Spoiler Machine Reviews: Newfoundland at Armageddon
Scene: A cozy London pub, two film critics, Jamie and Alex, are seated at a table with pints of ale.
Jamie: So, I just watched this documentary called Newfoundland at Armageddon. Grab your hankies, mate, because it’s a tearjerker wrapped in history!
Alex: Oh, I’ve heard about it! It’s about the Newfoundland Regiment in World War I, right? Tell me they didn’t sugarcoat the tragedy!
Jamie: Sugarcoat? More like they dunked it in a vat of reality! The film centers around July 1st, 1916, when the Newfoundlanders bravely charged into the Battle of the Somme. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t end well for most of them!
Alex: Let me guess, they reenact the battle? How do they manage to make that gripping?
Jamie: Oh, they’ve got a clever twist! Director Brian McKenna doesn’t just throw actors in a field; he recruits the descendants of the actual soldiers! These folks get to relive the harrowing experience in trenches built just for the film. Talk about family bonding!
Alex: That’s a unique approach! So, do they get all emotional? I can picture the tears flowing like a river.
Jamie: You bet! Watching these modern-day descendants grappling with their ancestors’ fates is like watching a Shakespearean tragedy unfold in muddy boots. They’re digging deep into the emotional trenches, quite literally!
Alex: And how does it portray the actual battle? I mean, it’s got to be intense!
Jamie: Intense is an understatement! The film doesn’t shy away from the horrors of war. The Newfoundland Regiment was nearly wiped out at Beaumont Hamel, with only 110 out of 780 soldiers surviving the day. It’s a brutal reminder of sacrifice, and you can almost hear the echoes of history in the trenches!
Alex: Wow, that’s heavy! So, does it have a happy ending, or do we leave with a heart full of despair?
Jamie: Well, if by “happy ending” you mean a poignant tribute to those who fell, then yes! The film wraps up by commemorating the centenary of the battle, reminding us that their bravery is not forgotten. But let’s just say, it’s not exactly a rom-com!
Alex: Sounds like a rollercoaster of emotions! Is there any humor at all, or is it all doom and gloom?
Jamie: A smidge of humor peeks through, mostly from the descendants trying to cope with the gravity of what their ancestors faced. It’s like watching a serious history lesson with a sprinkle of gallows humor. You know, the kind that makes you chuckle while your heart is breaking!
Alex: Brilliant! I’ll add it to my watchlist, but I’ll make sure to have a good cry afterward. Anything else to note?
Jamie: Just that it’s a powerful tribute, beautifully crafted. So, grab a seat, prepare for the feels, and remember: it’s history, so the ending is already written!
Alex: Cheers to that! I’ll raise my glass to the Newfoundland Regiment and their descendants!
Jamie: And to Brian McKenna for reminding us of their incredible story! Now, about that next film…