Encore for Enemy at the Gates

Rating: 8/10 (18 January 2007)

Ordinarily I don't watch war movies because they are usually dank, dirty, depressing, bloody, full of casualties, and sometimes hopeless. I see and read enough about war to want to watch it as entertainment. I am, however, a fan of historical films and the historical nature (however inaccurate) of "Enemy at the Gates" intrigued me. Although the movie didn't go into the entire history of WWII it took two individuals that had pivotal roles in that war in the battle of Stalingrad.
I liked the performances of Ed Woods and Jude Law as two snipers on opposite sides. Watching the two trying to outsmart the other was like watching a chess match except with shooting. Their individual battle within the overall war had enough appeal to keep me entirely engrossed in the movie waiting to see the next move. And the ending did not disappoint. In fact, the ending could not have been any better. This was truly an excellent movie.