Kokoda

07/31/2018 Movie does NOT portray history in any way. All you're going to be watching will be a small group of "Aussie cowards" hiding out in the jungle trying to NOT get killed by invading japs. (2) hours of wasted movie watching time. Lead In Movie Quote: A bitter battle is fought between Australian and Japanese soldiers along the Kodoka trail in New Guinea during World War II. Comment: NO Bitter Battles in this movie. Wiki quote: The Kadoka Track campaign or Kodoka Trail campaign was part of the Pacific War of World War II. The campaign consisted of a series of battles fought between July and November 1942 in what was then the Australian Territory of Papua. It was primarily a land battle, between the Japanese South Seas Detachment under Major General Tomtaro Horii and Australian and Papuan land forces. The Japanese objective was to seize Port Moresby by an overland advance from the north coast, following the Kodoka Track over the mountains of the Owen Stanley Range, as part of a strategy to isolate Australia from the United States.

This film was beautifully filmed and generally performances were very good. However, it was very hard to enjoy as the violence was too brutal and graphic. At one point I nearly walked out feeling unwell. It's surprising it didn't get an Australian MA15+ (USA R)classification. There were some script contrivances and the weakest parts were by the most recognizable actors – William McInnes and Shane Bourne. Their dialogs were not much better than Neighbours or The Bold and the Beautiful. The weak ending was very disappointing, given the weight of the rest of the film.

For all its wonderful images, for all of its good intentions, this just comes off as yet another disgustingly one-sided, over-glorified, self-promoting propaganda. The message is simple, "All Japanese fighting on the Kokoda Track were sadistic, malicious f*** sticks who enjoyed gutting every last Aussie troop, cutting their throats before beheading them." Not only does Kokoda pick up on "Gallipoli"'s only flaw (that the enemy are faceless, nameless, and apparently inhumane), but manages to prove quite the opposite to Weir's masterpiece. Instead of giving us a perfect film with one flaw, we have a horrible mess with one redeeming feature. Let's start off with this: we're, without any comfortable adapting to the characters, introduced to these apparently quite laid back, two-dimensional people who we never... EVER get to sympathize with. We're kept at such a distance that even when we could so easily relate to the characters, they find a way to keep us away. That alone is a sickening feature, as it drives us from the very plot, helps the horrible pacing to leave us with a lasting impression, and makes it so much easier to see the contrast between an overtly sentimental ending and an otherwise lackluster body of a film. In other words, it drags us through a painful journey (not just for us, but apparently for them) and just as it should end, we're thrown into another eye-roller of a skirmish that ends faster than it began. So, for the as yet STILL uninformed: when it should end, it starts up again, only to end when we expect more. S***! It's just a confusing and agonizing pace! Which brings me to the ultimatum: this is meant to educate us on the events of the Kokoda track. It doesn't come close. Not only does it detail a very small, insignificant part of the campaign (sprinkling a little "mateship" on top in an attempt to make it relevant), but it succeeds in doing the one thing a film as important as this should be does, it makes us NOT care. Honestly, my eyes were constantly glued to my watch the entire time. The audience around me, all proudly Australian, bickering as they came in about how great the film is going to be, groaned, moaned, and whined in disappointment as every one of the painful ninety-five minutes droned on (for a short running time, it felt like Apocalypse Now: difference being that Apocalypse Now was a good film and deserved the three hours it got) and on to the point where suicide could wholeheartedly be an alternative should it be mandatory for this film to be watched. Though, considering how much the TV has been advertising this trash, I'd say it is mandatory, in a subliminal sense of the word. Watch if you like pretty images. Though you'd do better watching The Constant Gardener or Gallipoli anyway, since they have superior cinematography and ACTUAL plots. Overall: *

Excellent stuff though it stops a bit short in telling the whole story... I won't ruin the story... the acting is excellent, cinematography as well, storyline is complete, for what it tells. My only let down is it doesn't go into more of the history... IE:- after where the movie finishes... Movie is a bit gory; though that is the only way to tell a war movie these days. Recommend anyone see this... over the age of 16 This is another movie to help you feel proud to be an Australian. Remind us of what we have; Why we remember the fallen, those who returned and those who are no longer with us. (honestly) Lest we forget! Saw on 21st April 2006.

This truly Australian film focusing on the emotions and experiences of the soldiers who fought on the Kokoda Trail was really well made. I knew little about the Kokoda Trail and although the film didn't go into depth about the military tactics, the experiences of the soldiers were well-captured and must have been quite a moving flash-back for those who survived. Generally Australian films are incredibly low-budget, therefore the film relies on the actors and the director to make an effective film. Regardless of budget, the film was incredibly well-made and had quite an impact upon me. When the credits began to roll and the lights came back on, I couldn't help but notice a veteran behind me in tears. Great film.

What was the aim here...I started to have a look at it but then I realized that it had no aim...poor acting...no action and no story..i ended up listening to it while i was surfing the web reading about David Beckham's $250 million dollar US soccer Galaxy contract. Do not rent this Don't borrow this NOT WORTH A DOWN LOAD i've seen so many films that I could sense that this was going to be crap from the get go. War films should be accurate and if possible have some artistic merit and actually not feel like Christian melodrama...This film pales in comparison to any that i've seen before.I must say that Iam truly disappointed at this film..

A totally pathetic attempt at movie about sacrifices of Australian Soldiers during the New Guinea Campaign. Total waste of money even if you only see it on DVD. Thankfully the video store provided a free weekly hire with the DVD else it would have been a complete waste of money. Probably made by arty types and full of the symbolism that today's Chardonay socialists seem so into. Frankly this movie is an insult to the memory of the brave chaps that never came back. Somebody please provide the funding to make a decent movie at least the equal of Saving Private Ryan. Hopefully the RSL will put as much distance between itself and this movie as possible. The story needs to be told from all sides the Australians, the locals & the Japanese - Although getting the latter to tell the truth about anything that happened during the second world war is highly unlikely. Basically its rubbish, don't see it, don't buy it. Walk away

I hadn't heard of the Kokoda trail before seeing this movie, so did not know what to expect other than another war movie. But after the intro I was sucked in. It was interesting but beware it is not for the squeamish. I took my mum to see it as I won 2 tickets to the advance screening, she also quite enjoyed it but at times didn't like the 'brutal' scenes or profanity used. I believe it compares with Platoon, a great war film of its time and as should Kokoda become too. The characters were good, I believe it would be hard for them to act in such wet and muddy conditions. They did not but depth into characters but each was different which I was pleased to see, their was a self-confident man who I switched on and off with in liking. Direction was the main reason I wanted to see the film, Aussie films are being very well directed such as Wolf Creek, and I was pleased on how the camera effects and angles were used. Overall, anyone could enjoy such a great film even if you are not into war or looking for great direction, but the history and depiction of the event is brought forward very well. I tossed between a 7 and 8 of 10...but a 7.2 will resolves my decision lol.