Kokoda (2006)

I'm a bit confused..... The alternative title to the movie, released as a steel-book is 38th Battalion, Kokoda The 38 the battalion, according to Wikipedia, never served in PNG, in fact, only served on the Australian mainland!This may be a mistake, by the makers of the steel-book edition, but you would think they'd have got it correct, in order to stay historically correct. I found it to be quite a good movie, however some of the night time scenes were hard to view. This is, of course, a problem with any movie, and lack of funds probably added to this problem. All in all, not too bad, but with this being such a part of Australia's history, you would hope someone else re-makes it, sometime.

Being a big fan of World War 2 history I was interested in going to see this and though some story elements and character building were missing it is filmed with excellent hand held cam that carries suspense all the way to the end. The character development was deeply lacking which was a disappointment as we don't care when people are dying and being killed and greatly takes away from the suspense we should've felt making this sort of feel bland a little bit. But unlike Gallipoli it gives an absolutely horrific vision of war that though is the message also of Gallipoli it didn't it show to well.This film will hardly give you a minute to slow down keeping the momentum up very well and is gory enough to make you want to vomit for those faint hearted. Overall it is enjoyable but not great. Really missed the mark in its story and character development which could've made it just that much more enjoyable which I would've liked it to have been.Grade: B- Comment: Go in with an empty stomach some scenes may not want to be viewed.

I honestly cannot believe some of the reviews I have read here about this movie and most of them are by Australians! When it comes to downplaying our history and not giving thanks to the men and women whose sacrifices actually have allowed us the benefit of being able to give an opinion without being dragged from our beds and executed, I honestly used to think Canada held the distinction for being number one, but you guys take the cake.People wanting this to be more like "Saving Private Ryan" or calling it a Propagandist movie? REALLY? The person who said that we should not be bringing up some of the war atrocities by the Japanese really needs to buy a reality check. World War II was not pleasant, it was not what Hollywood made it out to be in the 50's and 60's and the most brutal examples of inhumanity happened in the Pacific Theater, including brutality to the Winnipeg Rifles (Canadians captured while defending Hong Kong) I knew nothing about this engagement before seeing this movie and all I can say is if something like this had happened between U.S. troops and the Japanese there would be hundreds of books and movies regaling us all with the magnificent heroics of the men involved.My hat is off to the first-time director who managed to pull this together and tell a story that REALLY needs to be told. Watching a movie like this or reading a book about it is in a way, an opportunity for the viewer or reader to say THANK YOU to the men that served.To those of you, especially those of you from Australia, who had your sensibilities hurt by it and gave it a low rating, SHAME on you! The movie is worthy of watching if for no other reason than learning about some of the history of World War II.

This was like watching the trailer of a up and coming movie, except that there was no movie coming up. The film is so unsatisfying and obviously unfinished as to be almost laughable. The subject of this film is over a very short time frame and frankly, nothing much actually happens in the 90 odd minutes of screen time. I was hoping for the definitive Australian film about our soldiers in WWII and how they fought against incredible odds in awful conditions.This is most certainly not it. Having said that, the acting was great and locations authentic. This could easily have been a great movie given a lot more money and time, instead it isn't even mediocre and I cannot recommend it at all.