Purely Joyful Movie!

A Masterpiece!

The movie runs out of plot and jokes well before the end of a two-hour running time, long for a light comedy.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

The plot is based on the WWII operation to assassinate the Reich's third in command, Reinhard Heydrich. A group of Czechoslovakian soldiers chose to follow orders, a rather commendable action that the film throughly explores. Disregarding their own fates, they chose to do what they believed was the right decision made by government officials in London. They knew the power that Heydrich held in Czechoslovakia and was a valuable asset to the Nazi regime. The beauty of this film, is that I knew nothing about Operation Anthropoid. Having watched this I've taken several pieces of information away therefore proving to be a successful representation of the story. The cast were all pretty good, especially Jamie Dornan who conveyed that vulnerability really well. The legend though, and I use that word with great power, is Cillian Murphy. Possibly one of the most underrated actors working today, he was superb yet again. The more serious and level headed of the pair, he showed emotional conviction and a sense of authority. One thing I did notice was that the forced Czech accents were fading in certain scenes, I'm not the biggest fan of English actors putting on fake European accents. Sean Ellis was a solid director, the final act alone impressed me. Oh and the last five minutes...palpable. Some really beautiful cinematography and was able to capture the tension terrifically. The production design was also fitting, it felt like 1940's Prague and I couldn't tell if any green screen backdrops were used so it looked authentic to me. My biggest negative is the pacing. The first half is so slow and monotonous that I was convinced this was going to go no where. Second half? BOOM! Action, thrills, tension! Perfect for a big screen iteration. The third act is just relentless war...definitely captivating. I also wished the screenplay explored the consequences of the assassination attempt, there was just one scene. Overall though, a slow first half leads to a thrilling second half. Educational and exciting.

I have absolutely no idea why everyone who writes a review about this movie on a website entirely about movies feels the need to go into a history lesson. If you're willing to see a movie about the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, chances are you know the historical context. Anyways, this is a good movie about a historical event that has not been covered to a great degree with the exception of "Hangmen Also Die!" Worth checking out.

Really interesting true war stories are now a thing of the past, leaving very few of them still not adapted for the big screen. ''Anthropoid'' is one of those scripts that tend to look pretty much better on the paper than on the celluloid. Saga about the Czech patriots that find their way back in the occupied Prague via parachute to assassinate the notorious Reinhard Heydrich has all the elements to create a tense and memorable atmosphere, but it doesn't succeed to do so. Instead, British flick, led by the always reliable Cillian Murphy manages to succumb the viewer to its really slow pace and claustrophobic feeling, which is not a bad thing after all. The bad thing is that the much expected climax somehow wiggle its way from us, leaving us with a nausea in the final showdown between the commandos and the Nazi. ''Anthropoid'' is one of those smaller scale productions that were primarily meant for television and blu-ray rather than the big screen.

ON paper, this ,ovie seems like an excellent take on Reinhard Heydrich's assassination in Prague in 1942. The plot seems to be very cool and then, there are awesome actors such as Cillian Murphy as Jozef Gabčík and Jamie Dornan as Jan Kubiš, so what can possibly go any wrong. WEll, there are good and weaker points. Almost all accuracy and cool play are deleted by terribly slow pace and unbearable predictability. Yeah, the assassination scene is awesome as well as the final stand in the cathedral - and main parts are all decent. But no, it could have been shorter, not in this sick sepia color scheme and not so trite in several scenes. And then, there are totally unnecessary symbolic scenes and very languid close-ups that kill all the thrill. Therefore, this is a very uneven movie with both weak and strong points to its merit. History buffs would enjoy certain accuracy, while Prague fans would love to see authentic places, but above that, this is just another war flick.