Overlord (1975)

Plot: During World War II, a young British lad's called up and, with increasing sense of foreboding, undertakes his army training for D-day

Lets be honest, most war movies that pretend to be "anti-war", really aren't. Our hero may go through hell but survives. Or if he does dies, its a hero's death, in the last few minutes. So, I often wondered, what if a war movie tried to be different, and had John Wayne or Tom Hanks killed in the first reel. That would not only be more shocking, it would be more realistic.

And "Overlord" sorta does this. Filmed on a low-budget and only 83 minutes, the movie incorporates lots of actual WW II footage. It does this so well, it seems part of movie. The actual footage is used to give a sense of realism, as we follow an average Englishman as he goes through basic training to his first battle, D-Day. Where he is killed, before he steps off the landing craft.

Its different. And interesting. But not particularly entertaining. And not suitable for a commercial movie that wants to put "Bums on the seats". And the hero is just an average man. And not charismatic.

 Its an good experimental film. It shows up the fakery and childishness of war movies like Private Ryan with their cartoon heroics and flag-waving propaganda. But that doesn't make it the sort of movie you'd pay money to see.