Movie Review 
From the epic and daring Saving Private Ryan to the intimate Crash to the terrifying Schindler's List, World War II is a war that audiences never tire of seeing. HBO's mini-series Band of Brothers arguably outshines all of its big-screen counterparts. But that's a debate for another day!
What is indisputable here is that Munich: Edge of War once again returns to World War II, but this time on the eve of battle. For those wondering, two years before the events depicted in 2017's Darkest Hour.
Germany is on the brink of war. With Hitler coming to power, he aims to invade Czechoslovakia. The British government is led by Neville Chamberlain, who wants a peaceful solution to prevent Britain from being thrown into a war that many people believe is inevitable.
In the middle of this conflict are former classmates - a British civil servant named Hugh Legat and another, a German diplomat named Paul von Hartmann. The two head to Munich, where they face each other for the upcoming peace talks, hoping to stop the war before it destroys Europe.
Not Happy Ending
As many people know, this story doesn't have a happy ending, and that's the biggest problem with Munich: War's Edge. The drama is palpable, the political debate is intense, but because of how famous this period of history is, it makes things predictable.
Apart from an inspired performance by Jeremy Irons as Neville Chamberlain and a couple of tense encounters late on, there's not much else that really stands out here.
Production Values
The production design is brilliant, the costumes are excellent, and there's a really wicked and unusual musical score that really elevates this scene. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the camera work.
One review I read likened this picture to being taken from a boat at sea, and sometimes it really does feel that way. The handheld camera swings wildly between characters and is sometimes so distracting that it takes away from the characters' performances. It's not a complete deal breaker as it's loaded with static shots and some nice cinematography, but it's definitely something you'll see a lot of.
Verdict
Munich: Edge of War has its moments, but most of the time it falls into the realm of "good" rather than "okay, this is really good." Given how many World War II thrillers we've been treated to over the years, this might be to be expected.
While this won't break the bottom of the barrel, the keg we serve up won't quench your thirst. It's a decent watch and a nice way to kill a few hours, but it's unlikely to be a movie you'll return to in a hurry.
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