I just finished Antony Beevor's excellent book on Stalingrad and now would like to find a good movie on it. I saw one on DVD called Stalingrad which had a nice looking cover and was produced in Germany but honestly don't ever remember seeing it in theaters. It's directed by Joseph Vilsmaier and was made in 1993. It was tempting but costs $35 so I'm looking for opinons on it before I buy it.
If you seen this particular movie on Stalingrad please let me know if it's worth the money or not.
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I have the DVD, bought it on Amazon. The same producers made Das Boot. Very good IMO. Not the best but good representation of what it may have been like there. There are a few bad acting parts but for the most part very well done. If I did not collect war movies I do not know if I would have spent the dough though. However don't want to discourage you. Good movie.
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Doh, I loved Enemy at the Gates. How come you thought it sucked? Jude Law, Rachel Wiesz and Ed Harris along with the great cinematogrophy of the rubble of Stalingrad made that movie one of my favorites. However I want something with less focus on Zaitsev and more on the overall battle which is why I'm hoping the 1993 Stalingrad movie is good enough for that :)
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Tequila,
I would highly recommend this movie. It reminded me of the US' early vietnam movies in that it gives a very anti-war message and did not portray officers in a good light. Despite that slant, the movie is fascinating because it shows the war from Germany's current point of view. Too bad that more WW2 movies are not produced from Germany!
It also has a classic urban assault scene that reminded me of some of the SPWAW battles in the Stalingrad campaign. That assault is grueling and you can see how units just melted away in the rubble of Stalingrad.
The movie is in german with english subtitles, but once the flow of the movie gets going, it is hardly noticeable. I found it at a local video story (Hollywood Rentals), so you may try renting it before shelling out $35. Hope this helps.
BTW, I liked enemy at the gates too and the bleak landscape is similar in the Stalingrad movie. Besides--and this is directed to M4 Jess--you have to support WW2 movies that come out, especially the rare east front ones! :D
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by ZeroAntipop [B]It's great at depicting the tragedy of the battle. [/B][/QUOTE]
Great line: when the young German private accidentally shoots his friend and starts breaking down...a sergeant picks him up and says "Don't worry about it...I did the same once".
Well shucks, it looks like enough of you have given me reason to shell out $35 :) German with english subtitles is great; I hate seeing that two years of German I took 10 years ago go to waste :D
Thanks for all the replies.
P.S. I found A Bridge Too Far on DVD for $10. Can't wait to watch it, it's been so many years since I've seen it.
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Tequila [B] P.S. I found A Bridge Too Far on DVD for $10. Can't wait to watch it, it's been so many years since I've seen it. [/B][/QUOTE]
My all time favourite war movie. I must have watched it 10 times more than my other war movies I have. Lots of great actors and the jump scenes are the best. Especially considering that the movie was made in the 70's before CGI.:cool:
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I found ABTF at WalMart for $8.99 a couple years ago (anyone notice that these deals are getting harder to find?). I wish they would do something about the poor sound quality of this movie; I expected a new version to come out last year to celebrate its 25th anniversary, but I didn't see anything. :(
I remember I took my dad to go see it when it opened, as a Father's Day gift. Hard to believe that was 26 years ago! :eek:
I saw the movie in a theatre in '94 and enjoyed it.
It was on Superchannel a few years back so I taped it; then I noticed in the listing that it was dubbed in English and have never watched it.
I came across the DVD online a while back, but am holding off spending $35 for as long as I can ...
It's definitely on my Wish List.
P.S. It's funny - when I listed Stalingrad as my choice in the "best war movie" thread a while back I was hammered mercilessly - where were you guys when I needed ya ? ;)
[QUOTE]Originally posted by xeno [B]Before you shell out $35 (for a worthwhile movie, definitely) take a look at half.com or deepdiscountdvd.com. You might find a better price. [/B][/QUOTE]
Thanks for the advice, Xeno! Yea, they have it for $20.99 and free shipping. Very cool :)
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Kanon Fodder [B]P.S. It's funny - when I listed Stalingrad as my choice in the "best war movie" thread a while back I was hammered mercilessly - where were you guys when I needed ya ? ;) [/B][/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Birdgunner [B]My all time favourite war movie. I must have watched it 10 times more than my other war movies I have. Lots of great actors and the jump scenes are the best. Especially considering that the movie was made in the 70's before CGI.:cool:
Birdgunner [/B][/QUOTE]
ABTF is not my favorite but it's defintely in my Top 10 list. It has an amazing cast for sure and you're right about the jump scenes. My only beef is with that German tank in Arnhem. What in god's creation is that ugly thing? It's definitely not a tank I recognize. They did a nice job recreating the Sherman tanks though.
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by tracer [B]Great line: when the young German private accidentally shoots his friend and starts breaking down...a sergeant picks him up and says "Don't worry about it...I did the same once". [/B][/QUOTE]
Better quote after a german soldier clubs a russian with his shovel: "I just **** my pants!"
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I had it's moments..........Like the "River crossing" scene...or the Heinkel Bombers coming in for a Run....But the ending sucked.....!!!!! No way in "Hell" a German Sniper would reveal his position like that. I read a Book about the Sniper Dual....(I forgot the Name of it.... :( ).....but anyways it was more realistic then the movie!!!!!!
It had the Russian Sniper killing the German through the optical of his rifle!!!!!
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I saw it a while back. Thought it was pretty good but felt that many of the main characters, particularly the solemn brooding dissilusioned commander, seemed to mirror the characters in Das Boot a bit too closely. Some lousy acting and melodramatic moments but outstanding battlescenes.
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Hawk [B]No way in "Hell" a German Sniper would reveal his position like that. I read a Book about the Sniper Dual....(I forgot the Name of it.... :( ).....but anyways it was more realistic then the movie!!!!!!
It had the Russian Sniper killing the German through the optical of his rifle!!!!! [/B][/QUOTE]
IIRC, the "real" :rolleyes: story supposedly ended with the "helmet trick" that Kulikov tries in the movie. The German fell for it, and when he lingered to confirm the kill - BANG! - Zaitsev got him.... they had both camped in the same spot for 3 days to get a clean shot.
...but that may just be yet another legend for all I know... :p
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That was the one i was talking about BEL!!!!!!!!!:D :D Now that was a good Book!!!!!! The friend of Zaitsev was soooo convincing...that Zaitsev almost missed the Shot for fear of his friend actually being hit......I knew somone out there knew "What i'm talking About" :D :D ;)
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Except for the corny beginning on the Italian Riviera, the film is very accurate throughout. It apparently is following the course of one of the poineer platoons brought in in November to finish the battle. The young leutenant von Witzland seems a little to idealistic and the stereotype of the cruel captain who taunts him and then is found to be hoarding supplies is a bit of a reach for dramatic license for me but overall the film is vey well done. . Try finding the original Stalingrad made in 1959 in black & white. A lot of the look of both Enemy at the Gates and Stalingrad was taken from that film
[QUOTE]P.S. It's funny - when I listed Stalingrad as my choice in the "best war movie" thread a while back I was hammered mercilessly - where were you guys when I needed ya ? ;) [/B][/QUOTE]
i remember i was " hammered ", too in a thread called " the baddest war movie " ( btw. is this <--- spelling correct " baddest " ?? ). some say " a thin red line " would be among it. i said " no it´s one of my faves ".... but perhaps "ATRL" is not a war movie, but much more....
for stalingrad: yep. it potrays the tragic and suffering in this battle quite good. but i wished to have some more battle scenes and perhaps some scenes with showed the some of the high commanders ( paulus, manstein etc... ) and their decission making in this case...if you know what i mean (?)
i found "das boot" much superior but stalingrad is okay IMHO. better than " duel - enemy at the gate " in any case. "duel" was more western movie between 2 sharpshooters fighting their private war in this battle. at the beginning i was quite shure to see a good movie ( the stuka attack ) but it get´s more worse after some running time. even absolutly unneccesary love scenes were in... when i want love or sex scens i watch romance films or pornos... :D
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Frank W. [B]absolutly unneccesary love scenes were in... when i want love or sex scens i watch romance films or pornos... :D [/B][/QUOTE]
Amen!!!!!!! And if you need any of the Latter....;) ;) ;) ...I can shipp them out to you...:eek: :eek:
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Tequila [B]ABTF is not my favorite but it's defintely in my Top 10 list. It has an amazing cast for sure and you're right about the jump scenes. My only beef is with that German tank in Arnhem. What in god's creation is that ugly thing? It's definitely not a tank I recognize. They did a nice job recreating the Sherman tanks though. [/B][/QUOTE]
It's been a few years since I last saw the film, but if you mean the tank that comes across the bridge, then I have always thought it looked like a late war Pzkfw III probably an Ausf L or M.
As for Stalingrad, I think it is a terrific film and IMHO it is far better then Enemy at the Gate. I know the latter has much better effects in it but the German version just beats it for feel and atmosphere.
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