A much better story than the reviews indicated. Interesting characters and good vehicle for telling the story of the Buffalo Soldiers. Some of the characters were a little trite, such as the redneck commander, but I found the movie generally inspiring and thoughtful. I really liked the cast as well.

I attended last night's advance press screening of director Spike Lee's movie-adaptation of James McBride's novel of the same name. Miracle at St. Anna/MASA (2hrs 40mins) presented the war contributions of African-American soldiers' and was loosely based on the August 1944 Sant'Anna di Stazzema massacre - featured a sculpted head from Ponte Santa Trinita which was used as a anchoring device for the movie. Major themes were racism, survival, loyalty/betrayal, revenge/vengeance/justice, and faith/religion. The story/plot has enough twists and surprises to keep one's attention. But the half-realized scenes were unfulfilling, the uneven flow and choppy editing were distracting. MASA suffered from trying to do too much in one movie - war story, love story, supernatural, murder mystery, race-examination - resulting in a muddled unsatisfactory movie despite the promising material. The unexpected ending neatly wrapped-up this tale. Verdict: It is worth checking out.

This is an outstanding movie in every respect, expertly and artfully crafted by Spike Lee and his associates. The movie demands your attention and your mind, if given; it reveals a truly complex, exquisitely executed story, which is portrayed on multiple levels. The story is compelling, lavishly laced with miracles and insights into the human experience, artfully interwoven; the story does not following a linear timeline. One reason those who seek raw entertainment will be lost and disappointed. The Cinematography is just as it should be, compelling. German and Italian characters speaking in their native tongue, adds to the realism, which is artfully purveyed. Above all it captures antagonist, protagonist and supporting charters portrayed in such a way as to reveal compelling insights into their minds and souls, loyalties, moral codes, and subsequent actions. If you are a thinker and are intrigued by human nature, this is a must see.

The movie is well-paced, and the focus is on the people, not the war. If you want a "war" movie, this isn't it. If you want a movie that is a humanistic portrayal of how people can survive terrible conditions, situation, and decisions, you will enjoy it. What is the "miracle?" It's hard to say. It could be the triumph of spirit, the courage, the tenacity, or the memory of such a horrific event that comes home with justice and love. Despite the difficult nature of the movie (if you think beyond the surface), it is uplifting and gratifying.

this movie had everything you can think of, it was spike lee at his greatest, best movie ive seen in years cannot wait to see it again.