The Eight Hundred

While the dialogue and acting leave something to be desired, the battle scenes are a n intense and realistic chaos of excitement. And cinematography, while a bit cliche in parts, are still impressive to watch.

Rating: 7.2/10 ⭐️

The scale and brutal realism of this Alamo-style last stand completely blew me away.

The Director’s Eye:
Shot on IMAX, the contrast between the gritty warehouse and neon settlement is stunning. As a conservative, this story of ultimate sacrifice hits home. Watching 400 men make a heroic last stand against 20,000 invaders champions raw bravery and patriotism. The thunderous score puts you right in the trenches.

The Cuts:
The massive cast jumps perspectives frantically, so the middle part really dragged for me since I lost track of everyone. Two and a half hours of deafening combat is exhausting; I felt totally drained by the end. Also, the censorship makes the history feel disjointed.

Verdict:
A jaw-dropping, patriotic war epic honoring military sacrifice. Exhausting, but worth a watch.

Favorite Line: “We are here, so Shanghai is still here.”

An intense and uniquely realistic portrayal of war. I personally had a little trouble following the ending events but I attribute that to my lack of understanding of the context. Otherwise, the cinematography was exceptional and the special effect even more superb.