Assembly

Feeling slightly sorry for myself not being up for painting 6mm tanks I plonked myself in front of the TV and watched a number of war films over the last couple of days. First off was Assembly, the story of one man's determined attempts to ensure his unit's brave sacrifice was not forgotten and the dead recognised as heroes not listed MIA.

Set in 1948 during the Huahai campaign of the Chinese Civil War, the film is in many respect China's Saving Private Ryan and the opening battle sequence of the PLA battling the Nationalist KMT in a Chinese town is as good as anything in Speilberg's film and like that, the story is highly compelling and tinged with sadness. 

For perfectionists there are odd little irritants, the KMT armour in the 1948 battle is wrong (M46 not M4...) and the US flag on the American truck in the 1951 sequences something you are more likely to see on an ambassadors car rather than a 6 x 4, but overall the whole look and feel of this film is excellent and the final stand of the 48 men of the 9th company is as intense and as good war cinema as you can get. Overall, Assembly is an excellent war movie and despite its uncommon setting well worth checking out.

Note: looking for a trailer on You Tube I have found someone has uploaded the movie in 10 minute chunks. Whilst I don't think this is the best way to watch the film (and as the DVD is under a fiver you shouldn't be a cheapskate!) it will give you an idea of how good it is before you buy it!