Hanky-panky dulled film; Also ended incorrectly

Rating: Null/10 (21 December 2003)

Spoilers present: At the start, I liked this movie very much, but it badly suffers from what from a directorial cramp. Why directors try to marry war and sex I guess I never will understand other than to sell tickets! Also, I did not like the ending; It was not historically accurate!

This movie has a great start with the Nazis invading Stalingrad. The acting and special effects were good. Everything motored along flawlessly until the sex scene. WHY cant directors leave it to just a sweet subtle kiss instead of flat out getting it on! This has become SO cliche' with many war movies! The movies Patton and Saving Private Ryan were war from start to finish. Now most people regard these movies as classics, I dont recall anybody making woopie in those films. The effect it had on this movie is like throwing an anchor off a boat thats doing 100 miles an hour!
The other beef I have is historical accuracy. True is the notion that if you make a movie based on a true story, the historical element may be tweaked a bit here and there, I dont have a problem with that. But nowhere in my readings of snipers was he, Vasily Zaitsev, trapped behind a stove in a wharehouse by Maj. Konig. According to my readings the only confrontation they had was when they were at gunpoint with each other. Nevertheless this movie still portrayed this encounter, according to history, WRONG!

This film took off like a rocket, yet it crashed and burned shortly thereafter. I was very gung ho about buying the DVD but after seeing it, I think not! The cast was great, effects were good but the script walked through a rose garden and came out a stinker! I give it a generous 5.0 out of 10!