Enemy at the Gates

Exciting Fighting

In the worst theater war imaginable between the Soviets and the Nazis, there also happens to be lust, jealousy, love and several other modicums of the human experience. Who knew that could happen in a Communist paradise? I loved the subplot fight of wits between Jude Law and Ed Harris. Ed Harris was deceivingly complex, as I have come to expect.

ENTERTAING STRAIGHT FROM THE START

This movie had me hooked by the first five minutes of it. The action in this movie is very exciting and Jude Law is just awesome. The only reason I gave this movie 4 stars is because it's not the best war movie out there just simply because there was some boring parts in it.

5-star opening 20 minutes, 2 stars almost all the rest of it

The opening sequence is one of the most horrifically realistic ever committed to film - if you didn't know the true story of the battle of Stalingrad, you would think that it was an impossible fiction - e.g., one in two soldiers arriving at the front is given a rifle, and the second man is told to stay behind the first man and pick it up when the first man is shot; or when the KGB sets up a machine gun at the rear of a charge to shoot any Russian soldiers who are forced back by German fire. Sadly, after that astonishing opening the film deteriorates into a 'love triangle in time of war' story, which shows that the producers didn't have the confidence in the real tale. There are other ridiculous scenes, like Bob Hoskins as (a badly cast) Khrushchev telling the officers that he's here to save them - which caused Russian audiences to burst out laughing. There's a question over the historical accuracy of the battle between snipers - the book from which the film was made assumes the story is right, but Beevor, in his book Stalingrad, doubts whether it happened at all. But I'll give the producers tolerance - it might have happened, and it's a fine story. Could have been a great film - but wasn't.

Trapped In Hollywood Cliches

Jean-Jacques Annaud directs this movie surrounding true characters and events during the WWII campaign for Stalingrad: the turning point against Germany in the Eastern Front. Jude Law plays Vassily Zaitzev, the legendary Red Army sniper who fought in Stalingrad. Zaitzev was one of the best marksmen in the Red Army and frustrated the German army's morale. The German command in turn sent their own specialized marksman to dispose of Vassily. German Major Konig (Ed Harris) takes the challenge and vows to kill Vassily and bring honor back to the Wermacht. The movie tries to capture the audience into the horrors of Stalingrad but becomes trapped by its own Hollywood style. The characters quickly become two-dimensional stereotypes lost in conventional and predictably boring Hollywood sub-plots canned with the usual cliche dialogue. The love story was unecessary, stereotypical, and just plain irritating. Throughout the movie, the director seemed more interested at making humorous jabs of Soviets and communism instead of emphasizing the dramatic elements of the plot. This undermined the director's attempts at presenting the story as a true drama and instead reduced it to the credibility level of a generic Rambo 3 movie. For a more sober portrayal of this decisive battle and its effects on the human condition, I would recommend the German film 'Stalingrad' instead.

Good Entertainment, realistic storyline

Wholesome entertainment as you get grasped into the horrors of the second world war manifested in Stalingrad. The portrayal of the soviet ace sniper(played by Jude Law), who is young and well groomed by his father is good. But probably the most matured character in the movie is played by Ed Harris, the character of a crack nazi marksman, cold and calculating, and constantly trying to assess the strategy of his opponent. The movie provides a good clash of two thinking minds each trying to outwit the other. But the gravity of the movie tends to get light when a love triangle between three soviet soldiers emerges. Its a redundant and meaningless episode in an otherwise intense movie. It could have done without the passion and desire of Rachael Weisz coming into prominence.But as a whole, the movie is worth watching and is an excellent portrayal of the absolute cut-throat life of a soviet sniper of the times of second world war.

I'm 12 years old and LOOOOOVE this movie!!!!!!!!!

I am 12 and love this movie. Its a friendship of 2 friend gone to war with the Nazi. Its a GREAT story. Thats all I'll say. You have got to get this movie. Once you get it, you'll love it. I know I did. --Joel (Age 12)

This is a wonderful war movie for your collecting

The director, Jean-Jacques Annaud, did a wonderful job of re-creating World War II, the battle of Stalingrad, and bringing it to the movie screen. James Horner did a great job of creating the music that was played in the movie. I recommend getting the ''Enemy at th Gates'' soundtrack.

Great Movie

This was an excellant war movie but the the best war movie. The movie had good action, suspense, and a nice romance to it. The ending was fantastic. It was a bit dull in some parts though.

Enemy at the Gates

This movie had to be one of my favorites. It told the true story of Stalingrad and of the Russian sniper. The settings were all so realistic.

Enemy at the Gates

I had never heard of this movie until my brother rented and I just started watching it because I had just studied th battle of Stalingrad in school. I wathched this movie three times in two days! My favorite character was Sacha, (Gabriel Marshall-Thomson) he was sort of like a double spy and Thomson was great acting in this one. I don't know to what extent how true the love story is though. Rachel Weiz, the character Tania is great in this movie and different from other roles she has been in. It you like true tories and history rent or buy this movie.

Another one for your collection

Whether you know the story or not this is a great movie to own. For those that don't know the story line the movie beings in Russia during WWII at the battle of Stalingrad, the movie's main focus is a premier Russian sniper. The conflict begins when the Germans send in their own special sniper. Throughout the movie the two snipers come into many confrontations eventually leading to a final showdown. This is a very dramatic movie filled with lot's, and I mean lots, of action. If you enjoy action movies having to do with WWII or any war for that matter this is the movie for you. This is definaly one for your collection.

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