Truly Dreadful Film

Pretty Good

Good movie but grossly overrated

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

After refusing to attack an enemy position, a general accuses the soldiers of cowardice and their commanding officer must defend them. Paths of Glory is a 1957 War film starring Kirk Douglas and it's directed by Stanley Kubrick. Now this movie is no Metal Jacket and why should it be? It was made in 1957 and not 1987 and it makes sense of being old and black and white and believe me it works on it's favor. The acting is really good especially from Douglas, the movie as a whole is well structued with very good cinematography and excellent close ups and war sequences. It's no 'Saving Private Ryan' but it's a movie that is very watchable and just interesting as a whole. (10/10) (B+)

This movie sped by - was it rushed or was I enthralled? Whatever, it captures the politics of war beautifully and it's the fighting man who is expendable. SPOILER Why is Broulard prepared to mount a case with all the ensuing publicity against Mireau? Dax seemed surprised too. Broulard didn't do it out of any sense of guilt or fairness as he makes clear in his final speech to Dax ("the village idiot"). This movie can be compared to Ray's Bitter Victory which I preferred for its non-literal treatment.

Paths of Glory was alright but lacking. It's not much of a war film, yet it doesn't give the viewer enough to care about to be a drama.Seems we are supposed to be invested in the fate of these three men on trial, when we aren't given any character depth and spend little screen time with them. Only to hear them whining "I don't want to die I don't want to die". I found many of the characters to be rather cartoonish, Mireau in particular. Kirk Douglas is terrific in the main role holding the film together.

It took a while to see the film that put Stanley Kubrick on the map as a force to be reckoned with. Paths of Glory was a war film with an interesting premise and has the reputation for being an "anti-war" piece on the dehumanization of soldiers. With Kirk Douglas as the star, the plot centers around prideful and power-hungry French military officers who order an impossible mission from a battalion who fleas upon defeat and is accused of cowardice. Many other films by Kubrick shows his powerful and masterful filming style and Paths of Glory is no different. The focus is strong and it's difficult to take your eyes off the screen throughout the picture. Good use is made of these phenomenal actors who give heartfelt performances and deliver strong and emotionally piercing lines. The film is a short and crisp 88 minutes so it's easy to watch anytime. This also makes the pacing clean and the viewer will know every scene, shot, and frame is completely intentional and justified. Not a single moment of this fascinating and well done film is wasted and the talented actors are utilized to their fullest. Perhaps any downside to this film is the first 20-30 minutes in which the viewer may be wondering what kind of film they're watching and for what purpose. It's easy to see how upon release, however received with high regard, was met with some confusion as to the substance of the story and what it was trying to say. It's not a film that glorifies war or conflict; in fact, the concept of battle (physical or psychological) can cause some irritation for the viewer. This was most likely intended and it was probably a good move in the long run.Personally, I enjoyed Paths of Glory throughout the picture and found it as important as it is beautifully directed. However, the most impactful piece of the story is the final scene in which a woman is singing to a group of soldiers in a bar. Not many other scenes have had so much emotional impact and beauty that it truly made Paths of Glory a personal favorite. Really no complaints about the quality of this film or the personal pressure points it wasn't afraid to touch. It's also amazing how those emotions can be pierced so powerfully more than 50 years after this was released. It's a grand milestone in filmmaking that deserves much more attention and is highly recommended to anyone who has the chance to see it. It's simply amazing!