The Forgotten (2003) User Reviews

An amazing achievement

[hausrathman · 7/10 · 11 March 2004]

Randy Ryan plays an army corporal thrust into the command of a disintegrating tank platoon hopelessly lost behind enemy lines during the Korean War.

"The Forgotten" is an amazing achievement for a low-budget, independent feature. Real tanks and weaponry lend an air of authenticity to the proceedings which are further enhanced by a good cast and an intelligent, thoughtful script. In all honesty, I found this film much more satisfying than Terrence Malick's bloated, but similarly-themed, version of "The Thin Red Line." And director Vincente Stasolla managed to pull it off on probably 1/100th of the budget. I look forward to seeing more from him!

A surreal epic

[jon-wayne · 8/10 · 18 July 2003]

The film follows in the footsteps of Terrence Malick's "The Thin Red Line" and the film "Casualities of War" (and a bit of "Apocalypse Now" along with the patriotism of "We Were Soldiers"). Director Vincente Stasolla created a mini tour-de-force withi this gem of a film, depicting the honest portraits of a lost battalion of soldiers caught in the chaos of the Korean War in 1950. This is one of those rare films, albeit independently-made, which captures the complexities of the human psyche, caught up in a lost mission in the middle of nowhere. Futilely searching for redemption and meaning in their lives, the characters go through a heart-rending experience that is anything but a "rights-of- passage" for soldiers. It is chaos and disjointedness that ensues in the journey of the soldiers. This is not an organized, "by the book" affair by any means. Finally we have a war film that pays homage to the forgotten American brethren of the Korean War, not an action-packed, CGI, special-effects blockbuster filled with mindless one liners and slick drama. "The Forgotten" is one of those experiences that you'll never forget.

This movie stays with you long after you leave the theatre.

[cdiez1 · 8/10 · 31 January 2004]

I really enjoyed the movie. The storyline was well written. You kept wanting more, to know what was going to happen to the characters and their ultimate end. The Korean prisoner was a surprise twist which added a level of intensity. I loved how this tied in at the end.

The directing was creative. One of my favorite scenes was when all characters were sitting in the tank and the camera was moving in a circular motion focusing on their facial expressions.

The music was powerful. It was very moving and reminded me of music you would hear in a top Hollywood epic.

I would recommend this movie.

Excellently made film!

[johndepalo · 9 February 2004]

The forgotten is an amazingly directed film that transports the viewer into the harsh realities of what transpired during the Korean War. Vincent Disola shows amazing talent, and is able to tell a deeply emotional story of love, hate, and human nature that ends with an unforseen surprise.

Vincent is able to reach the viewers heart through realistic dialogue, ever changing camera angles, and impressive and action packed tank scenes. Filming inside a tank is one tremendous obstacle that Vince so easily overcomes, reinforcing his great talent and true skill as a director. There are very few indipendent directors that have put together such a great work as the forgotten. It is nice to see a war movie that is filled with action, intensity and suspense, but a great plot as well. This movie is a must see! Vincent Disola has definitely put his face on the map of the movie industry, and I can not wait to see what is next from him.

A film best forgotten

[mta4145-1 · 1/10 · 29 October 2008]

I purchased this title on DVD as I have an interest in military titles. On watching it with a friend I could not believe how totally awful it was. The storyline is so full of clichés and the dialogue so badly written as to make it unwatchable. The situation they are supposed to be in is just ludicrous in that two tanks are separated from their unit and it takes nearly 6 days or so of driving around Korea for them to get back to their own front lines. Anyone who is thinking of watching this movie is in for one big letdown. I put my copy of it in the rubbish bin. (in my opinion the best place for all copies of it so as not to waste other peoples time in watching it)

A rarely seen film about a forgotten war

[Coffee_in_the_Clink · 7/10 · 16 November 2023]

Two American tanks become isolated from the main push into North Korea in 1950. This film follows Corporal Byrne as he attempts to keep his men together, and ultimately survive.

I am the first person to review this film here in twelve years, so that is testament to just how rarely seen this Korean War film is. Vincente Stasolla wrote and directed it. Twenty years later and it remains his only film. I found this film as a teenager when it was a relatively new release. I watched it about two or three times, and I have only got around to it again this week, but I never forgot it. I was eager to watch it again with a mature (weathered, perhaps) pair of eyes. It still remains a haunting picture, but this time around I was able to appreciate what the film achieved on its tiny budget.

The attention to detail is superb. Stasolla did not have the money for major battle scenes, or scale. Instead he was able to put the money into the small aspects, such as uniforms, weapons and the two brilliant tanks that he acquired, allowing the action to take place within the tight and sweaty confines of the tank, evoking the tension and horror of every other tank movie you have ever seen.

The influence of "The Thin Red Line" (1998) on the flashback and dream sequences is undeniable. But "The Thin Red Line" was itself influenced by an earlier war picture, "Beach Red" from 1967. The low-budget and the colourised dream and memory sequences lend the film a strong surreal and dreamlike quality.

Excellent performances, some great scenes...

[astonedrose · 5/10 · 20 August 2009]

... But ultimately falls flat. What holds this film back is the fact that it has far too many clichés. I really did not want to go back to another scene of the protagonist and his wife hugging and kissing, it is something that I feel I've seen far too many times before in war films and didn't want to see it again in a film that had so much promise to be different than your standard war movie. Another problem I had with those scenes is the fact that they were in colour and had no dialogue. Throughout the film I had been intrigued by the fact that most scenes were in black and white - it made them feel as if the platoon were lost in time and really were forgotten. Having then to be brought back into colour not only irritated me a great deal but also made me think that the director was confused as to what he was going for. This and the lack of dialogue in those scenes made them feel sleazy and cheaply made and instead of feeling sorry for the protagonist that he is not with his wife I just ended up laughing, which is a great shame. The chemistry between the main cast, towards the end of the film, was really quite something and at times, had you feeling sorry for them that they were all alone in Korean territory. Each actor had something special to give to the audience and this was something I loved. The ending was not terribly satisfying however was quite clever. This film could have been spectacular but there were far too many problems.

Excellent cinematography

[clodaugh · 9/10 · 28 January 2004]

The cinematography is excellent throughout the entire film. I enjoyed the duality of the color segments contrasted with the black and white war segments. The use of black and white film illustrates the bleakness of war quite well, while the color segments portray life and love "back home" with an almost fairy-tale-like quality.

First Time Director Delivers a Rare Gem

[thebulldog13 · 9/10 · 5 August 2003]

This movie really moved me on many levels. Lacking the special effects of a Thin Red Line, only made the importance and effect of this movie more poignant. Instead of focusing purely on the casualties of war, this film did an excellent job exploring the mental/emotional aspects of trying to survive a situation that seems insurmountable. The film does an excellent job of moving from black and white to color as the main character dreams of his love back at home and longs for a future that he fears he will not see.

Never Forgotten The Movie

[forcedtek · 4 February 2004]

Watching the movie for the first time was really a treat. The first thing noticed was that the movie was shot mostly (85%) in black and white film. It added a more genuine feel to the time that the movie was trying to display. It was great to see such intense scenes, especially as situations became more dire. I loved the movie and imagery portrayed in an novel idea about the Korean War. The movie had great plot twists and the directing was fantastic. A first class movie that any movie lover will enjoy!!!

My image of the Korean War was impacted by viewing The Forgotten.

[pam-115 · 8/10 · 19 March 2004]

The film, The Forgotten, which was written, produced, and directed by Vincente Stasolla and Henry J. Simonds is an independent film that is definitely worth seeing.

Stasolla and Simonds are definitely two film makers that show potential because firstly they exhibit depth of thought and the ability to portray that depth in this film, secondly, their creativity and inventiveness to be able to create a film with so much meaning while using a very limited budget, and thirdly, they definitely have a message to "get out there", and the movie does that.

The film takes the viewer back to the onset of the Korean War during the 1950's, and throughout the film, there are numerous parallels that can be drawn between the Korean War conflict and wars such as Viet Nam and the recent war in Iraq. I believe these two aspiring film makers will make a name for themselves one day, and this film certainly was one of the best selections from which to choose to view at the recent Sedona International Film Festival here in Sedona Arizona. See it if you can!

Impressive !

[todd-176 · 27 January 2004]

Probably one of the most ambitious films that I have seen from Pennsylvania indie filmmakers. The film itself -- especially the black and white sequences -- look great. Fast moving, interesting dialogue, and great character development. The scenes inside the tank are impressive and well-executed. I have no doubt that Vincente will go on to bigger and better things.

Brilliant!!

[gregoryhoward09 · 9 February 2004]

Utterly absorbing. This movie reminded me of Platoon in its narrative form as well as the tension it was able to sustain. But more than that, its also very tender and sweet in respect to its subject matter. The flash back to a waiting wife at home, is beautifully done. The isolation is captured well. Which I attribute to the director genius. This is a timely film, one that should be seen.

This is a timely picture that opens a narrow window into the hearts and minds of a group of soldiers in the heat of battle and allows us to look through.

[meromad · 22 February 2004]

This is a timely picture that opens a narrow window into the hearts and minds of a group of soldiers in the heat of battle and allows us to look through. The scene is one of abandonment, frustration, and loss, and the black and white tones used bring those feelings home for the viewer, contrasted with the idyllic flashbacks of the homeland shot in color. While writer/director Stasolla's reverence for the uniform is apparent, he has drawn each character like a many-faceted but flawed gem, and we watch with hope and horror as we wonder whether they will strengthen or shatter under the strains they face. It is a movie that reminds us all to hope and pray that those currently serving abroad return home safe and sound.

a war film with a clever approach

[Raa2001 · 26 January 2004]

I really didn't know what to expect when I saw this movie, but I have to say that I came out very pleased with the quality and the direction of this film. `The Forgotten' takes you on a psychological roller coaster as soldiers fight their way through a hopeless battle. Even though `The Forgotten' is based on the Korean War, I believe that this movie is a great representation of what psychological and emotional battles most soldiers would face in any war. I also believe that this movie needs a nationwide, if not, a worldwide release to get the recognition that it deserves.

Forgettable

[YohjiArmstrong · 30 June 2011]

THE FORGOTTEN is a laudable but failed attempt by a group of amateurs to make a modern American film about the Korean War on a minute budget. It takes as its subject a platoon of tanks who get cut off in the 1950 retreat and then try to rejoin their unit. It's a perfectly respectable story but the lack of budget means that all too often ts ends up with the characters sitting around chatting when they ought to be moving. The characters themselves are stock - lisping innocent, violent redneck, Bible-basher - and the philosophical questions only get shallow answers that feel more contemporary than 1950s. Some of the techniques - like the use of b&w for Korea with colour for flashbacks to life in America, or the use of auditory effects to suggest when visual effects would be too expensive - are clever, but ultimately the film is boring and talky.

Destined for the standard canon of Korean War movies

[micgrant · 26 January 2004]

Not too many films take a true interior approach to telling a war story. Certainly not about a large-scale war in which three of the world's largest armies fought and which, even now, hardly anyone talks about. The Forgotten has enough action for intelligent viewers without neglecting the fear, confusion, dementia and sudden death faced by GIs in Korea.

Of course, war pictures always introduce characters, but the explosions and 'big picture' addiction always take over, both in terms of studio pyrotechnics and the way soldiers always seem to understand the geopolitical ramifications of what they are doing. This picture does not harbor those conceits-or easy answers about good and evil.

Vincente Stassola's direction injects the right amount of claustrophobic tension, giving us just enough air before shoehorning many of the great questions of our time into a battle tank patrol and letting them rattle around.