"Liked Fury" Topic

I was expecting it to be hokier.
The gear and uniforms looked right to me though I'm no tread-head.
Yeah there was some Hollywood but less than I expected.

Thought you were talking about the TV show.

The "Tanks of Fury" show was pretty interesting and made me appreciate the movie even more.

Bottom line…it's a movie and not a documentary, but it was a good movie. They did a pretty good job with the uniforms, tanks, and special effects.

That was my take on it as well.

"Tanks of Fury" is well worth the viewing. I saw it on the Smithsonian Channel IIRC.

I enjoyed the film as well.

There were a few Hollywoodisms, like most of the veteran soldiers being 30-40 year olds, and some of the tactics were a bit dodgy (but then again the US army was facing a troop shortage crisis and quality suffered.)

The end battle stretched crediblity especially because the Germans had the tank completely surrounded. It was my impression that the SS were supposed to be veterans (Though some late war SS formations were very good at shooting civilians, but melted away when things got tough.) Attacking tanks was grunt training 101 by this stage of the war, even without panzerfausts there were enough options to tackle a tank, especially one that is immobilised and surrounded at night.

Those nitpicks aside, it was a very enjoyable film. The only thing I would have added was some ammo cooking off in a spectacular way.

I thought it was pretty great. As Patrick noted, there were a few Hollywoodisms, but way fewer than many classic war movies, and it was a really well written and acted.

Heck, even Shia did a great job!

My problem with the movie is that other than the new guy the rest of the characters were scum. I could almost forgive the rest of the faults if not for that. Does that mean I'm not getting the Blu-Ray when it comes out, heck no…

The scum behavior bothered me too but I think the filmmakers successfully gave us three dimensional characters.

Several characters revealed in private moments the scum behavior bothered them as well, or at least that they were aware that it should bother them. Several make sure the new guy eats after being forced to shoot the German officer who had looted an Allied officer's raincoat. One (the mechanic / gunner?) told the new guy he believed he (the new guy) was a better man than the rest. Pitt's character made a point of taking the new guy privately to the women's apartment and displayed a softer side but when joined by the rest of the crew is unwilling to countermand their worse behavior. Another member (Shia?) quotes the Bible for moral guidance and the other crew tease him for it but sometimes also acknowledge what he is doing.

Remember, real world accounts do show a range of behavior from soldiers in Allied units. In Band of Brothers generally we see the soldiers as honorable but one character is an alcoholic, all characters loot for souvenirs, a drunk soldier shoots an MP. In The Pacific (Helmet for My Pillow) surrendering enemy are sometimes shot, some Marines desecrate enemy dead for their gold teeth, but others stand aside and for those wavering under peer pressure, the doctor makes up a medical rationale they can use.