Is The Great Military March Forward: Engulf the Southwest Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (1998)

📖 The Core Premise

With the release of The Great Military March Forward: Engulf the Southwest (1998), audiences are invited back into the world of Drama, War. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "In the later stage of the Liberation War, with the victory of the three major battles over, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Chairman Mao Zedong made strategic decisions, ordering Liu Bocheng (played by Fu Xuecheng) and Deng Xiaoping (played by Lu Qi) to lead a group of the Second Field and Fourth Field to advance towards Hunan, Hubei, Guizhou, and Sichuan, and annihilate the remaining enemies in the southwest. On his way south, Deng Xiaoping asked railway experts he met about the construction of the Chengdu Chongqing Railway and gave political education classes to the troops heading south in a timely manner, implementing Chairman Mao's great teachings of "carrying out the revolution to the end"..."

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. While not a career-best, Gu Yue's presence adds a necessary stability to the proceedings. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good Drama. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is The Great Military March Forward: Engulf the Southwest worth your time? If you appreciate Drama, War films that take risks, this is likely a decent one-time watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, The Great Military March Forward: Engulf the Southwest is a mixed bag with some redeeming qualities. With a runtime of 148 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Watch on OTT.