Great, great, great, but then...

Rating: 6/10 (19 June 2001)

Gripping realism. The magic of cinema is it's ability to transport you to the story's setting, to the point where you believe you are there. "Enemy at the Gates" did that. The living hell of war is mercilessly thrown upon you, and you can no more escape it than the characters in the film. Great story; well, of course, because it's based on a true story. Great historical accuracy, great acting, great cinematography. A great testament to this film is that the most memorable, gripping moments are not the ones featuring mass destruction, humongous explosions and bodies flying hither & yon. No, it's the waiting. It's experiencing what sharpshooters endure to execute their missions. Endless hours remaining motionless; playing dead among the actual dead. The chess game played with human pieces. If you see this movie, note also the beautiful symbolism of Ed Harris as the wolf from childhood. (Crystal blue eyes, silent patience before pouncing, etc.) This is what I found riveting.
BUT THEN...LIKE THE ENOLA GAY BEFORE IT, Hollywood had to drop this pointless, intrusive, formulaic, prerequisite love story BOMB right in the middle of a fantastic war story. I didn't know lipstick was so readily available in war-torn Stalingrad. And Rachel somehow managed to find the cleanest sewer pipes & trenches to crawl through. COME ON, HOLLYWOOD! Remember "Kelly's Heroes"? There weren't even any women IN it. See also "Bridge on the River Kwai", "Dirty Dozen, The" & "Magnificent Seven, The".
Thank God these classics were made before this drivel was required in every American made film. Can you just imagine "Kelly's Heroes" being remade today? I couldn't conceive the horror of seeing Freddie Prinze Jr. as Kelly, finding the gold and then leaving it behind as he realizes that the love of the beautiful Italian maiden (played by Kirsten Dunst in a black wig) is worth more than 60 million dollars.