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 enlarge | Director: Jean-jacques Annaud
Actors: Jude Law, Ed Harris, Joseph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, Bob Hoskins
Studio: Paramount
Category: DVD
List Price: $9.98
Buy Used: $2.27
You Save: $7.71 (77%)
New (68) Used (99) Collectible (1) from $2.27
Rating:  378 reviews
Sales Rank: 1770
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 131 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.5
MPN: PARD338624D
ISBN: 0792172760
UPC: 097363386247
EAN: 9780792172765
ASIN: B00003CXRA
Theatrical Release Date: 2001
Release Date: August 14, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Showing reviews 41-45 of 378
 It could have been so awesome...! November 5, 2005
Chapulina R (Tovarischi Imports, USA/RUS)
40 out of 59 found this review helpful
I was "temping" at Sovietski Collection Imports when a huge order arrived for WWll era uniforms and props. They were to outfit an upcoming film about the snipers of the Battle of Stalingrad! Not a documentary, but a full length Major Motion Picture! I could hardly contain my excitement waiting for its debut; it was gonna be so awesome...!
It could have been, but alas, it wasn't. Anyone remember the Aesop's fable wherein a farmer permits a fox, closely pursued by hunters, to hide in his barn? Then the farmer loudly tells the hunters he has seen no fox, all the while winking and gesturing toward the barn. The hunters depart, not getting the message. As the fox takes her leave, the farmer berates her for showing no gratitude. "I would be more grateful," she replies, "if only your body language had been as helpful as your words." Likewise, "Enemy at the Gates" gets a star of gratitude for recognizing the enormous Soviet contribution to the Victory, and for its portrayal of sympathetic Russian and Ukrainian heroes based on real people. But, like Aesop's fox, I'm unimpressed by its overall body language.
OK, I didn't expect strict historical accuracy from Jean-Jacques Annaud. After all, he had previously given us that ludicrously un-natural "nature" film of a male bear nurturing an orphan cub! One expects Hollywood fantasy to pervade even "realistic" movies. The fact that EATG's famous duel likely never occured does not detract from the overall story. Silly melodrama, banal dialogue, distracting accents, and unbelievable actions, to a greater degree, do. But I could have overlooked those. I could even forgive the unrealistic suspensions of fighting which occur each time the snipers take to the streets. Because EATG gives us the immensely interesting Stalingrad setting, complete with long overdue Eastern Front heroes for us to root for! But wait... all is not what it seems. Unfortunately, its overwhelming amount of heavyhanded russophobic propaganda suggests that the producers' fear, like that of Aesop's farmer, was being pegged an "enemy collaborator." And unlike the hunters in the fable, the audience can't possibly miss the (wink, nudge) "message."
I could cite dozens of examples, but here are just a few, crafted to create a politically-correct counterbalance of Russian incompetance and callousness: #1. That unforgetable Volga crossing; those sluggishly moving boats under unopposed Stuka fire! In reality, most crossings were done at night, under cover of darkness and Soviet air defense forces (PVO). #2. Those human waves of unarmed cannonfodder hurling themselves against German fortifications, shadowed by NKVD gunners itching to mow down any retreat! In fact, depicted here are a penal battalion and blocking troops, not a typical Red Army engagement. This scene is especially dishonest, because in Stalingrad, highly effective ten-man squads, well armed with machine guns and other weapons, engaged in urban guerrilla combat. The setting was more likely a ruined house or factory than an open town square! #3. Those CGI formations of German bombers brazenly razing the city -- and no Russian planes in sight! In fact, Stalingrad was where Soviet aviation finally gained air superiority over the Luftwaffe. Fighter pilots of the PVO guarded installations and strategic locations. "Free Hunters" of the Soviet air force (VVS) patrolled the city, seeking targets of opportunity. Some of these pilots, such as the female ACE Lilya Litvyak, became as legendary as the famous sniper Vasiliy Zaitsev.
Which brings me to EATG's main characters. Zaitsev, while played charmingly by Hollywood heartthrob Jude Law, was actually a strict, self-confident leader, not a shy farmboy. He did have a frontline affair with one of his female snipers. (One of the film's redeeming features is its recognition of the million-plus Soviet women combatants.) We never see Weiss's character fire her weapon. However, Tanya Chernova was already a partisan and sniper before meeting Zaitsev, and scored some 81 kills in her short war-career. The young Ukrainian was obsessed with avenging her family -- to the point of disregarding Zaitsev's training. After she initiated one premature firefight, resulting in the deaths of her comrades, Zaitsev slapped her across the face in rage. So much for the tender Hollywood romance! Nor did he return for her following her wounding and recovery. When asked why, he coldly replied he didn't want a woman whose injuries prevented her from bearing children! The political officer Danilov is misrepresented in the film, an embarrassing, contrived character whose purpose is to provide Zaitsev a romantic rival. For most of the movie, the character is the producers' main vehicle for disseminating their russophobic sentiment. At the end, Danilov's tearful anti-communist epiphany and lovesick sacrifice are not only unconvincing but nauseating. Equally hamhanded, politically-correct anti-commie dialogue was scripted for Ron Perlman's completely wasted character. Also irritating was the film's portrayal of Sasha, the too-adorable chocolate-loving child martyr. The real Sasha, who met the same fate as the celluloid urchin, was a partisan already in his late teens. And the less said about the outrageously over-the-top performance of Bob Hoskins as Nikita Khruschev, the better!
All in all, this film promised so much greatness and delivered so much b.s. I'm sorry to say so. But the truth is this: I would be embarrassed to sit through this offensive mess with any of my Russian friends. The German film "Stalingrad" gives a much more accurate and serious impression of the turning-point battle. William Craig's book, which inspired the title and some of the scenes of EATG, is worth reading. David L. Robbins' historical fiction "War of the Rats" will appeal to those interested in snipers, although it has way too much emphasis on the Zaitsev/Chernova love affair (and even portrays Tanya as an American). My recommendation for anyone who would like to experience a truly realistic novel of the Battle of Stalingrad, by a writer who was on site: find a translated copy of Konstantin Simonov's "Days and Nights." And get ready for a harrowing read!
 Enemy at the Gates October 28, 2005
C. R. Forquer (Columbus, OH)
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
Enemy at the Gates is an excellent movie. It is far from an action movie - more like a drama with guns, an awesome sniper movie. Never before have I seen into the mind of a sniper in a movie as in depth as I did in this movie. The beginning of the movie (going into war) was more shocking to me than the opening of Saving Private Ryan. Two thumbs up to Rachel Weisz and Jude Law!
 Great pick October 13, 2005
R. Silva Santisteban (Washington, DC USA)
2 out of 6 found this review helpful
Great pick for a movie, excelent quality, quick delivery.
I will buy here again!!
 How about realism? October 12, 2005
C. A. Carrington (Brunswick, ME United States)
2 out of 10 found this review helpful
I feel awkward stating this, but I honestly found no realism in the movie Enemy at the Gates. Sure, this was a great movie for passing the time, great action, fine acting, and so forth. The truth is the whole plotline is false, not that they ever truly claim it to be based on a true story. He is one soldier, one of millions in Soviet army. They sadly idolize Zaitsev as the hero of Soviet. The truth was, there would be little knowledge of him around Soviet Union at the time. Maybe the area sure, but the truth was the movie acted as if he would turn the war around.
Hollywood mutilated a good true story...... October 10, 2005
David L. Peterson (Charlottesville, Va United States)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
The problem with the Hollywood version of the story is how they changed the story. Tania was Zaitsev's lover, but she was wounded during a raid on a German HQ, not by shrapnel and Zaitsev actually carried her back to Soviet lines. The young boy, Sacha Fillipov, is also a true character who was hanged for his spying. The duel between Zaitsev and Koenig was more like Hollywood in real life than it was in the movie. Zaitsev and Kulikov, who died in the movie, managed to trick Konings to shoot a helmet, Kulikov stood up and acted as if he had been shot, when Konings looked at his "victim", Zaitsev shot him in between the eyes. The movie is very good though, and has a very good look at the eastern front during WW2. For another good movie about the eastern front, try "Stalingrad" by Wolfgang Petersen, it is a German movie, and is very good and accurate.
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