Director – Bryan singer
Screenplay – Christopher McQuarrie and Nathan Alexander.
History
Adolf Hitler will probably go down in the History of 20th Century as the most brutal leader who has been guilty of being responsible of death of nearly 62 million people during world war 2 which resulted after his 1939 invasion of Poland. It would have been very obvious that he would have people within his own country and within his own regime who would be against him and his inhuman policies. One such person was Colnel Claus Von Stauffenberg, who decided to go with his conscience and decided to eliminate Adolf Hitler to save many innocent from being killed in Europe and subsequently Germany. This Operation was Called Operation Walküre (Valkyre in English) and was later known as July 20 Plot.
Plot
Colonel Claus Vom Stauffenberg (Tom Cruise) is deeply hurt by Adolf Hitler’s (David Bamber) policies during World War 2. He Decides that the only way to stop the War would be to Eliminate dolf Hitler and ensure Operation Walküre is bought in to effect.
Operation Walküre was a plan that was approved by Hitler which ensured that a national emmergency would be declared in Germany, should Hitler die and the head of the reserve army is in charge. However the Nazi Party would still be active.
Claus, shrewdly, re-writes the plan and ensures that the new plan would be inititated by the head of the reserve army and current General Friedrich Fromm(Tom Wilkinson) and also dissolves the Nazi Party and makes General Olbicht (Bill Nighy) in charge. After displaying Heroics during the Bombing of a German Army Base in Tunisia, Stauffenberg looses his right limb and left eye. Hitler is so pleased with his courage that he signs the plan without giving reading it in detail. Now all that is left, is to kill Hitler.
Critic’s Comments
Bryan Singer is known to give amazing Adventure Movies (The X Men Series and Superman Returns) and has also directed the classic suspense, The Usual Suspects. With a historical Saga, to hold the audience’s attention was very important because everyone knows what has happened so the adapation of events has to be up to the mark.
Thankfully, Synger doesnt disappoint. All aspects of the movie are wonderful. Tom Cruise has given a matured performance and is wondefully supported by Tom Wilkinson and Bill Nighy. However, the movie, would have made a greater impact had it been released in German rather than English. This is where a movie like, Der Untergang (The Downfall) scores heavily. All in all, this is a must watch film.
*Psst –
1) In Norse Mythology, Valkyrie is a female figure who chooses those who die in a battle.
2) In June 2007, The German Defense Ministy said, prior to film being started, they would not allow the filming because of Tom Cruise’s adherence to Scientology which was labelled as a Dangerous Cult in Germnany.
3) The movie was made on a budget of $75 million and has grossed $82.2 million in USA alone and nearly $90 million world wide.
4) The movie was filmed by October 2007 but was released only in Christmas 2008 because certain portions had to be reshot in June 2008 as the the original film was destoryed when it was treated with a wrong chemical. This also delayed the original release date by nearly 5 months.*
Quotes
1) "We have to show the world that not all of us are like him. Otherwise, this will always be Hitler’s Germany."
2) "Remember, this is a military operation. Nothing ever goes according to plan."
3) "You think it’s a coup? Of that I’m certain. I just don’t know which side we’re on."
4) "Long live sacred Germany."
5) "Hitler is dead. Operation Valkyrie is in effect."
*Oops
None that I could notice. *