ENEMY AT THE GATES (DVD Review) - 1/1/07

A film from 2001 that I would have got around to seeing earlier as I had been told that it was an excellent story and well filmed and luckily enough I picked up a copy in the local Tesco sales for £3 and it was also replete with a shedload of Special Features. If I had realised that the Director had been Jean-Jacque Annaud (Director of "The Name Of The Rose" with one of Sean Connery's best acting performances ever) I would have seen it immediately on the strength of that connection alone - But these things happen as things slide aside. In a war torn Stalingrad (Based on a true story with obviously a Hollywood spin to the truth) we get a literally gut wrenching opening as soldiers are driven into the enemy's guns with no retreat; or if they did, to be cut down by their own troops from behind for "cowardice". Thrown into this maelstrom of destruction and despair farmer's boy Vassili Zaitsev (A fine Jude Law) ends up with Joseph Fiennes character (Danilov) who sees a certain attitude that can be harnessed by Kruschev (Bob Hoskins) against the Nazi war machine. As a sniper Jude Law's character of Vassili is a perfect propaganda tool so much so that in the end with desperation the German's send a top sniper of their own in the form of Major Koenig (Ed Harris) chuck in a spoonful of romance and a bitter cat and mouse tale ensues as each tries to take the other out. War from what I can see - is hell - no matter where it is fought and when and we humans always seem to be doing it somewhere sadly?

SPECIAL FEATURES: Director's Commentary and 3 Documentaries (WARNING: One of these covers "Stalingrad" in Black & White Real Wartime Footage and therefore contains some very distressing images/scenes - Also French Language so therefore Subtitled in English) with Filmographies. Deleted Scenes: NOTE - If you wish to view the deleted scenes within the film there is an option to do so or view them separately) some short Storyboards to Frames with Film Posters and Theatrical Trailer. Plus Audio Description.

Language: English COLOUR with English HOH Subtitles. Runtime: 125 Mins and Dolby Digital/DTS 5.1. Sound. Region 2 (UK) 15 Certificate. Widescreen Version 16:9 / 2.35:1 Aspect Ratio Approx. PATHE/20th CENTURY FOX 2001. P9017DVD/ISBN # 5060002830802>