MovieChat Forums > Enemy at the Gates (2001) Discussion > This is insulting.

This is insulting.

posted 15 years ago by tokyostreetkiller
153 replies | jump to latest

Hey guys. I'm what you call a student of WWII and more specifically, one of the Eastern Front. I am a fan of military history and myself am a member of the US Army. I checked out this film becuase it was staged in the epic battle of Stalingrad. I was very excited about it. I've never seen a film involving Stalingrad before. I have indeed compiled a library of footage from the battle that was filmed from documentaries and the like. But I've never seen a film based on it.

After watching the film I have to say, it was rubbish. I mean, it's a very nice piece of fiction but, it carries no historical weight whatsoever. As an American, even I am offended by the films portrayal of the Soviet Soldiers. No country in the 20th century sacrificed more and lost more than Russia. And to show them in such a crass display of disrespect is appalling. I can't understand why nobody even thought to research this subject. To discount the bravery of the Soviets who at that time did what no other Army had done is wrong.

Where was General Chuikov? Why was there a love story? Really? a freaking love story? These filmmakers want me to believe that amidst the single most horrific battle in human history, a couple of soldiers had time for a little trist? I can't believe that!

I can only hope that someday a major film is made about this battle which is honest, sincere and faithful to the many who have fallen doing the bravest of deeds -- defending their homeland.

"Let's get out of here before one of those things kills Guy!"

[–] geor1772 9 years ago

It's a movie you are ignoramous which never claimed to be based on facts! I love it!

[–] straydog12 9 years ago

Agree!
That's why it called War Movie, a Movie. Purely for entertainment. If you want a completely accurate both history and people, please watch documentary.

Image this, a movie with completely documentary based, if you didn't yawn after 30 minutes, I applause you.

[–] amcalabrese-1 9 years ago

I agree with you that Stalingrad would make an excellent subject to movies. But I am not sure why you find this so insulting. The movie shows the Russian troops as being fanatically brave and determined to stop the German invasion. But it also shows the costs of the Soviet tactics. I remember reading somewhere that the life expectancy for the average soviet infantryman crossing the Volga into what was left of Russian held Stalingrad was something like 24 hours. The Soviets used blocking troops, so that troops retreating would be shot by the NKVD.

And while I admit that the love triangle was forced, there really was a "Tania" and they did have some kind of a tryst. When you think you are going to die tomorrow, it happens I guess.

[–] GeF_fEn 9 years ago

Give me one example which the US gave an historically acccurate movie ?

(SSDD)

[–] Neosocrates 8 years ago

Off the top of my head;

Bridge of Spies.
Andersonville.
The Great Raid.
The Tuskeegee Airmen
13 Days
Bat 21
We Were Soldiers

No movie is 100% accurate but these were pretty close.

[–] baran_erik 8 years ago

Is there anything worse than the pedantic āńáł retentive who demands that every film about an actual event be 100% historically accurate? Only those that B&M about accents. JFC, it's a freacking movie, not a GD documentary. If you didn't know going in it wasn't going to be accurate you know very little about movies. And hormones don't take a holiday during stressful situation. Those types of feelings are probably intensified.