Operation Chromite

It's strange to watch a war epic and think that what it could do with less of are the gravelly Liam Neeson speeches. But that is exactly what happens here.

Operation Chromite so bad it's almost spellbinding.

Creaky and clunky, weirdly reminiscent of big-budget prestige movies of years gone by such as The Longest Day, which used to always crop up on bank holiday TV.

As a film about the political intricacies of the Korean war, it's an utter failure but as a boys' own adventure romp, full of gunfire and explosions, it just about passes muster.

The wooden dialogue gives Liam Neeson little to do beyond bite on his corncob pipe and berate subordinates who dare question him.

Exciting if occasionally awkward ...

It's hard not to feel a little underwhelmed by the familiarity of it all, and many viewers will yearn for the day when directors might try to do something different

I still ultimately enjoy what Operation Chromite brings to the table as far as an entertaining war film created in the modern era is concerned.

Entertaining in its own way, though probably not in the way intended.

With violent skirmishes and acts of self-sacrifice, actions speak louder than words in this simplistic but effective patriotic epic.