Rent The Ottoman Lieutenant (2017)

Underpowered would-be epic - The Ottoman Lieutenant review by Alphaville

A big sprawling epic in the mould of Out of Africa and Legends of the Fall, this has a promising original backdrop – a medical mission in a First World War Turkey where Christians and Turks kill each other. But while the landscapes are suitably vast, the drama never really takes off. It jogs along pleasantly enough but for most of its length there’s no conflict, romance or any other plot device to maintain interest. The performances are oddly blank and a lush score that may begin to irritate washes over all. An hour passes before there’s any intrigue of any kind, and the ensuing melodrama fails to convince. The original concept is to be applauded, but unfortunately it’s all a bit-ho-hum.

Mouthy girlpower + Mills-and-Boon soppy romantic story = this effort. Oh, and there's a war on. - The Ottoman Lieutenant review by PV

One thing I HATE about modern movies especially since the #metoo mob started its pity party riot, is how young women especially of ALL ages behave as though they were 'strong. independent' (YAWN!) woman of NOW - demanding their right to do whatever they like and be themselves, because they're all strong and independent, you see (RE-YAWN!). Often these women - be they living in the Ancient world, the 17th century, the early 20th century, are full of attitude and do things men would usually do (making the point they are 'strong and independent' - do you see?) - such as piloting aircraft or spaceships, or fighting men and winning (yeah right) or as in this case setting out alone as a young woman in 1913 to drive to Turkey. Yeah right... It would have been MORE believable if she'd actually chosen to ride a unicorn there/

And so the romance starts and the predictable love triangle, because as in real life, the presence of females ALWAYS causes conflict between men. And of course, the woman is the true hero and shown to have been right all along.

The ONLY reason this is not 1 star is the interesting war dynamics and pretty scenery. The genocide of 1.5 million Armenian Christians by Muslim Turks at the time certainly needs highlighting, esp as that country denies it even happened.

This is probably a movie for women as it's basically emotional porn for them. Men, expect to yawn - a lot!

2 stars. JUST.

Why bother ? - The Ottoman Lieutenant review by VW

Why was this film made ? It is awful. It feels like something that would be on Channel 5 mid-afternoon. Terrible.