Watch Ike: Countdown to D-Day For Free

Surprisingly incoherent and boring

Simply A Masterpiece

Beautiful, moving film.

Absolutely brilliant

I watch this movie repeatedly. It renews my faith in the human spirit. Despite some reviewers critiques of historical inaccuracies, which I cannot dispute, as I do not know all the facts: one thing shines through. The quality of humility that Ike, Churchill, Bradley possessed. How they held onto the vision of what had to be done. The strength of character of these men, is so well portrayed. Every actor in this movie amazed me. Selleck, of course, wasn't even Selleck. He was Ike. He totally overcame himself, to play this role. Magic, indeed.I can't critique the historical facts, but I was moved by this movie, to start researching WW2 history.I'm even more moved, by the comments of the people on here. I love the commentaries here...even the "spoilers".To me, this is a very powerful documentary about the weight of decisions faced by the "players" at the time. The movie shows how aware these men were of the potential consequences of these decisions, and how heavy that burden was for them. They did not take it lightly.They agonized about the choices they were faced with. (Perhaps, unlike some of our present leaders........)The portrayals of Montgomery and Patton were excellent. It showed their arrogance, but also acknowledged their brilliance as generals. Ike saw both qualities and used their strengths, but didn't let himself be used by their egos. And he truly appreciated their insights and their drive.Ike and Churchill never lost sight of the main purpose. The movie shows how easily they might have been swayed, but they were so very clear of their vision of what had to be done.A tremendous study of strength of character. In his role as Ike, I think Selleck has come close to Sean Connery.Beyond "hunk",.....to timeless "first class actor." Movie of the decade, so sez me...

Tom Selleck scores an honest tour de force in his portrayal of General Dwight David Eisenhower, Commander-In-Chief, Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force, European Theatre of Operations, in the weeks and final days leading up to June 6, 1944. (I am so proud to have gotten that entire title correct.) The plan for the invasion of Hitler's Europe was developed primarily by General Eisenhower, with the help of his allied staff. This made sense. Eisenhower was, as he himself admitted, primarily an organizer and planner. That he indeed was a supreme planner led to the ultimate success of Operation Overlord.Eisenhower had to fight hard, against fractious political forces, for Churchill's and Roosevelt's acceptance. They eventually granted Ike unfettered command of all the allied forces engaged in the landing at Normandy.Few people, myself included, really appreciate the mass of details which had to be coordinated for D-Day. Watch this movie and learn at least some of them. Almost three million troops crossed the English Channel to land in France on, and immediately after, D-Day. Nothing like this had, of course, ever occurred in all of human history. One can only hope nothing like it ever need occur again.This 2004 film has me convinced I'll always, from now on, carefully examine those "Made For TV" movies for gems like this one. All this praise for a movie that has not one bit of "action" in it. It's all docudrama, all about planning and preparation. It is better than anyone might predict.Tom Selleck was, as I indicated above, masterful. I have always liked him as an actor; now I truly admire his acting ability. Selleck belongs with the best.Kudos! A perfect movie, in every way. To hear me say that is really quite rare.

thank God. The closest we come to a battle scene in "Ike" are the quotes from Laurence Olivier's "Henry V". I do believe that's a small mistake, though: I don't think that film hit the theaters until 1945, somewhat too late for D-day. However, it's justified, artistically: we think of Henry's bombast (one of the greatest speeches at that) when Ike pays his own, humble tribute to the airborne troopers just before D-day. And there is a more subtle reference to Henry V when Ike has to sacrifice an old friend (and nearly sacrifices Patton, too, another old friend.) His thoughts on that also bring Shakespeare to mind.I loved the film. It stayed true to its purpose, the portrayal of a general making a very tough decision. Selleck was great, and so were they all. Montgomery had a human face to him, and so did DeGaulle (although 90% of it was nose) and he was just as irritating as he is supposed to have been, power-greedy and quite oblivious to the fact that most of his France had in fact sold out to Nazi Germany. The script is great - philosophical and well-written to a fault. Now, why did I think I would be bored? I wasn't, for even one second.

It's very difficult, for me, to understand those reviews that credit Selleck with a defining performance as Ike. His acting, intonation, enunciation, and body language were flat and unconvincing. Unless Ike was that dull himself, which does not seem to be the case, Selleck was a very disappointing casting choice.The main scenes that have stuck with me were the endless shots of Selleck lighting cigarettes and exhaling smoke during one-on-one encounters with Churchill and his staff members. Not since some of the early Nick Nolte films has anyone relied so much on empty gesture to compensate for a weak screen presence.But the film might be a must-see for history buffs. It reveals aspects of the invasion decision-making and execution process that, as far as I know, have not been adequately treated elsewhere.Just don't expect to come away from it inspired or feeling some connection with the Ike character. And you certainly won't come away impressed with the similarity that Selleck's interpretation bears to Eisenhower (as George C. Scott's did to Patton -- reportedly making even Patton's daughter forget she wasn't watching her father).