Monuments Men (2014)
Watched BluRay May 2014
I am sheepishly relieved I did not pay to see this in a movie theater when it was first released. I enjoyed watching this movie, but ended up feeling disappointed by the time I reached the credits.
The pacing of the movie seemed off and the story too disjointed. I barely had time to get to know the characters so I found it difficult to relate to their trials and tribulations.
I also suffer from being one of the few in my immediate family who knows next to nothing about art history. My research project following this review is to answer my own question concerning why the altar panels from a church in Ghent are important? I can understand why Michaelangelo’s Madonna would be priceless, but altar panels? No one ever mentions who the artist was!
So, I answered my own questions and got more emotional reading this article at the Smithsonian’s website than I ever got while watching Monuments Men.
I felt the same way. It could have been a better movie.
Whatever excites our interest in and knowledge of our art heritage is good. Over the centuries, some amazing works have been created (and, sadly, many lost).
“Monuments Men” also reminds us that much art stolen during World War Two still hasn’t been recovered or returned.
The book is much better–I recommend you read it if you’re interested in the story.