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Waltz with Bashir
User Score
8.1 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 68 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 59 out of 68
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 68
  3. Negative: 6 out of 68

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  1. iainf
    May 5, 2009
    10
    Whilst let down by the animation in some parts of the film, overall the unique visual style this film encorporates captures the feel of the film's narrative perfectly. From the electrifying start, to the shocking and emotionally wrenching ending, Waltz With Bashir never ceased to disapoint. One of the best films to come from Israel of all time.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. aaronL.
    Mar 9, 2009
    2
    Animated views of war. No real plot. All the horrors of war, which we already know, shown to us through animation. I really did no like this movie, could not get into it, and felt it was a waste of time. It would be okay to expose someone to the follies of war, but even for that there are much better movies. I have never seen the critics so far off!
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. Nate
    Jul 1, 2009
    9
    This is a wonderful film, haunting and moving at the same time. The animation is an effective tool that film makers do not use to its full potential. I can see why the critics loved it so much. Anyone saying that they did not understand the film should not be watching it. If your confused by the plot of Transformers you should probably stop watching films and go back to picture books and pop up books. Also saying that this is propaganda is just being ignorant of soldiers and the effects of post traumatic stress. This movie should be watched.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  4. ChristosM
    Jul 8, 2009
    9
    The strongest anti-war statement in years,exploring not only the consequences of war,but the undefined,yet undeniable power of the human nature and subconscious to deny it's devastating power.Ari Folman tried to achieve his own personal catharsis by making this film,but what he actually achieves is creating a shocking essay about one of the most ancient,destructive human practises and an artistic triumph as well,judging by the hypnotizing way the animation reveals the surreal,nightmarish side of a forever burning Middle East!… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  5. Dave
    Feb 1, 2009
    10
    Fantastic film, and definitely deserving of the Golden Globe award that it received. The animation is just amazing, and the story itself was very moving. To Droog D, I really can't understand how you would find this boring. Maybe you should just go rent Transformers!
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  6. JaneE.
    Feb 7, 2009
    10
    More than anything, this was an incredible war movie. Even though it covers a few of the particulars of the war in Beirut, the experiences it captures could have taken place in almost any war. Visually it is remarkable, and it gives viewers a lot to think about.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  7. MikeMike
    Mar 1, 2009
    5
    Wow. This movie bored me to sleep. The animation style is fairly interesting but the disjointed story just didn't have enough to keep me interested. Maybe more real footage would have made me care. I'm not PC enough to rate this higher than a generous 5. Israeli and Lebanese viewers may be interested. Others may just snooze and wish for something, anything, more.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  8. EdwardK
    May 8, 2009
    6
    The clever animation technique couldn't save this film. And I didn't see the value in animating the "talking heads" scenes of this documentary. Furthermore, I found the sequence of events confusing at times. Given the excellent reviews, I found myself disappointed.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  9. DanielaV
    Jun 2, 2009
    10
    It is a brilliant movie.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  10. SimonM
    Jun 26, 2009
    0
    Propaganda effort that attempts to excuse Israeli involvement in Lebanon. Cleverly done in admitting a portion of the blame and having the protagonists feeling amnesiac guilt. Ignores the current west bank and does not refer to it once despite the impossibility of ignoring it. No Lebanese co accused to share the blame in that I reckon.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  11. FireFox
    Dec 28, 2008
    10
    Simply beautiful ! This one is a must !
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  12. ShaneS.
    Jan 26, 2009
    10
    As visually stunning as it is powerfully poetic. A masterpiece in every sense of the word, this is one of those rare films that serves as a revelation both aesthetically and politically.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  13. TsviS.
    Jan 28, 2009
    10
    first when i heared about this movie i was scared that it will be more a " saying " and less a film, but except from the last scene ( which is also not so much not in place ) this movie is a masterpiece , fascinating , i could not lose focus for a seconed when i watched it , making a film that is both surreal and making sense is somthing to be appreciated, though i the drawing was real art the animation was slow a bit , but it is not a pixar film .… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  14. KennethM.
    Feb 3, 2009
    10
    Wow, simply epic. One of the best war films I've ever seen, and highly desrving of whatever awards it recieves. Droog, boring? Perhaps you should try ritalin.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  15. BobN
    Jul 4, 2009
    4
    Gotta say, I really wanted to like this film. Truth be told, it was sleep inducing. I understand the method: everything is in dreamstate or nightmare-realm untill the end-surprise-cut to live shot. The end is a great scene, but the rest of the film is lacking. Having experienced true horrors in my life, and having been to the depths of the human psyche, I appreciate the effort of this film...unfortunately, it all felt contrived, fake, and meaning to make a buck off of a sad-typical-soldier as victim but not story. Props for trying, but I believe this is a failure. Critics are way off on this one.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  16. JeffKerr
    Sep 4, 2009
    9
    Very powerful. The folks labeling it propaganda are off base. This film isn't about the war in Lebanon; it's about war, period. Even so, I don't see where it excuses Israel. Rather, if you take Ari as a metaphor for his country, he is horrified to realize that his actions enabled the killers.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  17. DroogD.
    Dec 27, 2008
    3
    Wonderful animation ... and incredibly boring.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  18. Steveb.
    Jan 21, 2009
    7
    There's a lot to like in this film. But there's also enough not to be crazy about. Like it's slow, kinda talky, preachy almost, and the theme that war is hell, is, well, kinda old.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  19. JanY
    Feb 14, 2009
    7
    Amn excellent film in terms of its animated appeal, but the story loses its strength of emotional appeal and would become easily forgotten. What value does this film project, except to say that in wars, none who is responsible for killing the innocents, directly or indirectly, has the right to claim victory. Oh yeah, the film does confirm the fact that the many, who fight in wars and survive, will never live a normal live. But it never does end the fact that there will still be many who would sign up to fight and do exactly what their commanders tell them to do... morally or immorally, ethically or unethically. If anything, this film will only confirm that Israel will continue to be associated with the killing of mass innocents and thus continue to prompt endless revenge against the nation and its citizens. Does any nation really want its citizens to continue living out nightmares and guilt? Apparently, Israel does!… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  20. JayH
    Jun 18, 2009
    7
    Very moving and disturbing, the animation is surprisingly effective. Very unique and innovative. The story is told exceptionally well. Good writing and direction.The score is particularly good.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  21. MattKasmir
    Jul 14, 2009
    10
    I haven't enjoyed watching a movie this much in a long time. Anyone saying it is propaganda is very off, this movie is definitely told from a certain bias, that of solely Israeli soldiers. That does not make it propaganda in the slightest, as these people are simply telling it how they remembered it. The animation is very effective I also think, and the last 5 minutes of the movie are so emotionally shocking, it makes it seem so real, as if the viewer can actually understand and comprehend the horrors of these events(although of course we can't really)… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  22. Bzzt
    Dec 29, 2008
    9
    More than just a film truly a personal act of self expression.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  23. ryancarroll88
    Aug 27, 2010
    8
    Ari Folman uses his lost memory of his presence in the massacres at Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War to craft a dazzling sudo-documentary, whose vivid animation complements the advent of his visceral, dummy recollections from pure imagination to grueling reality. Though the experience is completely enveloping as it is, the movie moves needlessly in slow motion, as if for the sole purpose of stretching time. Still, it's a minor complaint in an otherwise fantastic movie.… Expand
  24. Aiden26
    Feb 2, 2011
    10
    My favorite animated movie hands down. Beautifully done, haunting, and goes to depths of horror that you wouldn't think is real, but unfortunately it did happen. If it was not so grotesque this should be shown in all classes in high school or college and teach people about religious, ethnic, and racial tolerance.
  25. avatar16
    Jan 28, 2012
    6
    Il était intéressant de se plonger dans l'intervention israélienne au Liban en 1982. Il était intéressant de la part du réalisateur de nous livrer une oeuvre sur ce sujet sous la forme d'un documentaire. Mais je me demande pourquoi avoir réalisé ce dernier en animation? Il faut le reconnaître, cela apporte beaucoup de style à l'ambiance (trop...) hypnotique du film. Le problème reste cependant les personnages, bien trop inexpressifs pour que l'on accorde la moindre crédibilité à leurs paroles. Heureusement, les doubleurs français sont là pour apporter une immense part d'humanité aux protagonistes et intervenants (en même temps, nous avons les voix de Patrick Floersheim, Michel Papineschi, Jacques Frantz...). Reste que Valse avec Bachir soit une oeuvre tout de même puissante, sur la guerre et notamment la culpabilité.… Expand
  26. movie2187
    Jan 6, 2012
    10
    The best animated film of the decade. The best foreign film of the decade. the best documentary of the decade. One of the very best films of the decade. A deeply moving, thought provoking and artistically designed masterpiece. Anyone who said wall-e or the dark knight was the best film of 2008 did not see this film or synecdoche,new york(which was the best film of that year and the decade)
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Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
91 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 33 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 33
  3. Negative: 0 out of 33
  1. Empire
    Reviewed by: Dan Jolin
    100
    A bravura documentary which balances the personal and the political as it peers into the First Lebanon War, its animated approach never feeling like a novelty. Astonishing, unforgettable: you have to see it.
    Read full review
  2. Newsweek
    Reviewed by: David Ansen
    90
    The images of war that Folman and his chief illustrator, David Polonsky, conjure up have a feverish, infernal beauty. Dreams and reality jumble together.
    Read full review
  3. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Peter Brunette
    60
    The chosen style of animation leads to a distracting choppiness that renders the movements, gestures and facial expressions of the interviewees unconvincing. The other problem is that, memory naturally being something that returns in fits and starts, the film is rarely able to sustain any consistent narrative thrust.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »