Defiance (2008)

RATING:	60%
FORMAT:	DVD

(Image: http://www.nytimes.com/)

Rousing war adventure that fails to develop its theme of not wanting to become as bad as ones opponents by focusing too much on the concept of the Jewish community looking after itself because no-one else will. Despite the best efforts of the actors, the characters fail to ignite the screen and we are left with a great deal of realistic period detail but not the story of survival that could have rivaled the sweeping grace of Schindler's List nor the sheer terror of Come and See.

Despite not relying on the flashy special effects that so characterize recent Hollywood output, this fails to offer much else about how to survive in a hostile environment and the absolute necessity for community coherence and purpose. Yet, somehow, it never fails to entertain if only because you want to see if, and how, the participants survive.

Copyright © 2011 Frank TALKER. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute it in any format; provided that mention of the author’s Weblog (http://franktalker5.blogspot.com/) is included: E-mail notification requested. All other rights reserved.