Page 97 - History of War - Issue 01-14

STrike Back: SPiriTS of The
Shadow warfare dVd Somme dVd reviews

Directed by Michael J Bassett, Julian Directed by Bob Carruthers
Holmes, Paul Wilmshurst 2entertain RRP £17 Beckmann Visual Publishing RRP £8
★★★★★ ★★★★★ x

The fourth series in the successful The first day of July 1916 will go
(and explosive) American-British down as one of the darkest days
drama sees Sergeants Michael in the history of the British Army.
Stonebridge (Philip Winchester) It was the opening day of the
and Damien Scott (Sullivan Battle of the Somme, and some
Stapleton) spending their leave 60,000 men lost their lives.
in a testosterone-fuelled manner, To put that into perspective, that’s
riding their loud, high-horsepower more than 12 times the number of
motorbikes through California. Cue people who perished in the World
a rude interruption in the form of Trade Center attacks of 2001.
a US Army helicopter landing next As the opening scenes of this
to them on the highway, informing Agent Dalton, portrayed by Rhona major new documentary – from the
them that their holiday is over Mitra, who gives orders to anybody Emmy award-winning makers of as it looks today, and Carruthers
and that they must help deal with who’ll listen, before quietly popping Battlefield and Weapons Of War – helpfully goes into great detail to
drug-dealing terrorists in Colombia. pills when no one is looking. kick in, it’s hard to comprehend describe why it all went so horribly
What follows is a ten-part Our very own Robson Green makes the events that happened next. wrong. But the main reason for
series of high drama, nudity an appearance and, while his In awe-inspiring clarity, we see buying this DVD is undoubtedly
and adrenaline that spans three character won’t win any awards hundreds of British squaddies the aforementioned footage –
continents. It’s not particularly for charisma, even he has his cheerily marching, in that slightly rare and drawn from both British
clever, with shoot-outs taking place moments of absurd believability. sped-up manner befitting the and German forces, it transports
on every street corner, with no But let’s not pick it apart silent comedies of the period, you straight into the trenches, and
apparent repercussions for the too much: Strike Back delivers and it all seems very light-hearted you can almost see the pimples
gunmen involved. And you’re asked exactly what it intends to. It’s an and genteel. But as presenter/ on the young soldiers’ faces.
to suspend belief when the soldiers action-packed, muscle-rippling director Bob Carruthers explains, In this, the centenary year of
are administered yellow fever and rush packed with explosives, Allied plans quickly went awry the start of the First World War,
typhoid jabs just hours before rocket-launchers and humorous and the result was a massacre. this almost painfully haunting
descending into the Colombian camaraderie between the main Clever editing beautifully documentary is an absolute must
jungle. But the characters are characters. Think James Bond contrasts the horror of that day addition to your DVD collection.
certainly colourful – especially without the sophistication. Chris Short with the serenity of the battlefield Paul Dimery

The PhiladelPhia SaVing general yang french BriTiSh warS riSe of flighT:
exPerimenT dVd/Blu-ray App Kulfun Games channel BaTTleS ediTion
dVd/Blu-ray Directed by Ronnie Yu Free PC game Excalibur
★★★★★
Directed by Universal Pictures RRP £40
RRP £11
Paul Ziller While this addictive military-strategy ★★★★★
Anchor Bay RRP £8 ★★★★★ app isn’t strictly new, it’s recently
★★★★★ No, it's not a been improved with a bunch of Now that the
centenary of the
fixes and new additions to make
The Philadelphia Chinese remake the gaming experience that much start of the First
Experiment is of Saving Private better – and even more addictive. World War is
the equivalent Ryan (more’s These include the addition of rock upon us, there’s
of Area 51: the pity), but and wood storage buildings, and no better time
a rumour and little more. It was this film – based on a collection of the increased health of French to settle down in front of your PC
supposedly a secret attempt, in legendary Chinese folklore called troops. For anyone who doesn’t and take control of a canvas-and-
1943, to cloak a US warship (USS “Generals Of The Yang” – certainly know, French British Wars is set in wood fighter plane in an aerial
Eldridge) so that it was invisible to tries its best to be as epic as the mid-18th Century, back in the battle over the Western Front. This
radar, utilising Einstein’s unified- Steven Spielberg’s 1998 multi- days when George II and Louis XV latest addition to the long-running
field theory. The US denies that Oscar-winner. The story centres were at each other’s throats in and brilliant series gives you the
it ever happened, though it’s around a group of warrior sons an attempt to build an Empire. opportunity to extend your theatre
managed to spawn two movies – who, with the blessing of their Taking control of one or the other, of combat to the English Channel
one in 1984, made for theatrical mother, attempt to rescue their you get to build civilisations and (or, rather, above it). As well as
release, and a sequel (2013) General father from imprisonment plan sieges on your enemy’s getting a series of daring new
for TV only. Both are included by a rival army, and the ensuing interests – and how often do you missions (and they’re even more
here, though it’s the latter that’s battle sequences are beautifully get to say that? Paul Dimery daring when there’s nothing but sea
billed as the premier event. Both choreographed in that slighly below), you get the choice of 25
films are entertaining, if flawed, dreamy, slow-mo style that we first additional aircraft alongside the
suggesting that the technology saw employed in Ang Lee’s majestic ten that were on offer previously
employed caused a rift in time 2000 work Crouching Tiger, Hidden – all of which are authentically
and space, which resulted in naval Dragon. The film is let down by detailed with accurate weapons
offices from the Eldridge being subtitles that change too quickly and cockpits, ensuring the most
cast into the modern day. The to allow you to follow what’s going realistic experience possible.
2013 effort is a gung-ho affair on, while the war scenes are too What’s more, you can either
with highly clichéd takes on the bloodless to be truly realistic. But engage in a dogfight against the
US Government and conspiracy. Saving General Yang works fine as computer or invite your friends
It’s all good fun, but take with a an untaxing, and slightly different, to take you on. Just remember,
large pinch of salt. Paul Pettengale combat movie. Paul Dimery it’s only a game. Paul Dimery
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