Rating: 
Summary: Great new perspective on the 2nd World War
Review: "Enemy at the Gates" is a great film. The combat scenes are all excellently choreographed and edited, from the massive opening battle sequences, to all of the tense sniper vs. sniper showdowns in the bombed out ruins of Stalingrad. The opening batttle sequence is shocking in its brutal depiction of World War II's eastern front.The film shows a new perspective on WW2. There are no Americans in this film, so you can get a feel of how the struggle against Nazi Germany extended much farther than U.S. casualties. In fact, the Soviet Union lost close to 50 times more people in the war than the United States did. That's right, 50 times. Over one million soldiers lost their lives in the Battle of Stalingrad, which the movie is set in. That's why I think this movie is informative in showing a new perspective. It is also goes beyond the typical communist=evil rhetoric that has been so common in U.S. movie making. The special effects, sound, and cinematography are all excellent, and there is a riveting plot to hold the wathcer's attention. Of course, I have to discuss the weakness, which is, of course, the love triangle between the film's three main protagonists. Unnecessary, and it does take away from the power and meaning of the film. Some have complained about the accents, among other things, of the characters being detrimental to the realism. You have to realize that this is a film. Everything can't always be portrayed accurately you know. Besides, normally the results are not always too pretty when an actor tries to put on an accent that is not their own. Further, this is not a documentary, it's historical fiction. Watch it as what it is.
Rating:
Summary: Good Hollywood effort to recognize the other front
Review: "Enemy At The Gates" surprisingly tells a plausible tale of Vasily Zeitzev, the legendary WW2 Russian sniper, and his experience in the pivotal Stalingrad battle in the winter of 1942. The fact that a conventional studio would tackle the subject is worth some stars at least, since as far as most of Hollywood is concerned, the United States won WW2 more or less single-handed. In fact, not until June 1944 (D-Day) were more than a handful of American divisions engaged against the Germans; in the meantime, the Russians had been in continuous combat with the Nazis for three years.
The movie effectively relates the interaction between Soviet politics, propaganda, and the front. The Soviets had to popularize heroism, since their battlefield tactics were anything but. Contrary to some reviews, Kruschiev was a significant player at the Stalingrad front, and the need to give the Soviet troops something to maintain morale was a key factor.
Yes, the one on one duel between Zietzev and the German ace sniper was contrived. Yes, too, the love interest, and especially the nice hopsital scene at the end. This can be overlooked since unlike some other movies (say, "Pearl Harbor"), these aspects are overshadowed by the depiction of city warfare and the political issues of Soviet leadership. The chamelion-like Jude Law is fine; I think Bob Hopkins is a good apparatchik (see also his portrayal of Beria the excellent Russian-directed "Inner Circle").
If you don't like this, go back to "Big Red One" and tell me that is a historical movie.
A more realistic film that made it to the art houses but nowhere else is the harrowing German film "Stalingrad", which decidedly does not have a happy ending.
Rating: 
Summary: An interesting footnote in the Battle of Stalingrad
Review: "Enemy at the Gates" takes place in Stalingrad during the winter of 1942 in a siege that would arguably turn out to be the beginning of the end of Nazi Germany in World War II. Failure to capture Stalingrad would deny the Nazis the oil supplies they needed to continue their drive onto Moscow or the Urals. Success would mean the eventual capture of Moscow and perhaps the collapse of the Soviet Union, thus allowing the Nazis to focus more of their resources onto one front only - against the American and British allies. Truly then, it is justifiable to say that the fate of the world rested on the beleaguered Soviet troops who were defending Stalingrad. This movie does not focus on the actual battle itself, but instead uses it as a backdrop to tell the story of two snipers who took part in the battle. Vasiliy Zaitsev, played by Jude Law in the movie, is a peasant from the Urals who is transferred to the sniper division after political commissar Danilov, played by Joseph Fiennes, witnesses him killing five Nazi officers with as many bullets. Gradually, through the efforts of Danilov's propaganda newspapers, Zaitsev develops a reputation for his sharpshooting ability to pick off high-ranking Nazi officers. Prompted by the demoralizing effect that this has on its troops, the Nazi high command sends in Major Konig, head of the sniper school in Berlin, to kill Zaitsev and neutralize the danger to German morale. At this point, the suspense increases as the two snipers stalk each other through the ruins of Stalingrad trying to find that one golden opportunity to put a bullet in the other's brain. The bombed-out ruins of Stalingrad which served as the backdrop for "Enemy at the Gates" is stunningly effective in convincing us that this battle was hell on Earth. Unfortunately, the movie failed to provide as much depth and detail to the development of the characters in the story. The foundations of the love triangle between Zaitsev, Danilov, and Tanya Chernova, played by Rachel Weisz, were so weak that I was not even aware of a conflict of interest until Danilov's schemings against Zaitsev were well under way. I felt no emotion for any of these characters, so the love triangle scenes gave me the impression of forced melodrama amid the more interesting parts of the movie. Nevertheless, the story of the legendary encounter between Zaitsev and Konig (whether it actually happened or not) makes "Enemy at the Gates" a good candidate for DVD night at home. The DVD also includes a theatrical trailer, two behind-the-scenes documentaries, deleted scenes, and a widesceen option. It's a shame that Paramount neglected to include a historical documentary on the actual Vasili Zaitsev.
Rating:
Summary: Raw as War
Review: "Enemy at the Gates" (2001) I first heard about this movie on Box Office America ages and ages ago. I thought it looked really good. Unfortunately this movie didn't get the best reviews in town, so I decided to rent it on video. I've just finished watching this amazing film, and I thought it was a shame that it was so underrated. This is one of the best war movies I have I ever seen. Its stunningly atmospheric and moody, with excellent and taut direction, a fabulous cast with kicks for giving believable performances, a story and script that portrays war in its coldest hour, and some very developed and interesting characters that kept me captivated the entire time. Enemy at the Gates is a big winner because it shows the true harsh reality of war. Unlike the also 2001 released Behind Enemy Lines which is merely an entertaining fun movie with a bit of a war idea going on somewhere in the story, Enemy at the Gates really does shock the audience when they take them behind the enemy lines. The movie shows what lengths people will go to if it results in winning war and triumph. It also shows what really happens in war, the back-stories, the leg losing, the blood-splattering, and the city-destroying, real and raw world of war. Because of this the movie is definitely not for the faint-hearted, and I even felt a little queasy after the stunning opening sequence. The star-studded cast features Oscar nominee Jude Law, Joseph Fiennes, Ed Harris, Rachel Weisz and Bob Hoskins in the leading role. Law is a sensitive and compassionate hero, Harris is a cunning and creepy villain, Weisz (fresh from the success of The Mummy Returns) is a beautiful and heroic leading lass, and Hoskins we don't really see that much of, but he does well with what small role he has. Fiennes is the real star power here. I also thought he was terribly underrated for his performance in Shakespeare in Love, and he proves yet again that he is quietly one of the most brilliant actors of his generation. Fiennes pulls of a real winner especially in this case, displaying a character who is jealous yet friendly, longing but also fulfilled. His character is merely a supporting role, but he is the character I felt most drawn to. The special effects in this movie could beat Saving Private Ryan in its own game. After an authentic and scary opening sequence, the movie continues to get more and more violent, and more and more attractively moody. The special effects aren't quite as spectacular as Pearl Harbour or The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, but they do display a small kind of blockbuster excellence in appearance, which we don't get much these days. Enemy at the Gates will probably be on my top 15, if not 10, of the year 2001. It is presented with a cold, raw and real atmosphere, gives us characters to care about and sympathise with, special effects to wow about, direction to go completely nuts about (well done, Jean-Jacques Annaud!) and overall is one of the more clever war films I've seen. Highly recommended for people who can stomach what war really was. MY GRADE: A
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant depiction of war, but lacking interest.
Review: "Enemy at the Gates" brings to the screen a realistic depiction of the physical brutalities of war, doing for Stalingrad what "Saving Private Ryan" did for Normandy. The recreation is stylish and vivid, but the movie falls considerably short on any emotional connection or lasting impact once the story ends. The fact that this is a full-force war film does not hinder my interest in it. As a critic, I have come to respect many war films that most people of a general audience would find tedious. The movie begins in such a way, as young Vassili Zaitsev (Jude Law) arrives on the shores of the Volga River leading to a war-torn Stalingrad. German bomber planes swoop down like vultures on the small transports crossing the river, and a stand-off between the German and Russian armies creates a massive amount of intensity and energy. The recreation is brilliant, but as the movie moves on, its plot begins to hinder. Vassili meets a surviving soldier, Danilov (Joseph Fiennes), whose specialty is propoganda. He uses this to make Vassili a hero in the eyes of soldiers and civilians alike, and soon Vassili is known and hailed by all he meets, including the strong-willed female soldier Tania Chernova (Rachel Weisz), and a German sniper who has been sent by the Third Reich to seek out and destroy Vassili. It is here that the disinterest heightens. The movie becomes a cross stitch of cat-and-mouse scenes and an out-of-place love story, both of which generate little sparks. Vassili spends his days in hiding, seeking out the man that has been sent to take his life. Some scenes work, such as a scene in which he is cornered by the German with nothing but a small stove to conceal him. But these scenes become plentiful, and the more there are, the less intriguing they become as we await the final payoff. And after seeing this film, I'm beginning to think that Hollywood is never going to get away with creating a film devoid of a love story. Yes, love stories sometimes work as an emotional outlet for a much bigger event; here, it is unmoving. A scene in which Vassili and Tania make love in the middle of sleeping soldiers makes for little passion, while an exchange of dialogue and kisses before the big finale makes me want to shout, "There's a war going on." All of this is a shame, because director Jean-Jaques Annaud certainly has an eye for an effective war sequence. From our plane's-eye-view of swooping German bombers to large, sudden clouds of dust and smoke filling the air, the dismal and cold atmosphere of war is stunningly portrayed. The bloodshed is high, though does more in the film's favor than against it. War has never been so realistic since "Saving Private Ryan." The cast does commendably well in their parts, though certain characters leave something to be desired. Jude Law is convincing as the stern Vassili, and he shares just enough chemistry with Rachel Weisz so that the love story is believable on a physical level, at least. Joseph Fiennes is enthusiastic as always, but my respect vanished for him by film's end. Ed Harris doesn't say much in the film as the German sniper Konig, and he doesn't have to. His cold looks and rock face make a believer out of us. I wasn't very interested in the story behind "Enemy at the Gates." Somewhere within the depths of its storyline, there is a war epic just screaming to be let out. We get small glimpses of that epic with the intense war images and scenes, but their counterparts are less than interesting. Annaud has created a juggernaut, but I wonder is this is the kind he had in mind.
Rating: 
Summary: SKIP IT
Review: "Enemy at the Gates" has a closer resemblance to "Days of Our Lives" or "As the World Turns" than to "Saving Private Ryan" and there are far better war movies to be had than this sentimental tripe. Obstensibly about a real life Russian sniper who won fame at the Battle of Stalingrad for his actions against the Nazi invaders, the film spends far too much of its time revolving around a ficticious love triangle rather than what was the biggest battle in WWII. While the movie does nicely illustrates the destruction and carnage of the city, the almost medieval dicipline of the WWII Soviet Army, the apocolyptic conditions in which both sides fought, and the malicious and Orwellian policies of the Soviets high command, it touches on these aspects only briefly. The bulk of the film is spent on Fiennes (sp?) unrecipricated infatuation with Rachel Weisz, her infatuation with Jude Law, and (sporadically) Lay being hunted by a German sniper played stiffly by Ed Harris. The films lack of credibility is compounded by the actors all speaking with English accents (except for the very American sounding Harris), especially Bob Hoskins as a cockney sounding Nikita Kruschev and in the end all you have in this film is a boy meets girl vehicle with the battle itself as little more than background. It's probably safe to say that most people prefer war movies to be about war, and if this is the case with you, passing this one by would probably be a good idea.
Rating:
Summary: See it for what it is
Review: "Enemy at the Gates" has often been criticized for being unauthentic. Have we forgotten that this IS a movie? The writers and director HAVE taken creative license when it comes to language, casting, and history. The true story has been greatly altered, but if you wanted to have a history lesson, I'm sure the local university could help you out. We go to the movies for entertainment. And that's exactly what "Enemy at the Gates" is. A full 2+ hours of excellent filmmaking. There is truly something for everyone. The guys will love the graphic battle scenes. The ladies will love the romantic subplot and the unbelievably handsome leading men. If the actors aren't speaking Russian, or if you find it unbelievable that a couple can make love amond a bunch of grimy sleeping soldiers, then where's your imagination? This a beautiful story of bravery, perserverance, and humanity in the face of unspeakable horrors of war. The acting is superb. Jude Law once again proves that his beauty is surpassed only by his talent. Ed Harris was perfect as the ice-cold Nazi sniper Koenig sent to snuff out Law's Vassily Zaitsev. Rachel Weisz was believable as the female soldier with a personal vengance against the Nazis. She was beautiful enough to be a leading lady, but not at all done-up. She's as filthy as everyone else, rather than fully made-up as she crawls through the trenches. To be fair, however, the one weakness I found was that the love triangle tentatively set up between Danilov (Joseph Fiennes), Vassily and Tania was not terribly effective. There was simply not enough interaction between the characers, mainly Fiennes and Weisz, to warrant Fiennes anger when it is revealed that Vassily and Tania are lovers. The character of Danilov was such a nerdy twitt anyway, don't understand why Fiennes bothered with it. He is cut out for so much more. But that's the worst I can say about it. Worth every penny you spend if you go into it with an open mind. Appreciate the amazing cinematography, the solid acting, the beautiful story. Forget the little details that give away that this is NOT the real WWII. I for one am glad of that.
Rating:
Summary: Great new perspective on the 2nd World War
Review: "Enemy at the Gates" is a great film. The combat scenes are all excellently choreographed and edited, from the massive opening battle sequences, to all of the tense sniper vs. sniper showdowns in the bombed out ruins of Stalingrad. The opening batttle sequence is shocking in its brutal depiction of World War II's eastern front. The film shows a new perspective on WW2. There are no Americans in this film, so you can get a feel of how the struggle against Nazi Germany extended much farther than U.S. casualties. In fact, the Soviet Union lost close to 50 times more people in the war than the United States did. That's right, 50 times. Over one million soldiers lost their lives in the Battle of Stalingrad, which the movie is set in. That's why I think this movie is informative in showing a new perspective. It is also goes beyond the typical communist=evil rhetoric that has been so common in U.S. movie making. The special effects, sound, and cinematography are all excellent, and there is a riveting plot to hold the wathcer's attention. Of course, I have to discuss the weakness, which is, of course, the love triangle between the film's three main protagonists. Unnecessary, and it does take away from the power and meaning of the film. Some have complained about the accents, among other things, of the characters being detrimental to the realism. You have to realize that this is a film. Everything can't always be portrayed accurately you know. Besides, normally the results are not always too pretty when an actor tries to put on an accent that is not their own. Further, this is not a documentary, it's historical fiction. Watch it as what it is.
Rating:
Summary: Public Enemy
Review: "Enemy at the Gates" is a noble effort at bringing the pivotal WWII battle of Stalingrad to a wider audience. Unfortunately, Hollywood thinks that audiences won't go to the movies to see a historically accurate war movie anymore--look what they did to Pearl Harbor--and marketing demands sex scenes and love triangles to sell a picture, so these elements had to be written into the story. Also, unfortunately, the sniper's duel between Major Koenig (Ed Harris) and Vasily Zaitsev (Jude Law) is also fictitious. Koenig's existence or presence at Stalingrad has no support in the historical record. Zaitsev was the most celebrated sniper in the Red Army. Yet it is this contrived duel that gave the film its most personal touch. It's as if the weight of each combatant nation rested upon the shoulders of these two characters. I had high hopes that this film would do justice to history. Silly me. This is movie history. Had the writers, producers and director stuck with the human drama of survival against each other, and against the brutality and carnage of urban combat, the film would have outdone "Saving Private Ryan" in its depiction of the cruelty of that battle and the effect the German defeat had on world history. However, the film's compromises with the studio's marketing department totally detract from the fact that two million people on both sides died in the six months that the Nazis and the Soviets fought over the city of Stalin. Also, of the 300,000 soldiers of the German 6th Army trapped in the city as a result of the Soviet counterattack in November, 1942, 90,000 surrendered on February 3, 1943. Of those 90,000 who became prisoners of war, only 6,000 survived the end of the war. This was an epic story that the studio should have left well enough alone. Instead, it resembled high school boys fighting over the belle of the ball while the building burns down around them all. Both the Nazi and Soviet systems were evil, so it was very hard to root for either side. This is probably why no major studio ever made a film of this cataclysmic collision between Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia. Now, turning to the performances, I did enjoy Bob Hoskins' portrayal of Nikita Khrushchev (who was at Stalingrad during the battle). The cast turned in fine performances overall considering the material they had to work with. Technically, the film excels. The special effects, particularly the scene when a formation of He 111s bomb the city, were visually stunning. I believe that a more historically accurate and satisfying picture is the overlooked "Stalingrad" from the same people who made "Das Boot". I had high hopes for "Enemy at the Gates," but in the end, it left me as cold as a Russian winter. Winston Churchill described the German defeat at Stalingrad as the "hinge of fate". It was a shame that Hollywood couldn't leave well enough alone.
Rating:
Summary: Best War Drama Ever
Review: "Enemy At The Gates" was an excellent and carefully planned war film. I have read an incredible amount of negative reviews on this movie and I can say just one thing about it - it's one of the greatest movies I have ever seen, because it is realistic - more so than in other war movies. "Enemy At The Gates" portrays the Russians and the Germans exactly the way they were back then in World War II. The setting of the film is wonderful - showing Stalingrad as a city of ruins destroyed by the war and bombs. The actors are all wonderful - their intensity and psychological emotions are shown right there in their faces. I think the actors have done an excellent job on making this movie come alive and seem real - it worked! Even the romance between Tanya (Rachel Weisz) and Vassilli (Jude Law) is shown realistically. There were no sweet and sappy romantic scenes like in true Hollywood movies. These were too tough and harsh times to get really carried away with passion. The story is definitely interesting and original as well. It depicts a duel between two excellent snipers, Konig and Zaitsev. Amidst the brutal conditions in the ruins of Stalingrad, the two snipers seek each other out all the time, making the movie full of suspense and intensity. All in all, I think this movie IS worthy of 5 stars I am giving it. Definitely. Just see it for yourself and you will see what I am talking about! Go for it and watch it - you won't regret!
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