Enemy At The Gates movie review?

Latka · Post by **Latka** » Sun Mar 18, 2001 5:55 am

I was thinking of seeing it tonight after work, girlfriend permitting. If I can't see it tonight I'll catch it tomorrow before work

-Andy

Greg McCarty · Post by **Greg McCarty** » Sun Mar 18, 2001 6:20 am

Originally posted by Latka:
I was thinking of seeing it tonight after work, girlfriend permitting. If I can't see it tonight I'll catch it tomorrow before work

-Andy

I rather liked it; not quite as intense as
Saving Private Ryan, but well worth seeing.

Drake · Post by **Drake** » Sun Mar 18, 2001 6:34 am

Liked it a lot more then Saving Private Ryan, witch I did not much like at all.

It has some of the most realistic combat sceens I have seen in a war picture and worth seening just for that. The romance part of the movie took away from it a lot and made it so at some points you are like come on and get back to the good stuff already.

The story and acting did not rank with Das boot(the best ever war picture ever in my book). But the special effects and combat sceens make up for a lot of its short falls.

They also did a really good job on the equipment and I did not seen to many mistakes. I think one of the biggest was in one sceen were I seen a destroyed T-34/85 tank.

Maximus · Post by **Maximus** » Sun Mar 18, 2001 7:05 am

Well seeing this movie made me want to run out of the theater, grab that proverbial hammer and sickle, and bash my brains out and then cut my head off. War scenes, ok, but the "realistic" muzzle blast coming from the Pz III's left a lot to be desired. First part of the movie was fine, but as this tale meandered through the quagmire of the French Communist Director's version of historical events and left a very bad taste in my mouth. Went in expecting it to be a la Private Ryan, left thinking Hogan's Heroes. I know this is harsh but I am really disappointed. Just think about it, the Germans are killing all your freinds and family, but I still got time to hook up with an English accented momma and get my groove on. PUUUULEASE. All hype, no heart.

Billy Yank · Post by **Billy Yank** » Sun Mar 18, 2001 7:46 am

Just saw it today. My wife and I both liked it, and she's not a big war movie fan. Just tell yourself that the romance is there for your SO, and it becomes a lot more palateable. It's more of an action movie than a war movie, and the climactic confrontation was a bit too Hollywood for my taste, but overall, it was a great way to spend a Saturday matinee.

"The one with the rifle shoots! The one without the rifle follows him....."

Panzer Capta · Post by **Panzer Capta** » Sun Mar 18, 2001 8:13 am

Saw it this afternoon. Not quite what i expected, but i thoroughly enjoyed it, and highly recommend it. The Stuka sequence was my favourite.

David Heath · Post by **David Heath** » Sun Mar 18, 2001 11:10 am

I saw it tonight and I like it... it was not the best war picture I seem but was good. I agree with Panzer Captain the Stuka attack was one of the best screens in the picture. One bit of warning.... if you think this is just like the book War of the Rats you will not at all be happy. If you go to it with the mind its a new story you will enjoy it. If you have any interest in this battle make sure to read David Robbins War of the Rats its great.

Blackhorse · Post by **Blackhorse** » Sun Mar 18, 2001 11:59 am

I also recommend the movie. There's a lot of little things to nitpick (A German major gets a private train car for a ride into Stalingrad? He goes on sniping missions wearing his medals?) but overall, very moving and very effective.

The romance stuff is definitely in there for the Significant Others. My wife went with me [she owed me -- I went with her to see 'The Mexican', yuck] and this was the first war movie she actually enjoyed.

"The Enemy at the Gates": A war movie even your girlfriend will love.

degen · Post by **degen** » Sun Mar 18, 2001 12:03 pm

I also saw it today. As for action, it was no Saving Private Ryan. The beginning started great with the river crossing and the stuka attack, but would have enjoyed it more if the efforts of Vassili (sp?) would have been built up more. We see him pick off five guys and next thing you know the movie is talking about him killing 50+ german officers.

I liked how it portrayed the destruction of Stalingrad. The rubble and mass destruction of the buildings was well done. The scenes with dead bodies lying all about also showed what a meat grinder the battle was. I could have done without the love story, but I guess that's how Hollywood sells tickets.

Overall, a good movie and it's about time Hollywood paid attention to the east front. I can't think of another major, US film about the east front; anybody else recall some?

Bob Wallace · Post by **Bob Wallace** » Sun Mar 18, 2001 7:00 pm

Guys, Guys, Guys,

For all of us that painfully endured the love scenaes wishing that this was a pure"war" movie, look on the bright side... at least they didn't go 100% Hollywood and make it between two dudes

She was at least easy on the eyes.

Bob

lynchc · Post by **lynchc** » Sun Mar 18, 2001 7:44 pm

Oh Bob that may be the most dead on comment in this entire post. If hollywood makes a movie it will include some crap we could do without, thank God current trends did not dictate an examination of homosexual Russian soldiers during WWII.

I have not seen the movie yet but will soon, sounds at least entertaining.

Don Doom · Post by **Don Doom** » Sun Mar 18, 2001 8:19 pm

From the sounds of it I will wait till it comes out on tape. :rolleyes:

David Heath · Post by **David Heath** » Mon Mar 19, 2001 2:14 am

Don

Go see it in the movies... it is worth it. The movie as good. You should enjoy it. IF you remember Midway also had a love story built into it... but it didn't take away from the movie at all...It just gave you a few minutes to brush away crumbs from you shirt.

bud · Post by **bud** » Mon Mar 19, 2001 4:48 am

it was a nice sunday afternoon movie--don`t think i would see it again--i wouldn`t tell anyone not to see it--the person next to me started to snore a couple of times--but i would like to point out the the lad`s doing the OOB`S for v5.0 and that i played in the east 43 league--(has a russian)-- a while back that the russian`s should have t34/85`s in late 42 and early 43--as per the this historic and above question movie --yeah right

:rolleyes:

Figmo · Post by **Figmo** » Mon Mar 19, 2001 5:19 am

WOW!!! I just got back from seeing it and loved it. Of course, I didn't go to see a sniper movie expecting repeated massive assaults.

I will definately buy it when it comes out on video and TRY to get my wife to watch it with me - not likely!!

One good and one bad thing IMO - that won't take away from the movie.

The good - they emphasized the need for heros to give people hope - I thought that was great because the US even went as far as to bring them back and make sure they survived before making them heros. The Germans learned about this much earlier than most - isn't that what the Blue Max was mostly about - and that goes back to WW1!

The bad - most of the Russians had a British accent - they could have done some work on that but it didn't take away from the movie too much.

Figmo

Daniel Oskar · Post by **Daniel Oskar** » Mon Mar 19, 2001 6:46 am

I saw it this afternoon, and it wasn't bad. The story was pretty disjointed, and in general didn't really represent the battle. Special effects were impressive in several scenes. The freedom of movement enjoyed by snipers from both sides was a litle bit of a stretch, considering the density of forces in the city. Overall, it was good entertainment but not much in the way of real history.

Ed Monroe · Post by **Ed Monroe** » Mon Mar 19, 2001 7:48 am

I agree; ememy at the gates is a fine action movie. Even the romantic subplot was ok - it wouldn't have been much of a distraction except that it took forever when they had to have the obligitatory hollywood sex scene. Totally unnecessary for the flow of the movie and it detracted from the plot. Too bad. I would have purchased the movie when it came out in DVD but now I guess I will pass it up. Too bad hollywood had to ruin an ok war/action movie.

BruceAZ_MatrixForum · Post by **BruceAZ_MatrixForum** » Mon Mar 19, 2001 7:51 am

Well Wild Bill, you were right! It was an outstanding movie and even my wife liked it! (Musta been the love story...)

I wonder if the distribution rights have already been sold to Russia?

Nemesis · Post by **Nemesis** » Mon Mar 19, 2001 3:55 pm

EATG premiers this week in Finland, and I was going to see it right away, but my girlfriend has other plans

. So I have to wait for few days. I was thinking about taking her with me, but I guess she wouldn't like it.

OTOH she IS taking me to see "Chocolat" (Yuck!). But I guess I owe her that much, since I took her to see "Unbreakable" (which she hated).

Having a significant other is all about making compromises. If you don't know that already, you WILL know, sooner or later!

Off-topic: It seems that quite alot of the non-finns here have seen the "Winter War". I didn't know it was this popular outside Finland (well, people here are war-enthusiasts, so....). What did you think about it?

Dwayne Stone · Post by **Dwayne Stone** » Mon Mar 19, 2001 5:03 pm

Well, I hope this film come to my country as soon as possible.

I'm realy looking for it.