Angelina Jolie's film "Unbroken" has already debuted in theaters in the United States and while reviews are currently popping up about the film, one critic claimed that while it had the makings of an "incredible story," it is "not an incredible movie," ABC News reported.
"Unbroken" is Jolie's second directorial effort following 2011's "The Land of Blood and Honey." The film is based on the life of former Olympian, former bombardier, prisoner of war and World War II veteran Louis Zamperini.
Zamperini, portrayed by Jack O'Connell, was the son to Italian immigrants and was a troublemaker as a child. His older brother convinced him to try out for the track team, ending up as an Olympian, before an bombardier and a POW of the Japanese.
David Blaustein from ABC pointed out the difference of "Unbroken" as a film and as a story in his review. He claimed that while it was an "incredible story" and Jolie as a director showed potential, her directorial skills are "not there yet."
He also claimed that the flashbacks in the story became "manipulative and superfluous" throughout the film. He criticized Jolie's "desire to make this movie look beautiful," such that the members of the POW camp looked like members of a Calvin Klein photo shoot.
However, Blaustein complimented Jolie's portrayal of Zamperini adrift at sea and struggling to survive, and ended up giving the film three and a half stars out of five.
A review by Joe Neumaier from The New York Daily News has a differing opinion, however, awarding the film five out of five stars, calling the film "amazing."
"When you get through it, though, you can't help but feel uplifted," he wrote. He also claimed that the movie "can stand with the best muscular wartime dramas" in the country.
Other reviews have also been varying. As of this writing, "Unbroken" has garnered 50 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, 59 percent on Metacritic and 6.7 out of 10 on IMDb.
A review by Brian Tallerico from Roger Ebert awarded the film two and half of three stars and complimented the film's attention to detail, the portrayal of fragility and purpose and the performances of O'Connell, Domhnall Gleeson and Jai Courtney.
However, Tallerico claimed that "everything feels accurate in its staging, and yet also not quite genuine," but postured that the film will likely be one that fans can look back on as the "early entry" of major stars like O'Connell.
Interested moviegoers who are still unsure of trying out the film can view the official trailer posted by Universal Pictures UK in October which showed scenes from the film, such as Zamperini's flight above the ocean and the crash that landed him in the Japanese camp.
No matter the reviews though, "Unbroken" already looks to be doing much better in the box office than initially expected, according to Daily Mail. Reports have it that the film made almost $1 million on its Christmas Eve showing, and might garner more than $30 million for its full four day weekend.
