I have been researching my grandfather, Lieutenant Leonard Langdale Wrathall. He was awarded a Military Cross for removing an enemy road mine from a spot which was under heavy direct machine-gun fire. On the 3rd of October, 1918 in the vicinity of Estees and Ramicourt, he was engaged in the reconnaissance of roads captured during the advance. He examined roads up to our front line, and in many cases beyond it, and during the whole of both days worked under heavy shell and machine gun fire. Leonard enlisted in the the Australian forces in OCt 1915 as a geologist; his roll title was No 1 Mining Corps -2 and 3 Reinforcements. He spent 4 years in the army gaining the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in the Australian Tunnelling Corps and being concerned in the operations which led to the blowing up of Hill 60. I shall look forward to watching the movie and to see the experiences that they endured.

I have to disagree with the comments comparing this movie with 'Hurt Locker' which is a superior movie in nearly every day and deserves its Oscar credits. This is however an excellent war drama telling a fairly unknown true story of Oliver Woodward during World War One. I for one had never heard of Oliver Woodward until watching this movie. Yes, to some degree, I would compare it to 'My Boy Jack" and even 'Passchendale' and actually 'Tunnel Rats' the Vietnam war drama springs more to mind.There is also a love story thrown in for good measure and overall this is a very sensitive film with an unacceptable but seemingly necessary ending. The acting is superb throughout and the story fascinating in how it was told from beginning until the end.For those who like their dose of war dramas, this is clearly one not to be missed.

The over enthusiasm from 99% of the Australian viewers grading this film so highly is fundamental as to why Australian film making is not progressing in the right direction. Criticisms such as "better than Saving Private Ryan", really do not help portray the film in the correct light. And is probably why Australian film makers are falling behind similar counterparts in Europe, who can make moving films with correct sound underscores. Not to say this is a bad film in the slightest, just not the hyped up best Aussie War movie ever category it is being portrayed into. I think without the hype you would leave the cinema quite satisfied and overall it is well made and acted, but lets you down simultaneously. I give it a 4 simply because i went in expecting so much, and came out feeling every need from the film not being met.

This film should be seen by all Australians. It is authentic and extremely well acted; no overacting and no gilding the lily. Take a box of tissues. As an indication of how special this movie was, at the end while the credits were playing, everyone except two people remained in their seats for the entire running time of the credits and the upper part of the theatre was full. I would like to encourage younger people to see it; young people like those who visit Gallipoli would appreciate its significance. It depicts the true nature of the first world war and also depicts the essence of the Australian character; free-spirited, somewhat disrespectful of officer ranks until said officers earn respect. WWI was not like other wars; though the very awfulness of the trenches is obvious, the movie dwells just enough but not too much on this aspect. I hope it is successful overseas though I cannot imagine the British going to see it in large numbers, nor the Americans. The British are gently lampooned once or twice and would not take kindly to this, and the Americans do not get a look in at all so they would not be likely to be motivated to see it. However, if they did, I think they would appreciate it.