The Legions

The Poles really went all in with this one, creating a grand historical epic that feels like something Hollywood would've made at the turn of the millennium. The Legions doesn’t just deliver large-scale battle scenes from the trenches of World War I, it also dives into the characters, adds a hefty dose of patriotism, and wraps it all up with a romantic subplot to keep everyone—including grandma—hooked. I enjoyed it. It’s big, it’s bold, and it’s got that sweeping, epic feel that’s rare in modern European cinema. Who else could pull off something like this today? It seems like only the Poles have that kind of ambition—and honestly, they’ve always had it in them. (11.11.2020)

Somewhat disappointing. The film was based on events I knew nothing about, and it could have been a great experience if the filmmakers hadn't made it so melodramatic and overly heroic, and if they hadn't grafted a love story onto the plot, stretching out the running time to four hours. The way the subject was handled doesn’t hold a candle to De Oost. Shame about the wasted potential. (07.10.2021)