Has anyone seen the movie "Monuments Men"?

[Tenebrae]

That’s the one about saving artworks from the Nazis. My son has seen it, and told me that there’s a Christmas scene in there which is a bit sappy. He said that some people actually got up and walked out of the theater during that scene. I was planning to see it, and I’d like to know what’s so bad about that scene? You can tell me–I don’t mind any spoilers.

 

[empther]

Chicago Tribune movie review:

articles.chicagotribune.com/2014-02-04/entertainment/ct-monuments-men-20140204_1_the-monuments-men-world-war-i-veteran-curators

Clooney’s work as a director includes “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind,” “Good Night, and Good Luck” and “The Ides of March,” good films all. He also directed the period football comedy “Leatherheads,” proving his fallibility. “The Monuments Men” deals in an entirely different genre, but there’s a similar tonal indecision at work here. Now and then the film goes for the jugular, emotionally speaking, as when Murray’s architect tears up listening to his family’s homemade recording of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” That scene should kill, yet somehow it doesn’t. It’s not Murray’s fault: The scene needed a simpler, straighter attack, not all the fancy intercutting with field hospital trauma footage. Realism schmealism: This is a Hollywood movie. But that sort of scene takes you out of the movie you’re trying to invest in.

Sounds like the movie is a “plodder”. Moves along slowly, disorganized, changing focus and mood, boring.
The people probably walked out because one person walked out and when that happens other people walk out too. It may not have been just the Christmas scene, although the Chicago Tribune dumps on that.

 

[BarbG]

I went to see the movie the other day becausde I’m a World War II history buff – I thought it was a good war story and honestly don’t remember the particular part of the movie that is mentioned – but then I’m pretty old and could say that it was a “senior moment”.

 

[randomuser]

Skip Monuments Men and Netflix the far-superior documentary “The Rape of Europa”. (I understand that Monuments Men is based on a book that was, in turn, based on The Rape of Europa.) Very favorable review by the Catholic Bishops film office:
"All in all, it’s a fascinating story and as compelling as any dramatic film.

The film contains some disturbing war imagery. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II – adults and adolescents. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America."
*
catholicnews.com/data/movies/07mv174.htm

 

[Elostirion]

It’s okay. I don’t think it’s that good as a film, but it’s interesting because of it’s setting. It sounds terrible, but it’s nice to see a WWII movie that’s not about the Holocaust.
None of the characters are really developed, practically interchangeable, and the star cast never really gets much to work with.
The Christmas scene is in a camp. I think somebody played over a message to one of the characters (grandpa). That article from the Tribune advises to cut the Trauma scene, I have to agree. It felt out of place.

Not enough showing, but Clooney gives us speeches. Maybe go see it at the dollar if you are still on the fence. I think it’s worth it just because, though not the best at what it does, it’s something different than usual.

 

[Mike_from_NJ]

They’re in a camp at night and Bill Murray’s character is talking to Bob Balaban’s character and they’re opening their packages from home. Bob’s character has some food and Bill’s character has a 45 record. He sets it aside and goes to the showers.

Now there are records playing during that scene throughout the camp. While Bill’s character is in the shower, Bob’s character puts on Bill’s record for the camp to hear. It’s a message from his daughter and two grandchildren. Bill stops in the shower when he hears the voices. After the hellos, the daughter sings an a capella version of “Have Youself a Merry Little Christmas”.

It’s somewhat out of place and it’s a boldfaced attempt to pull on the heartstrings, but the whole movie is all over the place and a boldfaced attempt to pull on the heartstrings. Plus it’s a stirring rendition of the song.

The movie itself was decent. A reviewer I read saying the main characters aren’t really characters, and it feels like the sequel to a movie that was never made. I still enjoyed it.

For an absolutely amazing “Nazis stealing art” movie try John Frankenheimer’s The Train.

 

[MattofTexas]

It’s ok. Some scenes dragged a bit or seemed unnecessary. Overall I enjoyed the movie, but was left feeling that while it was good, it failed to meet my high hopes.

 

[RACJ]

This movie is excellent, if a little confusing in parts. But there are so many parts to the story, I thought that Clooney did the best job that he could to make the story coherent and compelling. Rob

P.S. Stay away from Winter Tale, unless you appreciate New Age pabulum. The only saving grace of this flick is the gorgeous long-haired women, Jessica Brown Findlay and Jennifer Connelly. But it’s not worth the money or the time. Watch the trailers on youtube, and avoid the agony of a dimwitted plot. Rob