Bloody Sunday Reviews

• An Excellent and Unforgettable Experience

  
  By A2ZLROGIL2V7GV on 2003-04-27
  "Bloody Sunday" is a remarkable and powerful film; a rare breed of film that makes you wonder why such a gem goes so unrecognized by moviegoers. This is such a well-done and important film that has the ability to re-create history with pure authenticity. One of the best things I did last week was purchase this DVD. As soon as I started it, I knew there was no turning back.

  I had never heard of the event itself (here's my age showing again). Never even learned about it in high school. As a matter of fact, I'm learning there's LOTS of things I never learned in high school, but back to the movie. "Bloody Sunday" is a documentary-like film that re-creates what transpired on Sunday, January 30th, 1972. In a Civil Rights demonstration in Northern Ireland, British troops opened fire on protesters when things were getting hairy, which would eventually lead to 27 wounded and 13 dead. This was a tragedy that struck a major blow to the Civil Rights movement, and to Ireland and Britain as well.

  From what I understand, this is still a very controversial topic, even today. Nobody is still 100% sure of what exactly happened. Both sides are still debating and offering their versions of what really went down. I don't know much about the event, as I said in the beginning of this review. What I do know is that this film was done in a very realistic and authentic way, and I believe that what happened on that tragic day might've gone down the way it did in the film, or very close to it. I also believe that the movie shows both sides, not just one.

  This film was done entirely hand-held, meaning not once did the filmmakers use a dolly or camera stands. The end result is that it gives it the raw and realistic feel that it needs to be affective. There is no story or plot in the movie. The movie isn't there to tell a single story or show us "characters;" the only goal is to try to educate us all on what happened on January 30th. You never look at the actors as actors, but more like the real people themselves. In fact, when I was watching this, I was very convinced that I wasn't watching a movie, but a real documentary.

  The DVD comes equipped with some very nice special features. Those being two commentary tracks and 2 documentary features. That may not sound like a lot, but when you view or hear them, you feel very satisfied. It would've been nice to have a few more extras, but I can't really complain. Nor do I want to.

  I really believe the filmmakers when they say that they did not make "Bloody Sunday" to open old wounds. They want to educate us all on what happened and they want us to confront it. Much like when an addict has a problem but he or she won't admit it, the problem will never come to a resolution if we continue to ignore it. I urge every history teacher to make their students watch this movie. I urge EVERYONE I know to give this movie a try. It is a rare and unique gem that takes historical films to a new level that it has never reached before. It's a shame that not many have seen it, but my hope is that more people will see it now since it is available to own and rent on DVD and video. "Bloody Sunday" is an experience you will never forget, and it is an important one you do not want to miss out on. Definitely makes my Top 10 of 2002 list, without question.
  
  

• Gripping take on a horrific day in history

  
  By A3CH1KT8XQE8SA on 2002-10-28
  Familiar with the famous U2 song, "Sunday Bloody Sunday"?? Well, here's a look at the events that inspired that song.

  On January 30, 1972 Catholics living in the Northern Ireland's city of Derry march for human rights denied under British rule. But this wasn't an ordinary march by any means. Thirteen marchers were shot dead during what was later termed "Bloody Sunday".

  This movie alternates between both sides of the firing line. Efforts of the march's organizers leading up to the march along with several young men who participated in the march are captured. In addition, the military readiness of the British soldiers is also revealed. This movie unveils savage acts of the British soldiers as they fire upon the defenseless crowd.

  I recommend this movie to anyone who is interested in this horrific day. It will make you think twice about the role of the military in Northern Ireland.
  
  

• A harsh and human look at a terrible historical tragedy

  
  By A3CN9CCJUNIPKT on 2003-09-21
  An emotionally crushing recreation of the infamous January 30, 1972 clash between British troops and Irish protesters in the town of Derry, which led to the deaths of dozens of civilian marchers. "Clash" is perhaps too strong a word -- this film (as well as several abortive inquiries) makes a strong case that the testosterone-amped British "para" soldiers simply went berserk and shot people at random, in hopes of "teaching them a lesson they'd never forget." The distinction between IRA warmongers and the civilian civil rights movement was apparently lost of the embattled English, but their actions at Derry helped lock the Catholic-Protestant feud into place right up to the present day. Filmically, this is an impressive work: the documentary-style handheld camera work, which seems a bit mannered and distracting in the first part of the film, pays off handsomely when the violence starts -- the fear and chaos of the event is made palpable in a suprisingly visceral manner... it's like a punch to the gut when the shooting starts.... and then it worsens and keeps on going for what seems like an eternity. Regardless of what you think of the filmmaker's political slant, the skill with which they built this film's dramatic impact is undeniable. Viewers will have to make up their own minds about what they believe actually happened that day, but this film proides a convincing argument on behalf of the civilian victims. Highly recommended.
  
  

• Bloody Sunday

  
  By on 2002-11-01
  This is a very powerful movie, It is remarkably unbiased and presents the facts as known. The confusion of a plan gone awry is clearly presented in a manner that makes you feel a part of the drama. I thoroughly enjoyed the film and thought the acting excellent and appropriately subdued.
  
  

• British Film that tells the truth about Bloody Sunday

  
  By AD0J5KK4WQXNS on 2004-01-06
  Many who watch this film may think that the IRA made it. The truth is that it is a British movie. If you do not know what Blood Sunday is then allow me to explain. On January 30th, 1972 - Catholic Irish demonstrators took to the streets of Derry in Northern Ireland for a peaceful march. On the lanes they where met by the British army who had set up barricades to keep them moving in a certain direction and away from the Protestant areas of the city. At one point some demonstrators broke away from the main group and began to attack a police barricade. Shots where heard and the army moved in with high velocity armed paratroopers turning the whole demonstration into a war zone. Innocent people where shot and killed. Some may even have been executed. The whole scene was like something out of a nightmare with British soldiers moving along the streets in uniform motion taking pot shots at what they believed to be armed IRA members. Whether or not armed IRA members where there the British army somehow managed to kill a lot of innocent people in the process and a cover-up followed to protect leading political figures - for example: How did some soliders fire more rounds than they where allocated? How did some innocent people who where shot dead end up with weapons in their pockets "after" the British army gathered them up? Who gave the order for the paratroopers to operate in the way that they did and why did groups of paratroopers go rogue and not respond to their chief in command?

  Bloody Sunday plays out like Saving Private Ryan with Irish catholic civilians on the receiving end instead of Nazis. It is mostly one big "action" film that could also be compared to the likes of Black Hawk Down for its urban setting. All of the cast are functional and the film does grip you and at times is extremely violent and harrowing especially when innocent people are getting shot up. This is an urban nightmare of a war film. You should try to see it. It will certainly take you by surprise and is very well produced.

  It is not a film that you will enjoy but you will be very glad that you watched it to know a little more about the historical conflict in Northern Ireland. This film depicts a very REAL event that happened and looks as real as it did then.

  Excellent production.
  
  

• Irish pride, British smame
  By A2U1SVWSRW5430 on 2004-06-14
  I am 1/2 Irish, 1/2 British, by heritage, I am a history major and international relations minor, I have written many papers on Anglo-Irish relations for both subjects. It was the U2 song that got me intrested in the subjects. I have learned alot about my heritage, and the more I learn, the more I am ashamed of the 1/8 of me that is English (the other 3/8 are Welsh). I have read about the day from many different people; uninvolved 3rd party historians, Gerry Adams (who was not there), and both Irish and British authors, but seeing it, and knowing that it was a joint froduction of both the Itish and British film boards made me see a light, a comming together to heal old wounds. This move made me realise that while the English were evil monstars on that day (and on others) the IRA retailated in June of 1972 killing 9 UDA men and 2 soilders, I am a Nationalist, I want to see the North annexed back to the Republic where it belongs, but it can not be done through killing.
  As for the movie, it is not for everyone, if you want to learn more about the day or the Troubles in general it is a good way to start.
  I have read so much about the conflict that many of the disturbing and heartrenching facts have become common place in my head, but this film made me cry, and still does everytime I watch it. If you have any interest in the situation and want to learn more, I STRONGLY suggest you watch the film.
  
  
• A day to remember
  By A3P6NUYXV19T0D on 2003-04-17
  When I saw that a movie called "Bloody Sunday" was playing at a local theater, my first thought was, "Oh, that's the U2 song." I knew it referred to a Northern Ireland civil rights protest where shooting broke out, but the song was basically the extent of my knowledge of the event. Once I decided it would be an interesting movie to see, I tried to avoid reading anything about what happened, in an attempt to go into the film with an open mind, to be completely receptive to director Paul Greengrass's vision. I saw the movie, and left the theater shocked, saddened, enraged, and bewildered, but with the firm impression that I had seen a truly remarkable film.

  The movie is shot documentary-style, with many quick cuts and fade-outs to black to end a scene. It took a while to get used to this modus operandi, which at times seemed choppy, disrupting the flow of the movie. But as you lose yourself in this film the style makes sense and seems less obtrusive.

  The acting is superb, lead by James Nesbit as protest organizer Ivan Cooper. And while it is fairly certain where Greengrass believes the blame for the tragedy lies, the film at least makes an attempt to explain the scenario from the British military's point of view. But instead of merely looking to reveal "who started it?", what should be taken from this view of events is that tensions were so elevated on both sides, that it took comparatively very little action to set off large-scale and vicious reactions. Such is the madness of war, which is basically what unfolded on the streets of Derry that day...

  Greengrass's camera leads you right into the middle of this battle, from start to finish. The results are visually and emotionally jarring; the you-are-there feeling is intense. And at the end, almost as a reward for making it through the film, you are treated to a live version of U2's famously haunting song.

  It is a travesty that this film was not nominated for (and chosen as) Best Foreign Film at this year's Oscars- supposedly an airing on European TV made it ineligible. Hopefully it will be honored in some other manner. "Bloody Sunday" is far from an uplifting movie but is definitely an important one, and nothing less than a marvel of modern filmmaking.
  
  

• Tiocfaidh ar lá
  By A2XF2WJ9S1K535 on 2005-05-22
  Bloody Sunday was the day when finally the world opened their eyes and saw how brutal and disgusting the Brtis really were.I'm not an anti- british guy but you have to admit they did put us through alot. What annoys me is the fact people can forget that so quickly...and yet 9/11 will be remembered forever..
  
  Im an Irish Catholic myself and this was a day of shame on the irish people and others who are related to Ireland. Til this day the North is War Zone. Sinn Féin are still being looked down upon by the rest even though they are the only people still fighting for the full united Ireland.
  
  The film itself was deadly. Its a sensitive subject which was taken on with brave film making.I really liked the whole home made look to the film it was really effective.
  
  Finaly the world sees the real British Army....not this patriotic Iraqi bullsh*t
  
  
• gripping cinema verite triumph
  By A19ZXK9HHVRV1X on 2003-06-02
  One of the outstanding films of 2002!

  The events of January 30, 1972 are familiar to most people primarily through the U2 song "Sunday Bloody Sunday." On that fateful, tragic day, a peaceful march for civil rights in Northern Ireland ended in a horrifying massacre when British troops opened fire on the demonstrators. Now, three extraordinary filmmakers - writer/director Paul Greengrass, cinematographer Ivan Strasburg, and editor Clare Douglas - have pooled their talents to give us their view of this watershed incident, one that so enraged Northern Irish Catholics that it ended up strengthening the hand of the IRA and heightening anti-British sentiment in that part of the world.

  "Bloody Sunday" is reminiscent of those great films from the 1960's like "The Battle of Algiers" and "Z," wherein the filmmakers successfully recreate a moment of terrifying violence in purely cinematic terms. By employing a handheld camera throughout, Greengrass achieves the kind of reality and immediacy that is only possible through cinema verite style. The camera bobs and weaves, becoming a major character in the drama. Indeed, the film feels very much like a documentary feature recorded at the actual event itself. The filmmakers do an amazing job staging the complex action, managing to view the incident from widely varied vantage points - from the marchers in the crowd, to the policemen standing by for trouble (and fomenting most of it themselves), to the demonstration's organizers, to the troop leaders at command center where the decisions for action are ostensibly being made. The crowd scenes are so well handled in this film that they could easily become a textbook case study for future filmmakers seeking to make movies in a similar vein. Greengrass also heightens the verisimilitude of the work by resisting the temptation to employ a background musical score. Instead, the "soundtrack" of the film is composed of the perpetually ringing telephones that subtly reflect the extraordinary import of the moment.

  Because Greengrass' main concern is in getting the physical details of the incident right, less time is, understandably, devoted to character development. Nevertheless, he still manages to bring a few of his key people to life, particularly Ivan Cooper, a member of Parliament who organized the march, a man whose guiding philosophy is that people must have the right to protest peacefully to achieve social justice. Ivan serves as the focal point for the audience, as we come to identify with his commitment, his passion, his level-headedness and his genuine concern for the people he represents. James Nesbitt does a beautiful job conveying the humanity of this Gandhi-like central figure. Greengrass also allows us to see, in telling glimpses, the differing attitudes that prevail among the citizenry of the town as well as among the policemen - both those giving the orders and those executing them - towards what is happening on screen. Indeed, there is nothing less than a superb performance in the entire cast. (In an interesting moment of visual irony, the camera catches a glimpse of a movie marquee with the words "Sunday Bloody Sunday" emblazoned on it - a reference to the famous John Schlesinger film from 1971).

  Some people may have trouble with this film on two counts - one ideological and the other technical. There are some who may see the movie as somewhat one-sided, biased and slanted, since clearly the British troops are seen as the Bad Guys in the incident. More serious, perhaps, is the fact that the Irish accents are so thick that those of us unaccustomed and unattuned to them may find a significant portion of the dialogue garbled and incomprehensible. That being the case, it is a blessing that the film's greatest virtues lie in its visuals.

  "Bloody Sunday" is an exciting, brilliantly executed tour de force that reminds us of just how powerful cinema verite can be. This is, easily, one of the very best films of recent years.
  
  

• Bloody Sunday
  By A1OCTPHOA66NJ3 on 2003-06-12
  Bloody Sunday is a well filmed show that brings to light of one of the most tragic events in Irish history. On a peaceful cival rights march, the British first opened fire on the Irish march, and were given permission to fire at will. Any one who is Irish, and knows exactly what happened on that faitful day, can now get an up close and real feel of what it was like to face the British para's, while peacfully marching for equal rights, in a land whose boundries were gerrymandered by the British. The movie is very acurate, showing that the British first shot on the defensless Irish. Years later the British government investigated the events of that day, called the Stalker Report. Once the investigation was finished, the British refused to release the results of that investigation. This movie, is not one sided. It accurately portrays the events of that day, showing that the Irish were repressed of their due rights, by an invading, colonial government.
  
  
• Fair and evenhanded.
  By on 2003-09-30
  Lets keep in mind this was done by a British film crew, and financed by British money, but I did find the story to be extraordinarily even handed and historically accurate. This message board is not supposed to be a debating forum for Unionists vs. Republicans it is to review the movie and judge it on its merits. And anyone attacking the movie on any other basis is doings so purely out of political motivation. This movie is extremely accurate and does convey the conditions, despair and sentiment of the time in Derry and the whole of Northern Ireland in the 70's. It masterfully tells the tail of 800 years of British presence in Ireland in the limited confines of a 2 hour DVD.

  The movie hardly serves as a rallying point for the Republican cause as some reviewers here wrongfully assert, the act itself took care of that. The movie merely depicts that specific moment in time and tells it's tale in an extremely unbiased and even handed way. Bravo.
  
  

• Respectfully dissenting
  By A2YR0EBPMTU7TP on 2004-09-08
  I understand that the producers wanted this mockumentary to be as close to "the real tying" as possible but they might also have kept in mind that the film, as dialogue-rich as it is, loses a great deal for viewers who are not well-versed in Northern Irish dialect. I had to watch it twice all the way through before I really grasped everything required to appreciate it. If this had been made solely for domestic consumption in Ireland the question would not be relevant. However, marketed as it has been for overseas consumption, one must ask at least why there were no subtitles provided.
  
  I also question the motives of the filmmakers in putting together a feature film that "fools" the viewer into thinking it's a documentary. Kudos to the brilliant acting jobs by known and unknown actors alike and laud the choppy camerawork, which was right on the money. But what was the point, really? Why all this effort expended to make a feature that resembles a doc but isn't? And the insertion of Tim Piggot-Smith (of "Jewel in the Crown" infamy) as the hard-ass commander is heavy-handed since this actor is routinely cast as sadistic military types and has probably never played a sympathetic role in his life.
  
  I personally would rather see a balanced documentary of the actual event, so that I can know for certain that what I'm seeing truly happened.
  
  
• fuel for the twisted IRA fire
  By on 2003-09-18
  While an overview of what happened in 1972 and a well-made film, this film will also serve to needlessly add fuel to the fire for the misinformed Irish-Americans that feel support for the terrorist of the IRA and Sinn Fein are somehow 'patriotic.'

  What happened in 1972 has SO little to do with the true Irish problem as it exists today- which is Irish Catholics vs. Irish protestants and engrained hatred of each other.

  Supporting the IRA and Sinn Fein does NOT promote peace or loyalty to Ireland, it promotes and endures the civil war going on their between two extremist groups. The supporters of the IRA and Sinn Fein in America (thankfully a dwindling group) shouldn't flatter themselves to think that anyone in the UK has an interest in keeping Northern Ireland.

  It's a major, draining inconvenience to the British who sadly still need to remain there at the SPECIFIC REQUEST of the Irish Protestants who are entitled to protection from becoming a Socialist state and total eradication from Ireland simply for being Protestant. Call it what it is- preventing the IRA's Final Solution....
  
  

• Remarkable, Factual Account of Horrific Day
  By on 2004-01-25
  I just viewed my copy of Bloody Sunday and I was stunned. This is, quite simply, a tremendous film that portrays a day of absolute horrow in a way that captures the emotion and stays true to the factual accounts of what happened. It certainly does make the British forces look bad, but it should. The facts speak to unreal over-aggression by the British military that day and any true to life account needs to show what actually happened. Throughout the course of the film, you watch the development of this day from both sides. You are witness to those searching for civil rights in Northern Ireland and their efforts to organize a peaceful march in Derry. You are also witness to the British government and military forces, who expect a conflict and vigorously prepare for one. Finally, the film reaches its climax when the British military fires on those in the civil rights march and continues to engage them, killing 13 and wounding 14 more. Bloody Sunday is one of those days that needs to be remembered in vivid detail....not only so that justice can be served for the killing of innocent Irish citizens...but so an attrocity such as this never occurs again. It is a worthwhile subject, a stunning film, and one which I would strongly recommend to anyone out there looking for some good, quality viewing...especially those of Irish heritage.
  
  
• A real movie starring real people.
  By A1VKTNPC7R8LAR on 2005-05-12
  This film is an excellent account of what happened on Bloody Sunday. The above reviews in which people compare the IRA to Al Queda are obviously from people with little knowledge on the situation in Northern Ireland. It was not a march of victory nor was it for freedom from the UK; it was for civil rights so that Catholics may receive the same treatment as Protestants in a Protestant majority state. The previous review on how this film hindered rather than helped the peace process was made from a person who I feel is highly uneducated on the situation. This film shows a real account on what happened on this tragic day and it shows it fairly from both accounts. The acting was raw and very real as a lot of the actors in the shooting scenes were people who were there that day and the emotions they show was very real. In making this film both soldiers and civilians who were present on that fateful day were interviewed. The fact that it was shown as a documentary style film was to deliver as an accurate and believable film as possible and I think it succeeded immensely in doing so. If only more films were made as carefully as this one we might get to the truth on a lot more issues governments choose to sweep under their political carpet. And with regards to previous reviewers please don't make remarks on political issues you obviously no so little about.
  
  
• A movie worth watching!
  By A3KB1H0S7T6JX1 on 2005-11-13
  Set up like a documentary, Bloody Sunday, brings to the screen the true story of the 1972 massacre in Derry, Northern Ireland, by the British forces and the cover-up that followed.
  James Nesbitt, Tim Pigott-Smith, and the rest of the cast, have truly outdone themselves with their performances, which are exceptional to say the least!
  Very well written and very well presented, the movie does a great job of describing the complexity of Northern Ireland.
  The setting, the plot, the dialogues and the music are all wonderful!
  In short, Bloody Sunday is a movie definitely worth watching and one to seriously consider adding to your movie collection!
  
  
  
• I still remember Warrington
  By A12GKTMES8SZYZ on 2003-06-25
  It seems that Catholic tragedies are the only events which warrant the attention of filmmakers. The IRA, INLA, Real IRA and Continuity IRA are responsible for bloody monday, tuedsay, wednesday, thursday , friday, bloody Brighton, bloody Enniskillen (11 civilians murdered), bloody Warrington (two little children, ages 12 and 3 murdered), bloody Warrenpoint (18 soldiers), bloody Omagh (29 civilians), bloody Guilford (5 civilians), bloody Birmingham (21 civilians), bloody City (3 civilians including a 15 year old girl),bloody Harrods (five civilians), bloody Claudy (8 civilians)... There isn't enough space for me to list all of them, but the list goes on.
  The stastics say it all: In the whole course of the conflict Republican groups have killed far more people (2153) than the security forces (365) and Loyalists (1080) put together. In addition they deliberately target civilians (example: Harrods 1983, Omagh 1998) and have even forced civilians to become suicide bombers for them (Patsy Gillespie, Londonderry 1990).
  This film is lacking, not for its portrail of the events of the day which is done quite well, but for what it omits. For example, the very same year (1972) was Bloody Friday (22 IRA bombs murder 9 civilians). No mention is made of any of these other events in the film. Nor, by the way, is there any mention of the fact that the Catholic alienation was due mainly to policies of the Unionist parliament in Stormont and not the British government.
  So, in my opinion, see the film, but don't use it as your only source of information about the conflict.
  
  
• Bloody Brilliant!
  By A2JH22FGFVTLCW on 2005-03-09
  From the moment the opening credits begin (with a haunting and brooding score punctuated by nervous military radio banter) to the sombre closing credits (with a fine live version of u2 performing Sunday, Bloody Sunday) this picture, dramatising the unfortunate events of 30 January 1972, in Londonderry, N. Ireland grips you and--slowly, surely--winds the tension up like a spring.
  
  Whilst I will avoid recounting the events of that terrible day (the previous reviews do that very well) and will avoid commenting on its historical accurateness (there's certain to be inaccuracies cited in this telling by historians, and, truth be told, the British do not represent well at all here [seeming so hateful and criminal as to be, at times, difficult to believe--but, maybe that's the point) I will say that the film feels amazingly real-that is, it is utterly convincing. Through a documentary styled presentation showcasing amazing and sharp acting performances, you are drawn in completely-you believe you are there.
  
  Technically, this DVD is beautiful. The picture is presented in a gorgeous anamorphic 16x9 transfer with solid blacks and crisp and tight (if intentionally muted) colours. The audio is likewise full and punchy. You will notice that there are two feature audio track options: 1. A `Domestic' audio track (which is, in fact, a U.S. mix (domestic would mean the U.K., the film's place of origin), and 2. A U.K. release mix. The difference between the two is that the U.K. track has a much more spacious and pronounced ambient/surround mix, whereas the `domestic' mix reduces much of the ambience in favour of a louder (centred) dialogue track (most likely to aid the N. American audiences not conversant with the Irish accents and varying dialects featured so prominently in the film.)
  
  I cannot recommend this film too highly. It is a fine example of what art can aspire to when embedded with a strong and passionate message.
  
  
  
• Must-See
  By on 2003-04-28
  This movie has a lot of bearing on current and future events, particularly in the middle east. As mentioned previously, its a real shame this film didn't get the exposure it deserved when it came out in the theaters. If it had it would have been interesting to see the extent to which it would have gotten slammed for being "sympathetic to terrorists" or some other such smear.

  In anycase, as for the movie itself, it is an extremely compelling film to watch from its start til end. Very well made as well. I've heard people compare this to "Black Hawk Down" in its "gritty realism" etc. Personally I think such a comparison is probably not well made, although superficially there may be some similarity in filming techniques (use of handhelds, etc.).

  This is just a really well-made and chilling movie to watch. The special features are very informative as well, including an interview with the real Ivan Cooper (the main character in the movie) and a mini documentary on the making of the film, which reveals how most of the actors were not trained, an many of them were community members from Derry itself who had lived through the events or the legacy of the event of Bloody Sunday. This includes a commentary by an eyewitness who was 15 at the time of the actual massacre. The director also used former British soldiers as well to portray the ones in the movie.

  This is a must-see film, at least in terms of its artistic value. The degree to which it "accurately" portrays events is a debate that, like in a lot of movies with so called "political messages", won't go away. But in the sense of its story-telling value, it is essential to see this perspective - an unpopular one in this country at least given recent events. At its core it asks the question: when you're bringing armored vehicles and armed troops into occupied territories and shooting at civilians, perhaps its time to rethink debates about "the roots of terrorism." See it now.
  
  

• A Lot of Confusion Over This Film
  By A1VD9LIJL4MQAY on 2006-03-20
  I'm not sure what film Frankie Flanagan, Ross Hughes, 'A viewer', Breandan or Elizabeth J. Shannon were commenting on, but it doesn't seem possible that it was 'Bloody Sunday'. Ms. Shannon, Ross Hughes and 'A viewer' seem to think that the film is pro-IRA - boy, did they miss the point. As for Abe "Starman" in WVA, clearly he doesn't even understand the basic facts behind the film. As for Roland Zwick and Gitana3000, I think they need to gain some experience in accented English. The Northern Irish dialect is not that hard to understand. Heck, go and see a movie set in Yorkshire, Glasgow or Durham - those are difficult accents. It's a fact of modern realistic filmmaking that when a film is set in Northern Ireland it's going to feature Northern Irish accents - it's something everyone should be able to deal with. Heck, I found the movie 'Matewan' difficult to understand, but I don't demand subtitles, or that they tone down the accents, for a movie that's in my own language. Instead I learn to understand the variations - it's not that difficult, and it's something that stands a person in good stead when he ventures out into the real world. Only in US documentaries and news shows do we see subtitles when people are speaking clear and intelligable English. What is it with that? I mean do people in New York need subtitles when listening to folks from North Dakota?
  
  Anyway, rant over. This is a great film which gives Bloody Sunday very evenhanded treatment. Perhaps if people saw the film before commenting, and perhaps if they took the time to understand the film before they started to write a review, this film would get fairer reviews.
  
  As others here have said, don't see this movie and think it gives an overview of 'The Troubles' because it doesn't. It shows one day when one group of soldiers killed a lot of innocent people - as such it illustrates how poor armies are at keeping the peace - it shows how the British Army killed a few of the 365 people it killed during 'The Troubles'. What it doesn't show is how brutal the IRA, INLA & other so-called 'republicans' (who killed 2153 people) or the Loyalists (who killed 1080) can be.
  
  
• you may have to remind yourself that you are not watching actual footage...
  By A2X3E8EU2KBVN8 on 2007-01-21
  This film does a great job of capturing the spirit and atmosphere of this historical event. The movie was made in 2002 and the film is so well-made that you may have to remind yourself that it is a re-enactment and not actual footage. The acting is superb and based on what others have reported the movie has kept to a genuine protrayal of the actual story.
  
  
• James Nesbitt triumphs
  By on 2003-05-23
  This film truly succeeds as cinema verite: the acting is quite amazing in bringing you into the experience as authentic, quite viscerally. My appreciation of actor James Nesbitt is expanded, having really enjoyed him in the TV Drama "Cold Feet", an entirely different role (a UK "Friends" and then some. But Nesbitt is merely the most visible in an excellent cast overall.
  
  As with all cinema verite, the viewer should not be deceived into thinking that the experience is true and unbiased-- it is indeed a tale told from one side of the controversy. Still the effort at impartiality by revealing flaws on both Irish and British parts contribute greatly to the believability of the film. Unruly Irish hooligans provoke break ranks with peaceful marchers and provoke British troops; IRA are in the wings ready to exploit any opportunity from this peaceful demonstration. The Brits are not monolithic bad guys; you have a sense of some trying to do the right thing, and an understanding, if not empathy, with how the dynamics of the situation could contribute tragic consequences.

  If you enjoyed this, also have a look at "In the Name of the Father" with Daniel Day-Lewis and Pete Postlethwaite.
  
  

• Irish Republicanism Is Far From Dead!!
  By A3RFYMKHHWQLSO on 2003-09-18
  i had to have a friend in Armagh Northern Ireland record a copy of this for me, send it, and go through a $60.00 hassle having a UK tape converted so i could see a grainy copy of this movie!! i was never sure it would reach American shores!! glad to see it has come to us here in the USA. this movie was done by a Brit filming company and i am glad to see it portrayed in the light as it took place!! it is HIGHLY recommended by me if youre a historian, or just want to know what happened in Derry of 1969!! over 800 yrs of many and my ancestors plight under Brit occupation!!! its a must see, well done movie!!! cheers!!!! it will open the eyes of those who dont know and bring possibly a teary eyed memories for those who do know or were there!? you will not be sorry for a good night watching this movie! the actors in it are class as well!!
  Tiocfaidh Ar La!!!
  
  
• im all for the irish,but this was just suicide!
  By A32JKNQ6BABMQ2 on 2004-10-13
  back many many years ago,the english took over........well pretty much everything.ireland included.the potato famine is really just some bull they put up to cover for the fact that they were starving the irish to death by attacking or taking all thier food sources.the irish are still under english rule now.theyre mad as anything,understandably.the ira and just about anybody else fights guierrilla style all the time against the english.the irish wanted to do a march in northern ireland commerating a victory over the english which was really inconsequential now.the english armed guards were everywhere and this irish guy led hundreds of people out to this march against unbeatable odds and unlawfully.his reasons were half baked,like martin king was his idol.first of all,martin king was a guy who cared nothing for the irish only africans.they marched and as expected,they were shot dead.its sad and sorry but you dont peacefully assemble against armed guards.its a documentary type film.its cheaply done.it is quite true.for the irish,its got to be indescribably horrible.the important messages are many.FREE IRELAND!many other once english ruled places are free now like china and india.theyve made thier point.give it up already!and lastly,the only real difference between a fool and a hero is wether or not you were sucessful.no one is going to remember the irish king wanna be as ca hero for leading his lambs to slaughter.
  
  
• Gutwrenching; real; expertly made.
  By A38I00SO3D9ZSM on 2006-05-01
  Bloody Sunday is one of the most emotionally powerful movies of the last 20 years. There are a lot of films that touch on some aspect or events of "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland, but Bloody Sunday is, far and away, the best of them all.
  
  The acting is superb. James Nesbitt, as Ivan Cooper, the protestant MP and civil rights activist, gives an Oscar-caliber performance. Regrettably, films like this get almost no attention from The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences or other similar groups. The cast around him all perform impeccably.
  
  Movies of this kind tend to romanticize or glorify the fallen. The writers and producers of this movie honored the dead without making them martyrs or without a sort of too-sweet sentimentality. The suffering of the victims' families is real and raw, their losses very palpable and human.
  
  What makes the emotional impact so tremendous is the realism of the cinemetagrophy and dialog. The attacks by British Paratroopers on the civil rights marchers feel real, terrifying. Many of shots were made with hand-held cameras, so the viewer feels as if he/she is right in the middle of the event. There is not a silly, superfluous, corny or overly-dramatic bit of dialog in the film. The screams, the cries, the conversations, the speeches, etc., all are what you would expect to hear in or around an event like this.
  
  Critics might argue that the film is not balanced, that it portrays the British military in a bad light. It's true that the British Paras are clearly the "bad guys," but over 30 years of information-gathering about this dreadful event has strongly tended to show that the soldiers were primarily to blame for "Bloody Sunday." If you have issues with the objectivity of the film, perhaps those concerns should be addressed to the scores of historical (eyewitness, expert reconstruction) accounts on which the movie is based.
  
  Nothing entertaining or light-hearted or uplifting is to be found in Bloody Sunday. It's dark, sad, even angering. But you'll not find too many other films as gripping and meaningful as this.
  
  
• To choose despair or hope
  By A2C7V3KUF5D4LB on 2003-05-08
  I can't believe there isn't more comment on this film, more outrage either way. After having marched recently and heard accounts of demonstrations from credible accounts (not corporate media), I believe demonstrations that turn violent often do because the police had been given carte blanche from leadership before the demonstration even starts. Look at Oakland and the way the police showed up in full riot gear, gas masks, etc. and immediately began shooting all manner of 'non-lethal' bullets at protesters and dockworkers alike. Jerry Brown gave directions to put fear into the crowd and anyone who might consider similar action.

  As for this film and its content, I was quite impressed with the realistic portrayal. I loved when one para corrected another para by calling them 'terrorists'. They're in their home being shot on by an occupying army. How relevant is that? It was very easy for me to see oppressed people from around the world in the plight of the Irish. It took the South Africans many, many bloody years to gain their freedom. "Was there a need to kill civilians?"
  
  

• Superb movie, perhaps a little unfair on the British
  By ASRSJMRKEWWVF on 2003-12-24
  I loved the cinematography in this movie. It gives the effect of actually being there. Also unusual was the fact that there is no music or score to this movie except for the closing credits. The director of this movie was going to take a lot of heat no matter which point of view he took. I thought that the movie perhaps made assumptions regarding the British troops which were a little unfair, but at the end of the day the overall story of the movie is 100% accurate - British troops shot 26 civilians, killing 13, while suffering no casualties themselves.
  
  
• Finally an attempt to present the Irish side of the story
  By A2V3P1XE33NYC3 on 2004-02-28
  January 30, 1972 went down as one of the most horrific days in Irish history. A march scheduled in Derry, Northern Ireland to protest the British policy of internment, a policy used to lock up Irish "troublemakers" without benefit of a trial. An organization called the Derry Civil Rights Movement, a peaceful group dedicated to using non-violent tactics to effect change and supported by MP Ian Cooper, planned to march through the city in order to make their objections to the British policy well known. The British, racked by incessant troubles in Northern Ireland for years, steadfastly demanded that the march not take place. To punctuate their position, the Brits brought in the "Paras," or the British First Parachute Regiment, to break up the peace march. Throw in the usual conflict between Irish Catholics marching through a predominantly Irish Protestant neighborhood, and you can guess what happened next. The Brits panicked and opened fire on unarmed civilians, killing thirteen people and wounding many more. Immediately after the debacle, the British government went into cover-up mode. Known forever after as Bloody Sunday, the events of January 1972 continue to divide the British, Irish Catholics, and Irish Protestants.

  Two British filmmakers decided to examine the events leading up to the scurrilous massacre in Derry in this 2002 docudrama aptly titled "Bloody Sunday." Surprisingly, depending on what view you take concerning the mess that is Northern Ireland, the filmmakers fully support the theory that the British bear most of the responsibility for the massacre. According to the film, the British "high command" made it clear to the rank and file that there would be no march through Derry that day. An environment of inflexibility from the top down virtually guaranteed repressive violence, and so there was. Watching the film recreate the events of January 30th is a gut wrenching experience, especially as the marchers near the barricades in the Catholic Bogside neighborhood. When the Paras finally open up on the crowd, they aren't shooting rubber bullets. Protestors are executed after falling to the ground, fired upon while attempting to retrieve wounded comrades, and shot in the back as they run from the British killers. The Army claimed Irish Republican Army militants mingled with the crowd and fired first, thus provoking an appropriate response from the Paras. Yeah, right. This claim became the basis for the findings of several British inquiries into the massacre, a claim that completely ignored or marginalized the fact that the Derry Civil Rights Movement was a peaceful organization merely protesting an illegal government policy.

  To help construct the lengthy narrative required to put the event into context, the filmmakers focus their attentions on Irish MP Ian Cooper (James Nesbitt) and a young Irish man recently released from jail who ultimately takes part in the march with disastrous consequences. Most of the attention goes to Nesbitt's Cooper, a man stridently fighting for the right to peacefully protest the internment policy. His character roams the streets of Derry, handing out flyers about the march, attempting to keep the protest going in the face of concerns about British actions, and working hard to keep the IRA out of the picture. Simultaneously, we see the British soldiers planning their response to the protest. There's a crusty general with a no nonsense attitude about any organized activity in Northern Ireland (he simply won't have it whether it's the IRA or non-violent protestors), and his underlings who express a bit more concern about the proceedings. Of particular note are the behind the scenes looks at the Paras, young men with a lot of bravado and a negative attitude about the Irish people. Yes, the film takes these young commandos to task, but it also shows how fear of the Irish marchers led directly to murder.

  "Bloody Sunday" is shot using hand held cameras and dramatic fade-outs and fade-ins to add a dimension of slowly unfolding tension to the actions of the characters, and it works. I felt sick to my stomach as I watched soldiers gunning down innocent civilians, felt deeply moved as Ian Cooper anguished over having to inform families about the deaths of their loved ones, and felt my Irish blood rise as the credits rolled to the tune of U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday." There is a scene towards the end of the film where Cooper holds a press conference to discuss the massacre, and he grimly tells the assembled journalists that the British just gave the IRA its greatest victory. Sure enough, the Irish Republican Army gained hundreds of recruits after the killings, a fact hammered home in the film during a scene when young men line up to receive weapons from an IRA safehouse. I cannot say I blame these kids; I would have joined up too after such an egregious incident even though violence often causes more problems than solutions.

  The DVD edition of "Bloody Sunday" comes with a lot of extras, including an interview with an elderly Ian Cooper about the events of January 1972, a trailer, interviews with Nesbitt and other cast members, a couple of commentaries, and a great looking widescreen transfer. We will never know for sure what exactly happened on that bloody day, but this movie goes a long way towards presenting a more balanced interpretation of events. If the British had only admitted to SOME wrongdoing in Derry, and there was British wrongdoing, many subsequent deaths may have been averted. Perhaps this film will help lead to relief of sorts for the beleaguered Irish still struggling under British influence. Whatever your view, "Bloody Sunday" is a gripping film well worth watching.
  
  

• When Stormont Bans Our Marches
  By A1IWWRZJOXOSYP on 2004-05-21
  "Sunday Bloody Sunday" was a John Lennon song from his "Some Time In New York City" set that introduced me to this sad day. "When Stormont bans out marches," was the chorus that rattled in my head for the early 70s. Then the U2 song came out. Now I'm pleased to see this film.

  It's hard to review this film without either reviewing the event itself and the political situation that surrounds it or reviewing the cinema verite style that director Paul Greengrass employs. There is no doubt that "Bloody Sunday" is powerful. I sat watching the credits roll afterwards and listened to the U2 song even after the screen went black. I found this film less effective that the docu-drama "Veronica Guerin." Gerald McSorely played Irish Mafioso John Gilligan in "VG"; and here plays Capt. Supt. Lagan who sits dumbfounded hearing the news, patently ignored by the British officers.

  The film is centered around Ivan Cooper played by James Nesbitt. He does an excellent job as a wheeler dealer politician who then becomes dumbfounded at the day's results. Tim Piggott-Smith does a marvelous job as the boneheaded Gen. Robert Ford who goads the British into the confrontation and then crows about it as a tremendous success.

  The short abrupt cuts didn't work as well for me. If they had started with longer sequences and progressively been snipped to shorter and shorter shots as we approach the massacre, the film would have had more of a sense of build. As it is, it does convey the sense of confusion with people talking at once, not listening to each other, and then the screen cutting to a completely different setting and sequence, leaving each part dropped but adding to a cumulative effect.

  Because this film is about an extremely important event, one that is unfortunately mirrored in too many unjust situations around the world, it does have a universality and resonance. On the other hand, because we don't spend long enough with each character, because we don't come to know the 13 killed or the 14 wounded, there is a facelessness to the proceeding. It would have been more moving for me if like "Veronica Guerin" we become directly involved with the characters and concerned with their outcome. Even so, it's a film that deserves to be seen. Enjoy!
  
  

• Mind-blowing cinéma vérité
  By A25PM9JGHPU8EI on 2006-03-21
  Even if you are not well-versed in the history of the subject matter you will be mesmerized by the technique employed by Paul Greengrass. It is simply astonishing the level of realism acheived within. Several times I got lost in the story, immersed as if I were watching a documentary and not a staged production. Very engrossing and several good supplements including commentary and a visit to the present-day real-life locations depicted in the film.
  
  

• The Wind That Shakes the Barley
• Michael Collins
• In the Name of the Father
• Omagh
• The Boxer (Collector's Edition)