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Chickenboy -> RE: Worst modern war film of all time (5/9/2019 3:16:04 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
Regarding Fury, the movie is universally lampooned for it's ending - disabled tank vs. SS battalion. Silliness. Awfulness. But I recall that when it came out a number of Forumites gave a nod to its depictions of the grittiness and dirt of the ground campaign in Europe. That's the movie's redeeming value, in my book. I've only seen it once and don't expect to watch it again, but I didn't find it utterly without value (unlike the Movie that Shall Not be Named, which has no redeeming qualities except Kate Beckinsale and she's trumped by the epic awfulness that surrounds her).
I am one of those that thought the end scene with the disabled tank was far-fetched, but not silliness or awfulness. If one looks at the big picture, the outcome depicted in the movie is consistent with reality. Big picture, mind you:
A battalion of late war German infantry are inexplicably in parade march formation and singing patriotic songs while marching towards the enemy, who they believe miles distant. Their arms are slung on their shoulders and they are 5 abreast, with motorized trucks trailing. Completely unprepared for immediate contact. The road upon which they march has a berm on the left prohibiting freedom of movement in that direction and a forested area to the right. It's an impressively poor tactical disposition.
A veteran American tank crew, whose tank was previously rendered immobile by a land mine realizes their quandry. They are at a pivotal crossroads with a clear field of fire 360 degrees around them. After debating the merits of flight, they elect to disguise themselves and make themselves appear as though they have been knocked out. They establish this effect by draping bodies on and around the turret and front hull while depressing the main gun. "German veterans" like those marching towards them have likely seen this sight innumerable times. It has heretofore always equaled a knocked-out tank. The M4A3E2, with 3 forward-facing machine guns is in an enviable ambush position.
The parade marching German infantry enter the kill zone and the tank crew opens up on them. There's confusion in the German ranks and some break for the only structure nearby-a badly abused farm house. Many are cut down as they attempt to run there for cover. Others, confused by the ambush, are killed in situ. The German motorized transport is destroyed by the tank main gun.
A confusing melee ensues that lasts for some time. German panzerfausts (which were seen on the shoulders of the parade march infantry) are eventually brought to bear on the tank. One of the weapons penetrates the cupola and kills the gunner. The Germans mount a series of close infantry assaults on the tank. Initially these are beaten back, but eventually individual crew of the tank are killed. The driver / front MG gunner escapes beneath the tank through an escape hatch.
By the next morning, the Germans-after considerable casualties-have captured the crossroads. The tank and its crew are kaput.
Big picture? I'd have expected that outcome, minus some of the Hollywood-ed character drama.
What is a reasonable expectation? That a Battalion(-) of German infantry, in parade march, with no forward recon elements escapes unscathed? What do you think would happen to a bunch of men, packed together on a small country road-oblivious to their surroundings-when set upon suddenly by 3 machine guns and a 76mm cannon spewing HE rounds? I'm seeing 40% casualties in less than a minute is what I'm seeing. In war, bad things happen to stupid combatants. Worse things happen to stupid combatants that are surprised and in a uniquely indefensible position.
I thought the Sherman v. Tiger fight earlier in the movie was really well done. But I remember hearing some forumites moan and groan about turret turning speeds of the tanks employed being unrealisic one way or the other. Nitpicking a pretty good scene to death and turning a plausible rendition of events into a picayune grumbling about how something may not have been perfectly to their expectations.
Over-analyzing some of these movies is tempting, but also removes the 'fun' of moviewatching. I'm as guilty as most I suppose. I can't watch Top Gun any more without berating this that or the other technical oversight. But it was a fun movie.
ETA: I recall seeing some pictures from the Battle of the Bulge (IRL, not the movie). A full squad of American infantry had been maneuvering down a country road in parade march when set upon by a German machine gun. All of the American infantry were down in the road atop one another-falling in organized rows. They had all been killed that quickly by the German MG. No time to react. No time to move. No time to do anything but die in place. A haunting image. And a reminder about the lethality of modern arms on exposed, tightly-bunched and unaware men.
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