construct a background, and then interjects a rather sordid tale of betrayal, deceit, murder, and treason.

Captain Tom Willis (Laurence Fox), Lieutenant Jack Rose (Tom Hardy), and Corporal Nicholas McGrade (Damian Lewis), British escapees from a German POW camp, are trying to reach safety in neutral Switzerland. Willis and Rose are caught attempting to cross the border, but McGrade escapes to Switzerland. Before separating, Jack asks Nick to deliver a message to his girl, Lizzie Carter (Sophia Myles). Willis and Rose are sent to Colditz, while McGrade earns the distinction of being the first British POW to successfully escape from Germany. Promoted to lieutenant, he is assigned to `M.I.9' a (fictitious) division of Britain's secret service, working in London in a section specializing in POW affairs.

Aided by Canadian flying officer Rhett Barker (Jason Priestly), Willis and Rose immediately attempt to escape from Colditz, crawling into the drainage system. It is a tight claustrophobic journey, where you can almost feel the cold wet walls, pressing in. Their failure, earns them their first of many stays in solitary confinement. When released, Jack gets Captain Edward Sawyer (Guy Henry), an artist, to draw a small portrait of Lizzie.

Keeping his promise, McGrade meets with Lizzie, but things get complicated, when he begins to take an interest in Lizzie, who remains loyal to Jack. Matters take a very dark turn, when McGrade falsifies a report stating that Rose has been killed while trying to escape. Taking advantage of a heartbroken Lizzie, Nick begins to cultivate a romance.

Captain Sawyer becomes the second to escape from Colditz and reach England. He too is assigned to M.I.9, and becomes suspicious, upon discovering that Rose's girl, has taken up with Lt. McGrade. Sawyer soon puts the pieces together, and sends a letter to Rose, explaining the situation. Upon learning the truth, Rose makes an unauthorized escape (screwing his friend Willis), looking to settle up with naughty Nicky McGrade.

Colditz, does a decent job of capturing some of the favor of the war, including the blitz( bombing) of London, conditions in Colditz, and the unique spirit of those dedicated to proposition of escape. While doubtless dramatized, there is some accuracy in the methods and means employed to escape. Even the most successful film in the genre, The Great Escape (1963), embellished the truth for entertainment purposes. While you can't fault the writers for adding some drama, making McGrade an opportunist, who transforms into the worst kind of scheming lowlife, is very questionable. McGrade completely dishonors the tradition of the British Army, soiling the memory of those who sacrificed much for their country. Adding further dishonor, the story also features drug abuse, betrayal, treason, and number of questionable deaths.

During the Battle of Britain, England stood alone against the forces of Germany, with the Luftwaffe attacking by day, and bombers striking at night, in an attempt to bring the country to its knees. Winston Churchill spoke of the country's resolve to persevere in these very grim times, when he said, ". . . we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields, and in the streets. We shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender." This indomitable spirit, is what the British are renown for. Former British POW's like Paul Brickhill (The Great Escape), Patrick Reid (The Colditz Story), and Eric Williams (The Wooden Horse), all wrote books (that later became movies) expressing this same quiet determination. That a British company produced this miniseries, is a quite remarkable statement of how much times have changed.

Because few today are familiar with the actual events at Colditz, the screenplay by Richard Cottan and Peter Morgan, is not generally regarded as being in questionable taste. Suppose that someone wrote a screenplay about the 9/11 tragedy, where a first responder entered the World Trade Center towers, and instead of trying to rescue people, became a looter and a killer. That story might be viewed as insensitive, and inflammatory by many Americans. However thirty years from now, people may not feel the same way. Something similar, seems to have happened regarding Colditz.

Although the story is rather controversial, the pieces do fit together pretty well. The 184 minute miniseries devotes almost no time to the German captors, or the 'underground' that aided prisoners, but there are few slow moments. Damian Lewis (Band of Brothers) gives a strong performance, going from hero, to an utter cad. Sophia Myles (Outlander), who looks like a Kate Winslett clone, is very sympathetic. Tom Hardy (Layer Cake), manages to get through it all, but doesn't come across as obvious hero material. Those primarily interested in a wartime romance may appreciate this drama, but those concerned with showing some regard for past sacrifices, may find that the story takes too many liberties to be very palatable. There was talent and potential here, but some very unfortunate choices were made.

OH this is a heavy flick. about the prison camp during WWII and the guys in it.Its well acted but takes a strong stomach to watch it. not for just any one or the faint at heart.

Acting and Historical facts are combined to create an enjoyable WWII movie. Actors are unknown but pull the viewer into the movie with great acting skills. The movie follows the book which is very well written.