If you know ANYTHING about living in the outdoors, you'll probably be better off not watching this historically important film -- just because the way these "rangers" operate is just completely crazy. The movies suffers, very seriously, from a lack of realism, and I'm not just being a "fussy" old history buff. It's one dumb thing after another.
Even if you're willing to accept the bizarre premise and the ugly racism, how can it be acceptable to begin an attempt to secretly drag boats up a mountain, under the noses of the enemy "while making the least noise possible"-- by setting off a barrel of gunpowder?? And crossing a raging river using a "human chain" is pretty stupid-- and this takes up WAY too much of this movie. The rangers rescue some "hostages" by firing a cannon into the room where they live at point blank range! Yow!
Much of the film revolves around the rangers' lack of food. Huh? I think any competent woodsman should have been able to find SOMETHING to eat. When the rangers finally DO "collect" some local animals, they just throw all the critters in a pot and boil them up, feathers and all.
Suuure they did.
Of course, when a man is shot in the gut with a musket, he can overcome that by being tough and walking it off.
Suuure he can.
Unfortunately, just about every scene in this epic features this kind of silliness. But then Spencer Tracy gives a speech and all is forgiven. Oh well... watch it if you're a student of film, Otherwise, pass... PASS!
(Added two stars for Tracy...would be four stars otherwise).
Even if you're willing to accept the bizarre premise and the ugly racism, how can it be acceptable to begin an attempt to secretly drag boats up a mountain, under the noses of the enemy "while making the least noise possible"-- by setting off a barrel of gunpowder?? And crossing a raging river using a "human chain" is pretty stupid-- and this takes up WAY too much of this movie. The rangers rescue some "hostages" by firing a cannon into the room where they live at point blank range! Yow!
Much of the film revolves around the rangers' lack of food. Huh? I think any competent woodsman should have been able to find SOMETHING to eat. When the rangers finally DO "collect" some local animals, they just throw all the critters in a pot and boil them up, feathers and all.
Suuure they did.
Of course, when a man is shot in the gut with a musket, he can overcome that by being tough and walking it off.
Suuure he can.
Unfortunately, just about every scene in this epic features this kind of silliness. But then Spencer Tracy gives a speech and all is forgiven. Oh well... watch it if you're a student of film, Otherwise, pass... PASS!
(Added two stars for Tracy...would be four stars otherwise).