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27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great love story, February 20, 2004
I will readily admit, I am a complete sucker for love stories. They make me go all warm & gooey inside. And when you're not feeling too great, you can curl up and enjoy. There's hardly any violence - it's set at the end of WWI, there has to be a little violence, but that's all confined to the start - it has two great actors playing the parts, and it's set in beautiful countryside. What more could you want? I've read a few of the reviews about this, and I have to disagree with nearly every person (sorry). You're not getting the movie really, are you? It's a love story. There are no complicated plots to follow. No twists and turns in the story. Hell, you don't even need to be that smart to watch this movie. And I'm certainly nothing of the sort in that department! Which is probably why I like these movies. You don't need to think much about them, and they're perfectly easy to follow. There are some great love scenes in this, although there are is no graphic, mind-blowing sex. It's simple of how Agnes & Ernie eventually become a proper couple in the most romantic of places - a brothel. And then they have a "waltz" together, which is so romantic. But the build up to their relationship can bring a little tear to the eye. (I told you I was a soppy cow) Whether it's Ernie telling Agnes that he loves her the first time he sees her, in a voice that will make me anyway go weak at the knees, or when he tries to comfort her after Jimmy dies. All are totally romantic. And other reviews say that there's no build up to their relationship, it's all over very quickly, but what they're forgetting - this was during a war, no one had time for quickness. Life's too short. The finale is really sad. If you haven't seen it, then I'm not going to be the one to spoil it for you, but it's a real heart-breaker. Things could have been so different only if ... I'll stop there! After watching this movie, it's got me interested in Ernest Hermingway's work, so that'll be something for me to keep my eye out for. I wouldn't say his work exactly, but probably the story of his life, and why losing Agnes made him so bitter. Plus, the fact he killed himself in 1961, and really, never got over losing Agnes. It would be quite interesting to read. Guess what I'm adding to my wishlist. A great movie, if you're a bit simple, and like movies that you can actually follow most of the time.
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
At last, a romantic fim worth watching!, December 13, 2002
By A Customer
I was honestly and completely moved by this film. It was beautifuly directed with fantastic performances by Sandra Bullock and Chris O'Donnel. Their chemistry is so good that one effortlessly feels the increasing sexual tension in merely seeing Chris O'Donnel lovingly place his hands on Sandra Bullock's shoulders-demonstrating that when it comes to true screen romance; less is more. This is not to say that 'In Love and War' is devoid of passion; it depicts a love affair at it's most passionate and magical whilst still maintaining an beauty and mystery. In short, bravo Ms Bullock and Mr O'Donnel! Their sensitive and touching portrayal of two complex characters was a joy to watch, and quite frankly I find it almost unbelievable that one could describe this film as anything other than a beautiful love story; one that is as tragic as it is passionate. Not since seeing Richard Chamberlain and Rachel Ward in 'The Thorn Birds'have I been so thoroughly engrossed in a love story. This is a must see for anyone who has lost faith in the Film Industry's ability to produce great romantic films. You'll laugh,you'll cry, you'll smile and sigh...and then watch it all over again!!
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A beautiful epic romantic film!, October 5, 2000
Richard Attenborough's story of the relationship between Ernest Hemingway and Anges von Kurowsky (the inspiration behind the novel A Farewell to Arms) is recounted in this film. It is truly an epic film, covering the last year of the First World War, during which time Hemingway was injured while a member of the Red Cross, to his meeting and blossoming love for Kurowsky, to the pensive, melancholy conclusion to their relationship after the war. The film has a rich, sweeping feel to it. Attenborough does a wonderful job at direction, blending the gorgeous cinematography (from Italian battlefields to Venician waterways) with the loving, at-times heart-wrenching musical score. However, the film is not manipulative, as most recent romance films are. Instead, it is allowed to unfold slowly and naturally, and it has a more honest feel to the characterizations than you find in most mainstream Hollywood films. On its initial release, one of the main complaints about the film was the unusual casting of Chris O'Donnell as Hemingway and Sandra Bollock as Kurowsky. In actuality, Bollock gives a very commendable performance, and I believe this film shows her best acting to date. In most of her other films, she just plays Sandra Bollock with a different name, but here, she suppresses her usual idiosyncrasies and creates a true character. While I enjoyed a lot of her other films (Speed, While You Were Sleeping), this is really her best and most underrated performance. O'Donnell is somewhat less successful - it is hard to imagine him as a young Hemingway, and he seems like an anachronistic Boy Wonder. His mannerisms don't seem to fit with a 1910s mentality. However, he is not terrible, as some reviewers might have you believe. He delivers a decent performance; in fact, if you drop any pre-conceived notions of the real Ernest Hemingway and try to view O'Donnell's character as just another spunky youth caught in the excitement of wartime, his performance works well in the context of the film. Personally, I like this film a lot. It's gorgeous, it's romantic, and it feels like a sweeping epic. If you enjoy films like The English Patient or A Room with a View, you'll enjoy this film. Just a few words about the DVD, which I bought....this is an essentially bare-bones DVD. There are the usual small extras (subtitles, trailer, cast notes) but nothing else. You can choose to view it as widescreen or full-screen. But there is no commentary or documentary... So, if you like romantic films, give this film a chance....you may be surprised at how it slipped by your notice. Recommended!
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