Disgusting mockery of the source material

Rating: 1/10 (27 December 2016)

When I saw this film years ago, I was obviously completely captured by it. Of course, I knew right away that it wasn't historically accurate and that his encounter with major Konig wasn't so dramatic but I didn't care much.
I was also aware that the film was based on Vasilij's own "notes" (Notes of a Russian Sniper) but it took me some time before I found time to read this book. Coincidently, I've tried one of the sniper versions of Mosin Nagant shortly before that.
When I finally read the book, I saw the ugliness of the film in all its horrendous monstrosity. No, Soviets didn't arm only a half of their troops. No, they didn't shoot at them when they retreated. Vasilij wasn't some grunt. He was well educated and used to be an office rat but he decided to give up his warm position and volunteered to go to Stalingrad instead so he could his grandpa's training to good use. His superiors recognized his talents immediately and made him a sniper and later on, an instructor. They respected his intelligence and encouraged him to do things his own way. He was never a propaganda puppet and was, in fact, more real than Chris Kyle. He was also a humble man and adapted well to life after the war. He continued in his studies and eventually became a professor.
This film is yet another dark spot on Hollywood's resume.