In Love and War

source: In Love and War

STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead *Avoid At All Costs Since it came out to rent on video in August '97,I've always been trying to find an opportunity to watch In Love And War,a Richard Attenborough film starring the beautiful Sandra Bullock and the rather fading Chris O' Donnell. I've heard the movie be rather bad mouthed by most people who have seen it.One things for sure,the battle scene at the beginning was pathetic.I've seen more frightening brutality in a My Little Pony video.I think perhaps having seen the no holds barred horror/gore of Saving Private Ryan,anything I saw was going to have trouble matching up to the expectations of that.But this was exceptionally unspectacular and laughable. As I've said before,Sandra Bullock looked like a Godess in her nurses uniform and with her hair down.Her appearance and her performance were two of the main saving graces of this rather shabby picture.The story was quite involvingly told,though,and,although quite flawed,I enjoyed watching this pic as a break from the norm.See.***

Love in War This is a movie about war and some challenges that people face there. The events unfold in Intaly during World War I. Ernerst Hemingway, the main character, is a young man who serves as a reporter. War is always connected with risk, so one day Ernie appeared in the hospital. Here he mets his love, Agnes von Kurowsky. She is a beautiful and talented nurse who can't stay indifferent for this handsome and charming youth. I can not say that this movie became my favorite one, but I like it. This is a romantic story. However, «In Love and War» touches many issues that are actual even now days. There are a number of positive moments for me. As it was already mentioned, the problems appeared in the movie can be interested for many people. Such topics as friendship, love, bravery, betrayal and pride are reflected in the movie. And now a few words about the way the film was shot. I like the director's work. The movie contains many interesting foreshortening. There are a lot of scenes with nature and we can enjoy different landscapes. The choice of actors is good. The main character, Agnes von Kurowsky, is created by a brilliant actress, Sandra Bullock. She is so aristocratic and realistic in the film that I believe her for 100%. Besides, the ending of the movie is unexpected. Nevertheless, there are some negative moments either. The beginning of the movie is overextended and some scenes seem unnecessary. My strongest disappointment is in the fact that this movie does not cause any strong emotions. Of course, it makes you sympathize with the main characters but you are not immersed in the atmosphere entirely. As a result, the movie won't stay in memory for a long time. Despite of the boring beginning, the film is worth watching. It is a thought-provoking and touching love-story. Moreover, it is based on the real events. So we can get some details about Hemingway's life. If you want to create your own clear impression of this story, I would recommend you to read a book ''A Farewell to Arms'' at first.

Bearing in mind that `In Love and War' is just not in the same league as that gigantic masterpiece `Gandhi' (1982) (qv), we can accept that his directing of this film is adequate. The film is not overly romantic and does not dwell too heavily on secondary matters. Evidently here Chris O'Donnell enjoys a better coupling with Sandra Bullock than he does with Drew Barrymore in the recently seen `Mad Love' (1995) (qv). The chemistry between O'Donnell and Bullock seems to work here better, and thus makes this film just about acceptable viewing. Based on Ernest Hemingway's experiences in Italy in World War I (see also `A Farewell to Arms') but here adapted with contributions by Henry Villard to whom the film is dedicated `in memoriam', one cannot help thinking that even an eighteen-year-old Hemingway was somewhat different in character to how he is portrayed here. Hemingway was an insufferable egoist, very macho, and largely unable to come to terms with himself, and so his honesty and sincerity simply vanished into a cloud of drink-laden macho expostulations. He never became a great writer. The only time we get close to anything authentic is in his short novel `The Snows of Kilimanjaro', where, using his experience of having had gangrene, he was able to tell a story which shed the veneer of bravura which Hemingway generally carried around with him as part of his well-travelled suitcase luggage. If you are into bullfighting, obviously his book `Death in the Afternoon' is obligatory reference, however dated it may be by now. Oh, by the way, parts of this film were shot in Veneto, and thus in a few places where that great TV series of 1982 `Verdi' was also made.

1st watched 2/13/2002 - 6 out of 10(Dir-Richard Attenborough): ** SOME SPOILERS ** Somewhat effective war-time romance based on the true story of young Ernest Hemingway seeking affection from a young nurse played by Sandra Bullock. This movie is played out well by the two stars(Bullock and Chris O'Donnell) despite some very abrupt story changes late in the movie. It's hard to fault the Director(Richard Attenborough) in holding onto the truth of this story by giving us(the moviegoing public) a less than perfect ending although were hoping that these likeable stars will make it out in the end(by the way - they don't). In real life, Hemingway doesn't make it very far in his life after this event(not getting the girl). This true life story was the inspiration for his pulitzer prize winning novel 'A Farewell to Arms.' He killed himself shortly after the success of this novel. The moviemakers tried to show Hemingway's depression that lead to this but it was not done very convincingly. All in all, the movie itself, was a fairly well-done Attenborough-like tale which actually probably was too short and too quick to end.

"In Love and War" is an exquisite film that, as any major work, tends to bring both praise and criticism. It is not a grand a film like "Schindler's List" or "The English Patient", nevertheless it remains as one of the greatest love films ever made, particularly because it tends to show the disappointment of this wonderful feeling in real life. After all it is based on a true story, the story of Hemingway's first (and arguably only) love. The film starts by showing a cocky and self-absorbed, 18 years-old, Ernest (Chris O'Donnell) who is more enthusiastic about being in the war as a soldier and not as a Red Cross volunteer, than actually realising the reality of the trenches. As a result he gets wounded the first time he approaches the front line, and the whole dream of fighting for the common good collapses for the protagonist. His misfortune, however, turns to his advantage. In the hospital he meets a stunning, 26 years old nurse, Agnes von Kurowsky (Sandra Bullock), an American Red Cross volunteer, who manages to save his wounded leg from amputation. The passion between the two seems inexistent at the beginning, and Ernie's declaration of love at first site sounds rather childish. Soon however, Ernie becomes The Kid, and Agnie the woman that loved him, though the script refuses to show the existence of too much chemistry between the two. After Ernie is sent home, Agnes decided that it was the "Time to think with the head!" and accepted a marriage proposal from Dr. Caracciolo (Emilio Bonucci). But, "There was always someone else", and after an eight-month period Agnes returns to America. Broken-hearted, matured, and evasive, Ernie lets the time pass slowly beside him, lets the words of his beloved woman vanish into the stillness of the forest. The ending is a memorable one, incredibly moving, and real. Love, pure or manufactured, it is not always made to bring happiness to those who are trapped by it.

If it hadn't been about Ernest Hemingway the move would have been a mediocre, quickly digested and forgotten romance. If you know anything about Hemingway the movie is basically unwatchable. Chris O'Donnel's "Hemingway" is nothing but your stereotypical, one dimensional "kid goes off to war" type and seems to bear no relation to Hemingway himself. Sandra Bullock manages to bring a little depth to her character which I am guessing was dead on the page. She earned a little respect from me in that regard. If you want to watch this movie because you are interested in the subject matter, for the love of God skip it. If you just want to watch a mindless romance and you've chosen this one because it's the most available to you at the moment, go ahead I guess, just don't feel like you've learned something from it.

I rented this yesterday, as I desperately perused the local movie store, not knowing what to rent and not having a clue as to which movies were "worth" watching. Well, after getting sick of the slapstick humor front-covers of the comedy section, I went to the drama section. I saw Hope Floats, starring Sandra Bullock and Harry Connick, Jr., and thought "Yeah, Sandra Bullock is great. Maybe I'll get this". I did a 180, then saw In Love and War, with an even-prettier Sandra Bullock and way-hot Chris O'Donnell. I had heard of Chris O'Donnell's fame, and was interested. I saw it and surprisingly, I loved it! No, not just loved it...LOVED it. I didn't even expect to love it that much. Chris O'Donnell, with his boyish good looks, flashy charm, and cocky humor, is perfect for this role. In the beginning, he looks like a "kid", but as the film progresses, you can see that he has become who he is, and has matured into a wonderful, passionate man. Sandra Bullock sparkles in this role. She plays the reluctant nurse/passionate lover roles very well. She has a stunning, natural beauty that reflects her characters, and displays emotion beautifully. The movie itself is wonderful. In my opinion, though, the beginning battle scene was just pathetic. It lacked intensity, emotion, and just about everything you'd expect from a war scene. But the rest of the movie really makes up for the caricature-of-a-battle-sequence. The movie is, as you come to find out, about love and fate. The setting, in Italy and Venice, is gorgeous. The lines eschew the cheesy, corny sentiments of teen movies and old age dramas, and is refreshing, touching, and emotional without adding cliches. The movie starts out slow, but seductively sucks you in. You root for Ernest and Agnes throughout the movie. This movie is so worth watching. I recommend it to everyone. :)

I have always thought of myself as a Sandra Bullock fan... How I missed this one I have NO IDEA! I finally saw this for the first time (yeah - I know the movies 8 years old) but I went through a whole box of Kleenex. Bottom line... I loved this movie... it spoke to the romantic in me... I haven't had a really good cry from a movie in a long time... I'm glad that I was able to see this and I can't wait to see if I can buy it.

In Love and War is one of the greatest romance films ever. O'Donnell and Bullock shine in this sentimental melodrama about war and what it can do to love. O'Donnell is great as Hemingway and Bullock rocks as the nurse that falls for him. This movie is perfect for women and if you can get your hubbie to watch with you, well, that's good, too.