People are voting emotionally.

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Although it's a well-remembered film – particularly here in the UK – I found watching ESCAPE TO VICTORY to be a hollow experience. It actually turns out to be a hollow, rather soulless viewing experience. Yes, it's a feel-good film about a football match between an international team and the Nazis during WW2, but in truth? The script isn't very good. The prison drama stuff just kinds of happens without the viewer ever getting too involved or emotionally attached to the plot, and none of the characters have a great deal of sympathy, either.Perhaps it's one of those movies where there are so many characters, we don't have time to care about them. So we get Michael Caine as the token movie-star hero, Max Von Sydow as the token sympathetic Nazi, Sly Stallone as the token macho American idol, and a bunch of real footballers like Pele and Bobby Moore doing their bit on the pitch.The football scenes themselves are great. They're portrayed humorously, with maximum drama and skill. The final few minutes of the final match are truly nail-biting, and all this is from a guy who typically hates football. But other than pride, what's the film all about? The prison escape drama strives to be on the same level as the one in THE GREAT ESCAPE, but I never cared about whether the characters made it or not. Well-remembered it might be…but unlike other well-remembered movies, this one's no classic.

I just couldn't buy the basic premise of this movie. I thought it was a passable piece of entertainment - not stellar, but good enough. But the basic premise lost me. The Nazis were masters of propaganda, and this was a truly no win scenario for them. The story has a soccer team from the German Army taking on a team made up of Allied prisoners who in peacetime had (mostly) been well known soccer players. My mind couldn't grasp how the Germans were going to milk any positive propaganda out of this. If they won - so, they beat a bunch of POWs; if they lost - WHOA! They lost to a bunch of POWS! I just couldn't buy it.But set aside the unbelievable premise and this was an all right movie. The soccer angle aside, what you had was an interesting reflection on the duty of prisoners of war to escape if possible. Hatch (played by Sylvester Stallone) was a repeat escaper, who latched on to the soccer team (first as manager and then, somewhat improbably, as the goalkeeper) because it represented another chance to escape. Colby (Michael Caine) was the Allied team's captain and manager - a former star with West Ham United who now just wants to play soccer rather than escape. What started as a small affair, organized by a German officer (Max von Sydow) ended up as this huge propaganda effort, with the game played in Paris.Yes it was unbelievabe that Hatch would end up as the goalkeeper. Yes it was unbelievable that Hatch would have been allowed on the team after his attempts at escape. Yes it was unbelievable that he would be put back on the team after escaping again. Yes it was unbelievable in so many ways. But it wasn't unenjoyable. Stallone's performance was pretty good, and there was a funny (to me anyway) nod to his work as Rocky Balboa as he stared down the German who was about to take the last second penalty kick. The last scenes, as the crowd stormed the field and seemed to help the prisoners escape was pretty dramatic. And the movie featured Pele - who showed no great acting talent, but offered up his famous scissors kick a couple of times.Sure it was implausible - and that's generous. But very watchable, and for the most part enjoyable. (6/10)

ESCAPE TO VICTORYThis film was recommended to me by my parents. My Dad is a fan of this movie... and I can see why. It is a good film.I am not a football fan at all, but I did really enjoy this film.It is about a group of people being held captive by the Germans during World War II. They start to play football whilst being held, and the German soldiers challenge them to a game. The game becomes a big thing and ends up being played in Paris. The whole time they are arranging this game, the inmates are arranging to escape during the half time break.The film stars a young Sylvester Stallone and Michael Caine. I am a fan of both of there guys. They are both legendary actors. This is neither of their best film... they have both made better movies. But this is still very good. The legendary footballer, Pele, also stars. Pele makes a great shot in the final match. :)The story is a typical war escape movie. It's not as good as the classic Great Escape, but still is similar in ways.The acting is not bad. There are some bits that were not brilliant, but you hardly noticed it really.There were a few bits that I thought were just a little too unrealistic. For instance, a German soldier sees one of the prisoners escaping, and he just smiled and sat down. Hmmmm... not overly likely.I will give this film 7 out of 10.Very entertaining, but not really realistic. :)For more reviews, please like my Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ordinary-Person-Movie- Reviews/456572047728204?ref=hl

what a fantastic soccer movie.. I mean if we keep aside some of the visible glitches, then it sure is a good watch. The players keeping their possible escape half the way down the match and putting forward their morale ,their self esteem ahead to give an eventful 2nd half amidst some nasty ploys adapted by the Germans!!! Its heartening watching PELE dribble around with 1 of his hands supporting his injured chest n that last goal off his feet is a treat to watch.I am surprised how come this movie is not even in all time gr8 sports movies lists of IMDb. Max Paine as always has given good performance too.. Some actors do sound a bit wooden but considering that most of them were not actual players....Highly recommended...