Enemy at the Gates

source: Enemy at the Gates

Excellent production talent provides a gritty war-torn backdrop reminiscent of "Saving Private Ryan" for this weak story and poor historical account of the Battle for Stalingrad, a pivotal fight in the WWII European theater. The film tells of a Soviet war hero and sniper (Law) who squares off against a dogged adversary and top German sniper (Harris) providing the suspense and intrigue. The love story is played out like a clumsy after-thought and the use of big name stars for box office bucks when many good European actors could have added realism to the film was a typically self-serving Hollywood decision. Hoskins playing Khrushchev with his limey accent was laughable not to mention Harris as a German or Law as a Soviet and no attempt to fake an accent by anyone. A typical could-have-been-better flick which will entertain the masses and make the money mongers of filmdom happy while movie purists grumble.

This was a pretty good movie. The book "War of the Rats" it was adapted from was a GREAT book. There is a little similarity between the two but not much. The movie's story line is a wide mark from the book. It didn't have to be butchered to be put on film - but it was. It never ceases to amaze me how the Hollywood folks can screw up a story when they try to make a movie of it. They could do better.

Clearly a 10/10. Hard determined informative no big heads. Gritty thought provoking it hurts. The acting gets you in super. The scene with the uber sniper and his girlfriend huddled in a bunker is ..... Wow. Full marks to all the participants. Ed Harris never lets up. A Russian hero good a refreshing change. Would have worked in black and white. Gutsy effort the poms always deliver a superior war movie warts and all Patrick

Though, this movie is being appreciated by most people, IMHO I found it to be an average war film and nothing much stand out in the movie. It is more like In Love And War (1996) combine with Shot Through The Heart (1999) of HBO After many German officers being gun down by the Russian sniper (whom the Russian consider him as the hero), the German bring their own sniper veteran to kill that one Russian sniper. Don't get me wrong; the movie is good and very enthusiastic. The backdrop is great and Jude Law and the other actors are great. But overall the movie is not able to capture the feeling very well. Reason To Watch: · Good Acting, Good Backdrop, Reason Not To: · Very average film, Rating: 6/10 (Grade: C)

The movie is a FAILURE: from the beginning, where multiple unsuccessful attempts were made to reproduce the eye-catching battle moments from "Saving Private Ryan" to the ending (as precisely pointed out by one of the reviewers here) in Clint Eastwood style. The worst stereotypes about both nations (Russian, German) propagated throughout the script; a war story brought down to the level of an output from a "versificator" machine in George Orwell's "1984". I thought I was too harsh giving it "2" (1 + 1 for Ed Harris's play - the only part worth seeing). Yet, besides watching Harris, it's a waste of time. I wish I had given it "1" like the German guy did.

If you're out for a quick sniper-movie fix, then this one is for you. nice effects, nice girl, you know who the good and who the bad guys are. well, at latest when the showdown begins you do (and here I go thinking that Star Wars - Episode III had some rather sudden character development...). And don't be puzzled by a sniper-duel deciding the bloodiest battle in Human History... you know, 1,5 million people gave their lives there, and had no fun doing it. Stalingrad is a place you shouldn't touch if you want to make popcorn-cinema. if you happen to like decent (anti-)war movies, then forget this one. get the book. and watch "Stalingrad".

The whole war seems to politely get out of the way so these two guys can have their private duel. At stake isn't so much the fate of Russia, but the resolution of the paper thin love story. The battle scenes have a high production value, but come nowhere near the level of chaotic intensity of the ones in Private Ryan. **** POSSIBLE SPOILER **** The scenario involving the girl being hit by shrapnel should hold no suspense for anyone over the age of 10.

A powerful war drama. As the Battle of Stalingrad rages around them, a celebrated Russian sniper(Jude Law)joins in a cat-and-mouse duel with a Nazi sharpshooter(Ed Harris). Very tense and graphic war violence. A strong supporting cast that includes:Rachel Weisz, Joseph Fiennes, Ron Perlman and Bob Hoskins as Nikita Khrushchev.

This was a film of indescribable twaddle that had the Titanic-effect written large all over it - a soppy love story written in to what could have been a good tale, with a dollop of jealousy thrown in - all as a sop to American audiences who do not wish to see heroism, skill and bravery from anyone but their own. And there is a fair amount of anti-Communist propaganda, to boot - and that should keep American audiences cheering, too. A lousy film, and the soppy ending just about capped it. In any case, from what I've read, Zaitsev and Tanya Chernova did not get on, he believing she was responsible for the deaths of several fellow-snipers. I wonder if the Americans can resist re-making it in a few years time.