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Undescribable Perfection

Overrated and overhyped

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Blistering performances.

This Movie has pleasantly amazed me at how good it is, and has booked its place amongst my favorite movies list of all time. The Movie has great and realistic performances from Costner and Elijah Woods. The War in the Title is the Vietnam war which is the backdrop of the movie, but with that backdrop the real war is between the kids due to their poor lives in the 70s.It's a movie that is aimed at kids, but is also equally relevant to adults. The Message that this movie gives is beyond words, its one of those movies that you would love to waste your 2 hours on.I would recommend this movie to everyone.

I rarely like movies about the South because we're portrayed as stupid hillbillies, brainless boobs. But this movie treats us with respect, there is a loving tenderness to it's portrayal. I watched this movie because of Kevin Costner and loved it because of Elijah Wood's performance. There were a lot of great performances by both the children and the adults. I read the comments about preaching and sentimentality, well we tend to be a bit sentimental in the South and I make no apologies for that. This movie deserves to be seen by a wider audience. I like a big blockbuster as well as the next person but I love these smaller, character driven films. They stick in my mind and I mull them around for a while. I've watched this one many times and I still love it. The casting was perfect, Elijah was superb. The actress that played Elvadean stole every scene she was in. I realize some may think the Lipnicki's were hillbillies, but they were limited by their upbringing and would have behaved that way no matter where they lived. Whenever I spot Reinor Scheine in a movie I think about his portrayal of the Lipnicki's daddy. Unfortunately, I know someone distressingly like him. This movie is well worth watching.

I watched The War last night for the second time, having loved it the first time. Maybe then I was too young and/or naive. But what I didn't realise then I realise now; this is sentimentality equally mixed with childish comedy. The two obviously don't mix.Stu (Elijah Wood) lives in a poor, rundown little village after the Vietnam war. His father (Kevin Costner) suffers from trauma after some harrowing memories, thus making him fit for a mental hospital, when he's supposedly out looking for work. Stu's mother (Mare Winninghams) stays at home, whilst Stu's sister (Lidia Simmons) stays out helping Stu to build a tree house. Sets the scene, doesn't it? But there are complications. The rough-n-tumble Limpnickies hate it when the others steal property from their rundown little "area". Thus unfolding a chain of events that will leave you in disbelief at how mushy and sentimental the film is.It has its strong points, however; the script (though truly abysmal at times) seems to be quite balanced throughout the film, and the acting and emotions conveyed particularly from Elijah Wood are something special. But all in all, the silly comic streaks unbalanced screenplay leave this with a just over average mark.Final Analysis: 6 out of 10

Once again, Kevin Costner bucks a trend by playing against type and nobody goes to see it. Luckily, with DVDs, we can rediscover hidden gems like this 1994 drama, about a 1970's family on the skids. Costner gallantly gives up the screen to the precocious Elijah Wood, who proves yet again why he will go very far in movies. A beautiful, poignant film filled with wonderful performances and a sparkling screenplay. The War should have received a smattering of nominations, but again the short-sighted academy showed its ignorance to quality drama and gave it to feel-good pap like Forrest Gump!!! Never mind - check this film out on DVD...you won't be disappointed.