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CTyankee

(68,205 posts)

4. I, too, loved this film. Clooney did a magnificent job on that screenplay.

Thu Apr 10, 2014, 02:06 PM

Apr 2014

I hope you have read the book it was based on. There are several on this topic. This movie was about the Monuments Men in Belgium, but there is another just on the MM in Italy.

I particularly like the fact that Clooney wisely concentrated the movie on two major works of art: the Ghent Altarpiece and the Bruges Madonna. I made a special art pilgrimage to Belgium in 2012 to see those two works of art. If you ever can, do go to see them. I simply took day trips out of Brussels on the train to go to Ghent and Bruges. I also went to Antwerp to see so many of Rubens' masterpieces, my favorite being the Elevation of the Cross in the Cathedral of Our Lady.

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'Monuments Men' made me want to punch film critics very hard right in the nose. [View all] byronius Apr 2014 OP

It certainly didn't deserve the bad rap it got. Coventina Apr 2014 #1

I did not know. Oy. Sometimes generational ignorance is bliss, I suppose. byronius Apr 2014 #8

Yeah, obviously many people during and post-production missed that detail. Coventina Apr 2014 #11

I always thought the "muddle through" lyrics made for a richer, more poignant song, anyway villager Apr 2014 #14

Thank you! ITA! Coventina Apr 2014 #16

I haven't seen the movie yet and that will definitely bug me when I do. n/t lumberjack_jeff Apr 2014 #10

I saw it at the theater first weekend yeoman6987 Apr 2014 #23

That makes more sense! Iggo Apr 2014 #57

"Muddle through" was a phrase with special meaning to US soldiers ... eppur_se_muova Apr 2014 #63

Haven't seen it lillypaddle Apr 2014 #2

I will see it based solely upon this review. pnwest Apr 2014 #3

I, too, loved this film. Clooney did a magnificent job on that screenplay. CTyankee Apr 2014 #4

I'm about to read it. And what an awesome response. I'm a little jealous. byronius Apr 2014 #7

my pleasure. I have read every book I could lay my hands on about the Monuments Men... CTyankee Apr 2014 #12

"The Rape of Europa" was made into a GREAT documentary film. Coventina Apr 2014 #15

I'm so glad you are spreading the word on this to the younger generation... CTyankee Apr 2014 #30

I do, too. Hissyspit Apr 2014 #41

GMTA! Coventina Apr 2014 #43

Thanks for the spoiler alert. n/t aggiesal Apr 2014 #37

Ack! sorry... CTyankee Apr 2014 #56

I plan on it. Thanks n/t aggiesal Apr 2014 #60

thank you Tansy_Gold Apr 2014 #59

I liked it too. Clooney made a Frank Capra movie in the overly cynical 21st century and the critics FSogol Apr 2014 #5

+1. Aristus Apr 2014 #6

the movie has a lot of good points el_bryanto Apr 2014 #9

Your question is raised in every book I have read on the Monuments Men... CTyankee Apr 2014 #17

The only film critic I trust anymore is Peter Travers of Rolling Stone. Like all MSM, it seems Zorra Apr 2014 #13

Yes, Travers is an artist as a critic geardaddy Apr 2014 #21

+1. Righties would never want to give Clooney credit for anything. Enthusiast Apr 2014 #26

My younger brother is an off-the chart neo-con MosheFeingold Apr 2014 #45

Your brother is as rare as the proverbial two peckered hoot owl. Enthusiast Apr 2014 #62

I'm reading Edsel's book LibertyLover Apr 2014 #18

That's part of the problem. Hissyspit Apr 2014 #38

Man, great review rumdude Apr 2014 #19

Marta and I are museum rats Omaha Steve Apr 2014 #20

Ah, your slippery slope begins! CTyankee Apr 2014 #22

I thought it was watchable... wouldn't recommend it. fbc Apr 2014 #24

"It's a Wonderful Life got panned at first Warpy Apr 2014 #25

It was an awesome movie liberal N proud Apr 2014 #27

everyone in the audience where I saw it was elderly, too... CTyankee Apr 2014 #28

Thank you for this review! I was looking forward to seeing this, but was disappointed at the bad hedgehog Apr 2014 #29

I loved it (and took my 13 y.o. son to it) cyberswede Apr 2014 #31

I agreed with the critics HERVEPA Apr 2014 #32

'I�ve substituted the word �puppies� for art.' Hissyspit Apr 2014 #36

Truly there must be something genetic going on. byronius Apr 2014 #39

Or maybe a movie about the power of art shouldn't be constructed of clich�s? Hissyspit Apr 2014 #42

Thus the power of the jaded film critic to destroy a good film. 'Haven't seen it. Heard it's bad.' byronius Apr 2014 #52

Film critics cannot ruin movies. HERVEPA Apr 2014 #64

They should just shut up about their opinion? Hissyspit Apr 2014 #70

No. But they savaged an important film. byronius Apr 2014 #74

Based on what? nt Logical Apr 2014 #67

Lousy storytelling, disjointed, looked like a bunch of episodes rather than HERVEPA Apr 2014 #68

You sound like some film school student! nt Logical Apr 2014 #69

So? Hissyspit Apr 2014 #71

You sound like a know-nothing. since you're into what YOU THINK is name-calling. HERVEPA Apr 2014 #72

Ahhh, temper temper. nt Logical Apr 2014 #73

Remind me never to have a difference of opinion with you CBGLuthier Apr 2014 #33

I reserve such hyperbole only for the truly important issues. And to me, this was It. byronius Apr 2014 #35

I saw it Flatpicker Apr 2014 #34

I saw a preview of this with Matt Damon, I think it was. toby jo Apr 2014 #40

My parents bought a house from a Monuments Man. kwassa Apr 2014 #44

Thank you. I'll look it up. emsimon33 Apr 2014 #66

I'm going to get it for my parents as soon as it comes out on DVD. applegrove Apr 2014 #46

Meh. Sometimes I disagree with the critics too, but I never fantasize about punching them. Nye Bevan Apr 2014 #47

I really enjoyed it and was sad it had gotten so panned. Starry Messenger Apr 2014 #48

As a movie.... MountainMama Apr 2014 #49

Violence is, after all, the only sensible solution to disagreements about which movies one likes cthulu2016 Apr 2014 #50

Since I see no sarcasm icon there, I must caution you that I possess a Hyperbolic Poetic License. byronius Apr 2014 #51

I saw it, and glad I did. elleng Apr 2014 #53

I saw it and liked it and compared to the garbage coming out of Hollywood, it was Great. nm rhett o rick Apr 2014 #54

Dunno. Inglorious Basterds was a tough act to follow. AtheistCrusader Apr 2014 #55

Different Fish Kettle, man. byronius Apr 2014 #58

But it ends *in* a cinema! In france! AtheistCrusader Apr 2014 #61

I have been out of the country the last 4 months, but based on your review emsimon33 Apr 2014 #65