leethomas-11621 How much of Mel Gibson's success as a director does he owe to Peter Weir? He must have had a wonderful experience working with him on this movie. Perfect depiction of innocents at war - the young soldiers who didn't know how cruel the world (and their officers) could be. Has a better depiction of the Australian character ever been put on a screen? Screenplay by David Williamson is spot-on. (He is the "long streak of pelican s**t" who has to be "sorted out" while playing football near the Sphinx!) (viewed 10/16)

fascistbully First saw this movie when I was 14. I remember being angry and upset at the ending. Re-discovered the movie in 2003 as a World History teacher. Starting showing my classes this movie and always interested to see the students reactions at the final scene. I have read numerous books dealing with Gallipoli as well as conversing with members of the Australian Light Horse Association regarding the film and the Gallipoli Campaign itself. Learned a great deal about the event and have a profound respect for those men and what they stood for. Its sad that the mentality and character that those men had are no longer found today...Lest We Forget

Theo Robertson Gallipoli ? A metonym that can be used for the futility of war . The Gallipoli campaign started off as a well meaning campaign by Britain and France to knock out the Central Power of the Ottoman Empire from the first world war or at the very least keep open the supply route of the Black Sea . Unfortunately the campaign quickly fell apart as the Allied force managed to capture the shoreline of the peninsula but found themselves trapped by Turks holding the high ground . After eight months of heavy fighting each side suffered 250,000 killed . wounded , sick or captured and the allied force evacuated in January with the evacuation being the only thing that could be described as any type of success . This film tells the story of the early stages of that campaign .It's an Australian movie directed by Peter Weir who rallies to his country's flag by leaving Hollywood where he had a successful career and making an epic film the likes of which had never been seen before . Gallipoli is often used as a stick by more nationalistic historians such as John Laffin to beat Britain with and has become part of the mainstream Australian psyche and the campaign is remembered far more in Australia and New Zealand than Britain and France , so much so that it's erroneously perceived that the campaign was mainly an ANZAC campaign . The truth is France actually had more troops on the peninsula . That's not to denigrate anyone . merely to point out that there's a creeping myth of revisionary history creeping in and unfortunately GALLIPOLI does play up to a few myths . Like nearly every story you read about the First World War a major character must sign up and take the King's shilling while underage and in this case it's young Archy Hamilton who signs on aged 18 . The film gets an important fact wrong when it says 21 is the minimum age for serving in the ANZACs when in fact 18 was the minimum age and the film does get a few other factual error songs and you can't help thinking Mel Gibson's Anglo-phobia might stem from appearing in this movie That said it is only a movie and if you want truth try reading a wide variety of books on a topic . As a film GALLIPOLI hits the target very often and it's not often you see an English language film from outside America or Britain that tries to capture the epicness of a David Lean type historical movie . The cast are very good and it's easy to see why Mel Gibson became a star via his likable cheeky chappie type of role which he plays here

russellalancampbell "Gallipoli" is a film that has been part of my teaching life. I saw it and was thrilled by it the day before I went into my first class as a student teacher. Over the next 30 years it is probably the films I have shown most often to students studying Australian history.There are so many scenes that have stayed with me such as the attack on The Nek and the final freeze frame but I want to point out three others that live on in my mind. Geoff Parry's speech to the troops prior to them being allowed to explore Cairo was a gem. Great writing and the delivery had a deliciously sarcastic tone.The cameo from Diane Chamberlain as Major Barton's wife was heartbreaking. The look on her face as she turns away after imploring her husband to, "Please come home" tells all about what wives and mothers went through.Lastly, Bill Hunter as he drinks a toast on his wedding anniversary as he listens to an aria from an opera and attempts to whistle along with it. He is aware of what is to come the next day but the young troops who look in on him are not. They smile almost patronisingly. Awareness and unawareness has never been more brilliantly portrayed. There are many more great scenes and moments in what is a brilliant film.