| Author | Message | ||
     Johnjdel |
Thought I'd do my best Joel Siegal impersonation and share a review of "Enemy at the Gates." "Enemy at the Gates" is set in 1942-43 Stalingrad, and follows the rise of a young Russian soldier from a nameless boy from the Urals to a national hero. His uncanny abilities as a sniper, combined with the desperation in the defense of Stalingrad and the Soviet penchant for propeganda, turn this kid into Russia's Joe DiMaggio. He creates such a problem that Germany dispatches their own best sniper to eliminate Russia's hero. This is the heart of the movie. There is a somewhat pointless sub-plot involving a love triangle between our hero, a Communist university educated female soldier, and the propeganda officer responsible for creating this hero. Apparently, the story is based at least partly in truth. According to Soviet war records, a young sniper hero named Vasily did, in fact, exist in Stalingrad. Whether the Nazi's dispatched their own sniper-ace has never been confirmed by historians. I understand the movie is based on a book called "War of the Rats." On a historical, face-value-war-movie level, this is a very good film. It captures the building-to-building, house-to-house, man-to-man nature of the most ferocious single battle in the history of our world. The suspense created between these two men as they stalk each other through the ruins of the city is edge-of-your-seat stuff. More than anything, it is the first film I can remember that truly portrays the horrors under which Soviet soldiers served their country, given a choice between death-by-enemy or death-by-desertion. Simply unbelievable. The love story takes away a little, but allows room for commentary on Communism and religion. Also, the fact that its a British film is a small detriment- it takes a while to get used to all these Nazis and Soviets speaking the Queen's English! All in all though, for those interested in history, go see it. Its violent, of course, but not rooted in gore. Its the first accurate portrayal of war on the Eastern front, and an admirable tribute to the battle that changed the course of the war, and history. | ||
| Lseltzer |
I'm anxious to see this. I've wondered why there are few, if any, movies about the eastern front. (That's a rhetorical statement; there aren't movies like that because there aren't any Americans on the eastern front.) Anyway, thanks for the review, and thanks for mentioning the love triangle. It might have been tough to get my wife to another war flick  | ||
| Johnjdel |
I think the reason there have been so few movies about the Eastern Front is two-fold: simple lack of Western involvement (Germans vs. Russians), and also it forces you to choose sides between two groups of very bad people (Nazis vs. Communists). Ten years ago, you wouldn't want to be sympathetic to Communist soldiers. Now, its a little easier to do that. I also think there's an "information" issue. Since the fall of the Soviet Union and the opening of their archives, we know a heck of a lot more about what went on there. As far as "The Wife at a War Flick", this one's bearable. My wife is NO watcher of The History Channel, but the side-story kept her interested (probably why its there in the first place !) | ||
| Wharfrat |
While I haven't seen "Enemy at the Gates" I did go see a German production about 10 years back called "Stalingrad". Reading John's best Joel Siegel-like review I am struck by the similarities between both productions. The first 10 minutes or so of both movies are rife with panorama-like gore and violence. The remainder of both movies focuses upon the "small-human interest stories" found within this most horrific period of history. Having read many books about the eastern front (my wife regularly calls it my summer reading series) I am always overwhelmed by the ferocity and barbarity of this theatre of war. During the Battle of Stalingrad alone (six months-August '42 to Feb. '43) both warring armies incurred well over 1 million casualties. It is estimated, but never confirmed, that 1/2 million Russian soldiers lost their lives, more deaths than the US incurred in the whole of WW II. | ||
| Lseltzer |
Salon has a story (understatement alert) questioning the historical accuracy of "Enemy at the Gates" http://www.salon.com/books/feature/2001/03/28/stalingrad/index.html | ||
| Dave |
I didn't understand how Vasily could have overlooked the noise the pipes would make in the chemical factory, which gave away his position. |
