This movie packs a good punch . I was captivated by the plot which was quite unusual. There is enough to sit and anticipate whats going to happen. This movie holds 90% of your interest and thats pretty good for me I guess.
About the movie
The movie is directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud. It is war movie but he has handled it well without making it very depressing. The movie sets an okay pace where the audience is led through the grim realities of war to the suspense and thrill of killing the enemy.
The editing is also pretty neat. The cast is well chosen with Jude Law ( Oscar Nominee), Ed Harris, Rachel Weisz (of the Mummy movies), etc.
The movie does not concentrate much on the battle itself. Its a war between two individuals or lets say a game between two professionals who can win only by outsmarting and killing the other.
The plot
The plot is set in the Autumn of 1942 when the Germans were on an aggressive path conquering everything on its way .They were closing in on Stalingrad. The Russians prepare themselves for the war and Vassily Zaitsev is one of the many soldiers who have come to fight for his motherland. The Russians are not so well equipped with artillery as the Germans and this demoralises the soldiers.
The Russians give a rifle to every alternate man as there is a shortage of rifles telling the other to keep the bullets and follow the one with the rifle. When the one with the rifle is shot the guy without the rifle is supposed to pick up the rifle and continue.
The Russian officers force the soldiers to go straight ahead with or without guns. If they retreat they get shot. Vassily is one such weaponless man. But in one instance he shoots four to five German officials from a distance.
This incident is noted by a second class political officer Danilov ( Joseph Fiennes) who becomes Vassily’s friend, mentor, and personal PR man, who uses the press and pamphlets to write long tales about him exaggerating about Vassily , making him a national hero. Vassily becomes one of Russia’s first class snipers who creates waves in instilling optimism in the soldier’s of Russia. The Russians now attack the Germans using snipers.
The Germans are not used to this method of fighting . So they call their best German sniper, Major Koenig ( Ed Harris) to get rid of Vassily. Now it becomes a war and a game between Koenig and Vassily. Vassily wants to give up but he is not allowed to bow down. He is given all the help that is needed to fight with the German Sniper.
The entire movie’s focus is on these two characters which slowly makes the audiences’ anticipation rise too. Just when you think that one of them has got the other, the story twists and turns.
There is a subplot dealing with a Russian girl soldier, Tania (Rachel Weisz), Vassily and Danilov. This could have been down without but then I guess the director wanted the audience to have a reprieve from the main theme which would have been very dragging.
As a whole its a great movie which could be watched if you are a war movie fan. I personally liked the way the plot has been handled. The plot is realistic but the subplot and the end is fictitious. But I think you can handle that. :):)
My suggestion
War movies are not glamorous and this is not a glamorous entertaining movie. Though for people who are into somewhat slow movies, this will be a good watch for you. However, this movie might be somewhat boring for a person who is not into war thrillers and suspense. If you liked Saying Private Ryan, A thin red Line, The Patriot, etc you will like this one. Check it out !!