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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: $1.69
You Save: $8.29 (83%)
New (71) Used (102) Collectible (1) from $1.69
Avg. Customer Rating:  376 reviews
Sales Rank: 5705
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
Condition: from private collection, dvd and case are very good, no inserts
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| Customer Reviews:
 Saw in theater, bought DVD August 13, 2004
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
Excellent film, excellent story. Suspense is still engaging even though I know what's going to happen.
 Still Waiting For The Definitive Movie On Stalingrad August 3, 2004
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
When this movie was announced I was quite excited because I wrongly thought it would be based on William Craig's outstanding book of the same name which I have read more than once. Unfortunately, this film is a major failure. The Battle of Stalingrad was an epic engagement that changed the course of the Second World War. By focusing on sniper Vassily Zaitsev's supposed duel with the German sniper, Konings (which author Antony Beevor in his book "Stalingrad" doubts even occurred), the whole drama
of the battle, both from the point of view of the commanders as well as the men on the ground participating in the "Rattenkrieg" (rat's war) is lost. There are glaring errors in the film, one of which is the playing of the Soviet National Anthem which in reality was not adopted until 1944.
The reason I give this film a 3 star rating and not less, which it really deserves is because British and American viewers generally have no idea of what went on in the Russo-German front
of the Second World War. Movies like "The Longest Day" give the impression that the Western Allies won the war all by themselves, whereas in truth, 3/4 of the entire strength of the German army was destroyed by the USSR. It is the Soviets who really paid the price in blood for the ultimate defeat of Nazi
Germany. Since this film does at least brings out the sacrifices of the Soviet peoples, I give it an extra star. I am still waiting for the true story of Stalingrad to come to the screen.
 Another Typical Hollywood Caricature July 29, 2004
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Jean-Jacques Annaud directs this movie surrounding true characters and events during the WWII campaign for Stalingrad: the turning point against Germany in the Eastern Front.
Jude Law plays Vassily Zaitzev a Russian peasant who enrolls with the Red Army and is sent to Stalingrad to get his first combat experience. As the battle progresses, he soon finds himself to be one of the best marksmen in the Red Army. Frustrated at the losses suffered during the constant skirmishes, the German army seeks to send their own specialized marksman to dispose of Vassily. German Major Konig (Ed Harris) takes the challenge and vows to kill Vassily and bring honor back to the Wermacht.
The movie tries to capture the audience into the horrors of Stalingrad but becomes trapped by its own Hollywood style. The characters quickly become two-dimensional stereotypes lost in conventional and predictably boring Hollywood sub-plots canned with the usual cliche dialogue. The love story was unecessary, stereotypical, and just plain irritating. Throughout the movie, the director seemed more interested at making humorous jabs of Soviets and communism instead of emphasizing the dramatic elements of the plot. This undermined the director's attempts at presenting the story as a true drama and instead reduced it to the credibility level of a generic Rambo 3 movie.
The movie isn't worth owning or a second look after rental. For a more sober portrayal of this decisive battle and its effects on the human condition, I would recommend the two German films titled "Stalingrad" instead.
 Hollywood Teatime: The Death of Heroes July 19, 2004
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
Enemy at the Gates is a suspenseful account of the famous Russian sniper Vassily, his duel with the German sniper Konig, and the three other characters that change his life during the battle at Stalingrad. The film portrays the attitudes of the war in an almost original perspective, suffering all to the terrible inflictions of war, while demonstrating the madness that could only be crushed with the war. There is one major sex scene, and a movie filled with visceral and visible gunshot wounds. This is a movie that is a joy to watch, is contemporary to the times, and showcases what our society today too often ignores: Heroes.
STUDY GUIDE - Some questions to think about while watching...
1. Humanity: Stalingrad, with its torn buildings, dismal skyscapes, and eternal battles of gunfire, is almost more important than the sniper Vassily, the main protagonist. What does the landscape of the city tell you about the passions of men?2. Implications: This film tries to pay credence to both the Russians and the Germans, while trying to play at their faults as well. It appears, however, that the film is still in favor of the Allies, from the distasteful humor in Major Konig toward his work, the ominous rows of sleek black German battle tanks, and the hopeful dancing of the Russian soldiers who knew they were to die. How does this movie paint the German personality? Do you think it is a valid statement? 3. Evolution: Cinema has seen many, many WWII films. From the blood and dust of Saving Private Ryan, to the practical jokes and youthfulness of The Great Escape, WWII films showcase a museum of human feelings regarding the Second Great War. Where does Enemy at the Gates fit into this grand tradition? How does it compare? 4. Realism: It's obvious the film tries to be realistic. The bloody battles and lost friends and gloomy atmosphere only emphasize and accent this theme. Yet there is a certain glee in the gun-battles, as if it were a video-game being played out. This is perceived in the cycling of snarpshooters beside Vassily the inevitable conflict between Vassily and Konig, the kill count papers, and the soap-opera love triangle between Danilov, Vassily, and Tanya. Do these elements become shortcomings, or do they flourish the film in its cinematic quest? 5. Stageplay: One of the first surprises of the film is that the Russian actors have British accents, while the Germans have German accents and speak English. How does this affect the atmosphere of the film?
visuals are fine - dialogue a crime July 7, 2004
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
This film should have been great. Its clear that the director has a great eye for detail such as the the realistic Children's Fountain which matches the real life documentary footage of the battle. I can even overlook the fake CGI stukas which don't look quite real as well as the soldiers standing alongside the Panzerkampfwagen IV shooting their guns in a completely un-realistic fashion. At least the tank is not a Sherman with German markings which you so often see, so I was kind of impressed with that.In fact I was pretty well captivated with this film ... until things started to descend into Buddy-Buddy-Movie hell where I was half expecting Zaitsev the sniper & his new chum the Political Commisar to start exchanging 'High Fives' & 'Home Alone' 'YES's. And add in a Hollywoodesque ubiquitous love triangle and I found the whole concept barely tolerable. The dialogue is not the best I have heard, but the irritation factor is magnified by the Cockney accents which halted my suspension of disbelief. The actors certainly try their best & if this film was the 'Rats of Tobruk' I'd be pretty pleased with their performance, but hampered by an appalling script & a clueless yet earnest director, they fall way short of expectations. Its still worth checking out but to have repeated viewings is a asking a bit too much.
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