DLW:

What hath Spike wrought? As a longtime admirer of Spike Lee's work, I was entirely disappointed by this film. The initial set-up, placed in the year 1983, was a bit off-putting, and patient waiting for story development that would bring it full circle with some dignity and meaning, was to no avail. Perhaps it's true that high levels of success and the perks that come with it, often numb the senses and reduce artistic judgment, for that seems to be the case with 'Miracle at St. Anna'. Most shocking of all, is the lack of respect for the heroism and courage of the Buffalo Soldiers themselves. Many of those characters are portrayed as oafish simpletons, culled from an abandoned episode of Amos and Andy, minus the potential humor. In fact, most of the characters, regardless of race or nationality, are as shallow and flat as cartoon sketches. Even the comparatively subliminal element of musical score seemed clumsy, off cue, and oddly inappropriate, as if sampled from a variety of irrelevant movies. It's hard to understand where Spike's mind was at, during what had to have been a long development process, execution, and post production. A labor of love certainly doesn't come across, only an occasional rancid bitterness that never plays well, or truly benefits the greater reaches of anyone's cause. The story itself didn't work well, either in practical terms or from the standpoint of emotional involvement; but was instead sprawling, many-headed, and in want of direction. Even the more compelling scenes of heated combat or brutal war against civilians, came across as mean cues for evoking otherwise empty emotion. My words are harsh, and it brings no pleasure to put them on paper. I hope for the quick return of Spike Lee, a legendary filmmaker whose previous work I have admired and cherished. The two stars are generous, and are my one concession to his legacy.

WideStance:

Yes, the film is long (2 hours 40 minutes) and often meanders about with scenes that could use an edit or two and some subplots I'm still not sure it needed, but Spike Lee has always overstuffed his movies and has an unquestionably beautiful mess of a film with Miracle at St. Anna. I was very moved by it and, for all its flaws, think it's one of Lee's best films--he's trying all kinds of new stuff here. Among the movie's great moments--"Axis Sally," a Tokyo Rose style propagandist who tailors a broadcast specifically for black U.S. soldiers; a great scene of a common prayer recited in english, italian and german; some truly great battle scenes and each touching, funny and brilliant scene featuring Omar Benson Miller (the Chocolate Giant) bonding with a little Italian boy. The ending is unbelievably goofy but so what, the 2-1/2 hours that precede it tell an effective, touching story complete enough without the tacked on ending.

Evil Jon:

Don't waste your time. This movie is HORRIBLE! How in the world did this get 3.5 stars? I love war movies, but if you're looking for a decent one, this is NOT it. Bad editing, bad camera work, bad acting, bad action scenes and an incredibly bad script. And to top it off, its 2hrs and 46 minutes long! The one redeeming quality is that there are boobs 1hr 30minutes in. :P The only thing I can think of to make sense of this God awful mess, is that maybe, in some weird, twisted way, Spike Lee intended this to be a comedy. lol Shame really, as I really enjoy most of his other films.

robowriter:

This movie's previews gave me the distinct preconception that it was about a miracle somehow involving an Italian orphan boy, a decapitated architectural head, and the escape of a group of American black soldiers during WWII. What the movie turned out to be, however, was a powerful if extended and often muddy exploration of wartime violence, suffering and injustice, racial prejudice, hope, and sacrifice -- with a whimper of a so-called miracle at the end. Miracle of St. Anna not only felt like a mix of several movie plots in one but also a mashup of scenes from probably every movie Spike Lee has ever seen. (No kidding, I could name several dozen movie scenes that felt strongly reminiscent if not lifted from other directors' offerings.) The wartime story is powerful with often graphic carnage of the black soldiers pinned down for the slaughter and of innocent civilians slaughtered like bowling pins. (One of the most reprehensible scenes of Nazi carnage is the assassination of a parish priest followed by the massacre of an entire town in the church square, with blood splattering across the bullet holes being pockmarked in the church walls.) America's black soldiers are an experimental regiment, considered "equal enough" to fight -- just not alongside white soldiers. Their courage in an exceptional situation is exemplary -- this is a Spike Lee movie after all -- though racial turmoil is too simplistic of a scapegoat. The Italian boy is a salvific figure of innocence and his relationship with his "chocolate giant" is sweet and memorable. However, the stone head seems to be superstition only and I wish more than lip service could have been paid to the theme of a miraculous escape through the mountains of Tuscany. You don't want to know how many are left alive by the end (in the "then" or in the "now"). I will just say I loved the ending! 4 stars. (3-11-09)

couchdog53:

This movie was over 2 1/2 hours but it kept my interest throughout. I had passed on seeing this at the theater because it was so long but now I see I would have been fine with it. It really didn't feel too long at all. For me there were no slow parts. Most of the characters were well developed, and the story, while somewhat convoluted, was very interesting. This is the best WWII war movie I've seen recently. In my opinion it's much better than both Valkyrie and Defiance. I wasn't crazy about those two so if you really liked them you might not agree with me on this. Or maybe you will like this one even more. Warning: there are some very graphic and bloody dismemberments in some of the battle scenes that might be disturbing for sensitive viewers, and the whole film in general is not a good choice for children. Other than that it is one that I would definitely recommend. I really enjoyed it. (2/16/09)

DFWFOREIGN:

I have been trying to see most of Spike Lee's movies. He is America's greatest & most prolific black director/producer. This is his most mature & complex film. For those not aware it is a EUROPEAN FILM (much like Tarrantino Inglorious Basterds) It is almost epic in format at 166 minutes. Plot: In the fall of 1944, four African-American soldiers find themselves caught behind enemy lines & surrounded by German soldiers. They take refuge in a small Italian village that has been temporarily vacated by the Germans. In their company in a small boy, obviously shell-shocked & feverish, who seems only to speak to his invisible friend Arturo. Tensions rise among the four men not only because of their life-threatening situation but also because two of them become rivals for the attention of an attractive young woman. When they manage to make contact with their unit, they are told to capture a German soldier for questioning & with the aid of the Italian partisans, have a candidate. What they don't realize is that there is a traitor in the partisan group, one that will have major repercussion on one of the men 40 years later. The soldiers make friends & enemies with the townspeople, which challenges the inherent racism of all involved. Lee's take on racism is unflinching in its bitterness, especially as it focuses on the segregationist thinking of white field officers and policies of our military. Plot adapted from James McBride's novel of the same name is by McBride himself. It isn't a bad story; Some claim that the story is written in such a false & incredible fashion that undermines the film's credibility. I disagree. The film has some plot & dialogue problems but I found it a story well worth being told. It is a story that needs to be told no matter the problems with the plot & storyline. Lee has presented us his vision & I accept it as such. (But I do agree the story is one dimensional) The ends left me confused somewhat, but watch this movie!! It?s worth it!! 3 stars

Supercords:

Strange movie. Nothing like you expect going in. I?m not certain Spike Lee or the editor were working from the same script. There was a really good film buried somewhere in there, but nobody on the crew seemed able to bring it to light. The little Italian kid was fantastic, but major actors were introduced and then left on the wayside. If they were cameos, they weren?t treated as such. I was moved by many sequences, but disappointed at the incoherent storytelling. Some of the race issues felt very ham fisted. Also, the Shawshank Redemption ending felt hollow. It didn?t illicit the dramatic punch they were aiming for. This film was too big for Spike Lee?s talent. Rating: C

e5bb1f0e12:

Anyone who rates this movie less than 4 stars seriously needs their head examined. Some of the previous ratings almost kept me from watching this movie and that would have been almost tragic. This movie directed by Spike Lee was outstanding. If youre not into these types of movies watch something else, otherwise you will be pleasantly surprised.

lastliberal:

Is this movie as bad as they say? Has Spike Lee lost focus? It garnered a lot of nominations, but no wins; what could be the matter? The opening was fascinating. There was going to be a story with multiple subplots that would make this an intelligent movie. Even Laila Petrone couldn't distract me as hard as she tried. The story shifts to a battle between the Germans and the Buffalo soldiers, which was outstanding, and, as expected, shows the prejudice of the white officers in command. Only four men escaped the artillery barrage. It was funny watching Train (Omar Benson Miller) dragging a head with him as a good luck talisman. Soon, he is also dragging an 8-year-old boy (Matteo Sciabordi). The story settles to life in town where various stories, including the explanation for the killing in the beginning, are told. Another big battle in town ends the story and brings us back to the present. Was it overly long? No, I found that it was compelling enough that the time flew by. It was a good war movie with a twist. I found it enjoyable.

VJ Purplequeen:

This movie certainly is violent, so much so that I probably missed chunks of the movie because I had to turn away from it. Felt like being drenched in too much blood, red everywhere. And yeah, the story was a bit hokey with its bad soldier cares about a little boy theme, especially in a world where so many of our children have been made into child soldiers. Just a tad pushing the idea that soldiers are the good guys. After all, we are in a war condition, this country is, and so we need to portray our soldiers as human. That may be the biggest miracle of the story. I very much enjoyed the spiritual leanings of the movie, would have loved to see more. Alas this movie wanted to appeal to the more worldly bounded and so it had the required love/romance angle and the unflinching look at hatred in any guise story - which is always ugly - but the movie does shows that love is really the only way to survive, to be. Love as a verb, not just a noun is the true message and I like that message. So I'm pushing this up to a 4, even having to subtract more than one point for the blood and gore. I don't think all the getting shot helped the story much and those scenes tended to go on and on and on for too long.

Motombo Lombo:

Lots of Spike Lee hating around here. The purpose of a WW2 movie in 2008 is not a history lesson. In this case, it was an exploration of the brotherhood of man against a violent WW2 backdrop. USA was one of the good guys but undeniably racist and unbearable for black people including soldiers. Germans were the bad guys, but there were many good Germans in that mix. Italian partisans were fighting for freedom but they also had traitors. Does Spike Lee never stop reminding America about its past? So he does. That past is not so long ago, and its scent hangs around, so he is performing a public service function.

Philmarusa:

I know I wanted to like this movie. I enjoyed the contacts between the Italians and the Americans but the movie tried hard to cover too many bases at the same time. To rambling and trying too hard to update the storyline to including changing the dialog to dumb down the city speak for those who know better what we sound like today. I seriously doubt people talked that way in the '40's. This movie could have been better and Directors should be allowed to use their own cuts somewhere on the DVD so we can give credit where credit is due is they had better ideas than the companies that picked up the bill!

lbz 95199:

I can't add more to the very apt member reviews of Cassun and Widestance. Omar Benson Miller's portrayal of the Chocolate Giant is moving and memorable. I always look forward to seeing him in films. The actors who played his fellow Buffalo Soldiers were all outstanding. Worth viewing.

Frank W:

Many will surely castigate the film because it rebukes a singular approach to the subject matter at hand, instead developing many delicious back stories and fairy-tale-like sequences that weave a wonderful tale of fantasy, heroism, love and compassion? a poem of sorts. It's a character-driven drama and because of that, some lovers of the war genre may feel let down. Sure, Lee's reach sometimes exceeds his grasp, but even at a healthy 160 minutes, there's neither a single uninteresting frame nor a word of wasted dialogue. It's not a simple action-packed war drama with mile-a-minute explosions and acts of super-human heroism. The buffalo soldiers deserve better than that.

AtTheBeach:

"Miracle at St. Anna" is a movie that will leave most viewers thinking that this good movie had the potential to be a great one. The story line is intriguing. Director Spike Lee, who seems to want to be known as a professional black director who focuses on black characters in various situations, sometimes loses his direction. This movie is no exception. Many viewers will want to know more about the statue that a World War II veteran brought back with him from Italy after carrying it around a combat zone. All we know about it isthe perfunctory introduction by a college professor who says it is worth millions. The characters are strong and interesting but the lack of editing or direction leaves the viewer confused. Who is doing what and why and why did this movie last 166 minutes? It would have been a better film with better editing if it has lasted 1:30 or so. Overall, an interesting film with a unique perspective about the experience of these black soldiers in Italy in World War II who survived, helped others in some cases and whose lives were changed as a result of the experience.

Gregg Hess:

One of Spike Lee's worst films. His racism is becoming more and more obvious with each passing movie. Besides that the filming was subpar and I was not impressed

fewstingscorpio:

I usually read some reviews before getting a movie. This one had some good reviews. I'm afraid I can't give it as high a one as many critics. I found it a little slow and bland. The soundtrack was also a little loud and didn't seem to fit. I thought some of the acting was just o.k. and in fact a little over the top. I did watch it completely and would give it an average rating since I did want to see what happened and I find the subject of the 'Buffalo Soldiers interesting.

Deliberative:

By rights I shouldn't review this film (but of course I will) because I only made it through about the first 20 minutes. The tone of the film seemed so confused-Is it magical realism set in a quaint Italian village? Is it a WWII film/ A blck historical film?-that it proved unwatchable to me. A huge disappointment, since the idea of a Spike Lee film about black soldiers in WWII was very exciting to me. Maybe I'll try it again some day.

HJ 902526:

Geez. I am not exactly sure what Spike Lee was thinking when making this movie. It seem he wanted to make a serious piece, but the dialog came off as old 70s comedy. Specifically, Spikes' characters seem stereotypical you expect out of blaxploitation movie. Did I mention this is a Spike Lee Movie? Spike has slipped a lot as a director, with the exception of Inside Man. But still, it seem dialog-wise the movie did not want to even try. Now cinemagraphy, Spike still has the touch. But it was not enough to save this movie.

Rascal:

Miracle At St Anna is a very long mess. The beginning of the film was preposterous. It was only put into the picture in order to attract mainstream movie goers who would be enticed by the preview. Since it had this lame beginning it received an equally weak ending. I realize that without this hook the picture would not have made a dime. Too bad. Spike Lee did make an interesting WWII picture. There were some great scenes. The overall themes were well done. I appreciate that the director tried to show ignorance and racism in all forms. The obvious white officers vs the black combat troops; the black troops vs themselves; the Italians vs the Germans, the Americans, their own fascists and their own partisans. The massacre at St. Anna was horrific and reminded me of similar incidents in Vietnam. Those parts of the movie were well done and I believe the DVD is worth a rental on that bases. This movie really needed some professional editing and much of the statue and young boy scenes should have been shorten.

e28537bf4d:

Reasons to see this movie: beautiful photography, powerful (although a bit melodramatic) score, luscious locations de Italia. Reasons to stay away: a confusing lack of focus and dramatic rhythm. Characterization was a bit stereotyped. Best moment: When Bishop takes out his knife to peel off the racist propaganda.

batman1784:

This is something that I wouldn't normally watch, I don't really like war movies. But this kept my interest throughout. There was always more to just "war". The magical boy kept me intrigued. Overall good movie, but I woudn't watch it a second time. Very long. Two hours and thirty min.

qga 1189789:

I challenge you,Spike Lee,to make a Movie thats not about Racial Issues.A story,conflict...y know,Its called a MOVIE...Your plug In formula is really pretty tired by now-Oh I know! How about an all Black 'Brady Bunch' or an all Black 'Dawn of the Dead'!!Ugh...