WWII in HD: Hard Way Back (2009)
**** (out of 4)
Second film in the series picks up with Charles Scheffel leading his men in Northern Africa as they and British troops try to trap German soldiers. We're also introduced to Michigan native June Wandrey as she joins a nursing group also sent to North Africa. Back in the States Richard Tregaskis releases his book "Guadalcanal Diary", which becomes a best seller. The end of this part sets us up for America's defense of Europe. Once again we're treated with a true masterpiece of art as the documentary does a great job at telling a story many might be familiar with but it does so in such a fresh and original way that you'll find yourself going through these battles like it was your first time hearing about them. The film contains some great suspense as the soldiers find themselves in great danger only to, somehow, manage to fight their way through towards a victory. We're also shown some even more graphic material including various wounded soldiers. We're shown various bodies piled up, heads blown off, countless other injuries and we also see the "lucky" people who are still alive but missing parts. These scenes are certainly stomach turning as this isn't Hollywood and actors who are eventually going to stand up and walk away. All of these scenes are in full color, which certainly helps many scenes, brings some to life and makes some all the more disturbing. One of the most hauntingly beautiful scenes is shot from the cockpit of a bomber as we see an overhead view of various bombs being dropped and the view of the large explosions.
**** (out of 4)
Second film in the series picks up with Charles Scheffel leading his men in Northern Africa as they and British troops try to trap German soldiers. We're also introduced to Michigan native June Wandrey as she joins a nursing group also sent to North Africa. Back in the States Richard Tregaskis releases his book "Guadalcanal Diary", which becomes a best seller. The end of this part sets us up for America's defense of Europe. Once again we're treated with a true masterpiece of art as the documentary does a great job at telling a story many might be familiar with but it does so in such a fresh and original way that you'll find yourself going through these battles like it was your first time hearing about them. The film contains some great suspense as the soldiers find themselves in great danger only to, somehow, manage to fight their way through towards a victory. We're also shown some even more graphic material including various wounded soldiers. We're shown various bodies piled up, heads blown off, countless other injuries and we also see the "lucky" people who are still alive but missing parts. These scenes are certainly stomach turning as this isn't Hollywood and actors who are eventually going to stand up and walk away. All of these scenes are in full color, which certainly helps many scenes, brings some to life and makes some all the more disturbing. One of the most hauntingly beautiful scenes is shot from the cockpit of a bomber as we see an overhead view of various bombs being dropped and the view of the large explosions.