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 enlarge | Actors: Matthais Habich, Ed Harris, Bob Hoskins, Eva Mattes, Ron Perlman
Studio: Paramount
Category: DVD
List Price: $9.98
Buy Used: $1.35
You Save: $8.63 (86%)
New (76) Used (117) Collectible (1) from $1.35
Avg. Customer Rating:  376 reviews
Sales Rank: 1759
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 131
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.5
MPN: 097363386247
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
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
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| Customer Reviews:
 It's a nice try at something different. October 15, 2004
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
I'm glad that filmmakers considered doing something different for a change. By different I mean something other than an invincible American shooting Germans or Japanese (I.E. Windtalkers). This movie is extremely depressing. We are introduced to a new character several times, who is killed as soon as we figure out what their name is, which leaves the audience frustrated. I'd like to see a WWII movie from the German perspective for once. The only war movies I know of that are of the Germans perspective are WWI movies. So, come on writers/directors, make something new.
 Strengths overcome its weaknesses October 9, 2004
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
An unneccesary and often excruiatingly annoying love triangle, best friends who fall apart and then reconcile somewhat, Soviet soldiers who all speak with British accents- it sounds something like Pearl Harbor and everything like a bad movie, but Enemy at the Gates is able to overcome its weaknesses and shapes up into a decent war movie.
The battle for Stalingrad was one of the bloodiest and most important conflicts in one of the bloodiest and most important conflicts in history. Over 95% of the once-proud city on the Volga was destroyed, providing the perfect setting for snipers to pick off enemy soldiers and weaken morale. Thrust into this crucible was Vassili Zeitsez, a shepard from the Urals and crackshot who soon became the object of a Soviet Propaganda mission. With every officer he killed and dogtag he collected his legend grew, until finally the Nazis sent in a crack sniper of their own to take him out.
Although the latter is almost certainly a work of fiction, the movie depicts the duels between the two snipers very well, and although it is a given that none will die before the conclusion, that for once does not translate into a lack of tension. The set design is nothing short of brilliant, and at no point does the veiwer feel that he or she is not right in the center of a bombed-out industrial city. The opening battle scene, from the harrowing crossing of the Volga to the vastly under-equipped Soviet troops charging the entrenched German army, is brilliant and one of the best even put to film.
However, the film is not without its faults, some of which are major. The love-triangle is incredibly unneccesary and irratating: this is a war movie, there is no need for the cute soldier who tears apart a strong friendship. In addition, the fact that all the Soviets spoke with British accents irratated me strongly. I know it's a minor point, but are American viewers so ignorant that they'll only veiw people as "foriegn" if they sound different?
However, this is a decent war movie and bears watching, if only to see Harris's physical acting at the end of the film. 7/10
A different perspective October 1, 2004
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I thoroughly enjoyed Enemy at the Gates. It has a very captivaitng story which I found really interesting because it is a true story about a Russian sniper during WWII, something that Americans haven't had a lot of oppoutunity to learn about. The cast in this movie is nothing short of wonderful, and they all deliver very believable performances. I think that many viewers will enjoy this movie greatly because it is not the typical war movie. There are large battle scenes, but what makes Enemy at the Gates so unique is that the story revolves around two snipers so it results in a deadly game of cat and mouse. I think Enemy at the gates is definatley worth watching for the compelling story, the wonderful acting, and the true story of one man who inspired many people during WWII.
A script with holes ! September 17, 2004
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Anaud surprised me with a film which definitively does not belong to his level as director . He is a enormous and talented director and something happened behind the original script or the editing process .
In fact , the captivating and intriguing search is the central dramatic nervous of the film . Ed Harris and Jude law are top notch each one in his respective roles.
But what 's going on with Rachel Weiz ; it seems she was out of focus , the script lines didn't help ger and she was not very engaged with the role .
The love story is out of context . And the stage hell which Stalingrado meant for thousands and thousands soviet citizens deserved another approach . The salute to the flag at the ending sequence is something less than artificial and anodyne .
What a pity !
Great movie except for the love story September 7, 2004
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
Enemy at the Gates is a pretty good war flick. It's a five star movie trapped with in a four with only a few flaws.
Vassili Zaitsev(Law) is Russian thrown into WWII. He's been sent to fight at Stalingrad and is sent without a weapon. He's told to pick one up off his fallen comrades. He is quickly put into a tight spot, but Vassili knows how to use a rifle. His grandfather taught him from a child to shoot one. He quickly kills some Germans and is spotted by Commisar Danilov(Fiennes) a low lying Russian political officer.
He sees the deeds that Vassili has done and sees it as an opportunity. He reprts what he's seen to Khrushchev(Hoskins) who is the Russian commander in Stalingrad. It's Danilov's idea to build up Vassili's deeds in print to help with the morale of the city. The ploy works and Vassili is sent on more sniper missions in the city because of the effectiveness they are having against the Germans.
The whole city of Stalingrad is undersiege and even the townfolk are helping with the war.Tania Chernova(Weisz) is an educated pretty woman. She quickly gets the eye of Vassili and Danilov and they both fall for her. Vassili enjoys Tania's company and she even goes on some missions with him. Danilov thinks it's a waist of her education and a torn in friendship and loyalty is made between the two because of her.
The legend of Vassili is stating to grow even more with the more kills he gets. The Germans morale is beginning to fade and the Russians are starting to make a push. To stop this threat they decide to bring in a special sniper this time for the assignment. They bring in Maj. König is not just a good German sniper. He is the lead trainer for the Nazi army and is one objective is to kill Vassili.
The game of cat and mouse is on as the snipers hunt each other. The odds are stacked against Vassili because Danilov wont let him know of the exact danger he is in. Someone must win because the winner of this vendetta could decide the fate of Stalingrad.
Jude Law gives in my opinion the second best performance of his carear. He doesn't equal the job that he does in Cold Mountain but he's fantastic as Vassili. This guy can really act and he is quicly becoming one of my more favorite actors. He doesn't give a real good Russian accent which is his only flaw.
The other actors are good in the movie. Ed Harris is good as Konig as is Fiennes as Danilov. Weisz is alright as the love interest but is a waste to the film.
The love story really does hurt the film. They never develop it much to be a huge major part of the story. The whole movie is based off a real story and I've never heard of Vassili having a girlfriend. I know they had to do some stuff for filler, but if you are at ;east make it worth our time.
This is a good war flick. It's the best movie that I've seen to date on the battle of Stalingrad, but it should have been more. It's still great though and the showdown between Harris and Law is worth the wait. If you like war films or a good thriller, you won't want to miss this one.
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