Enemy at the Gates

Starring: Jude Law, Joseph Fiennes, Rachael Wiesz, Bob Hoskins and Ed Harris

Director: Jean-Jacques Annaud

Running Time: 150mins

Available to Rent on Video or Buy on DVD 19th November

October 1942, the Nazis advance into Russia. Pushing into the city of Stalingrad, they face a demoralised Red Army, faced with death in the advance or being shot as cowards in retreat. General Khrushchev (Hoskins) demands new measures to strive off defeat. Political officer Danilov (Fiennes) suggests the elevation of national heroes. When asked if he knows any, he replies that he knows only one, a young marks man called Vassili Zaitev (Law). Killing a great number of German officers, sniper Vassili becomes a national hero and the talk of the war. Berlin sends its best marksman Major Konig (Harris), their own head of the sniper school, to eliminate the problem.

This most expensive European financed movie ever made and all the money is up there on the big screen. Amazing sets, hundreds of extras, great S/FX and an all-star cast show where the money was spent. The only thing they forgot to spend money on was the plot. Where the battle scenes are intense and the duel between Vassili and Konig is both suspenseful and captivating, the movie is let down by a totally unneeded love triangle subplot, between Fiennes, Law and the object of their affections, Rachael Wiesz. This is a total distraction from the underlying story of the horror of war and the fundamental waste of human life. Squandering the opportunity to make this a must see, truthfully depicted WWII movie, instead what you have is 'Saving Private Ryan' with a 'Titanic' style love story thrown in as an after thought, which is a real shame.

Making of Documentary, Audio commentary from director Jean-Jacques Annaud, Cast and crew interviews, Filmographies, Deleted scenes, Foreign campaigns, Storyboards, Audio Description, Theatrical trailer, Film Posters, Interactive menu & Scene access


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