Mediocre and disappointing

Rating: 6/10 (17 March 2001)

Once again we see that all the money in the world thrown into a movie can't make up for one good screenwriter. This is the biggest problem with "Enemy at the Gates", the screenplay is poor and in no way memorable. Full of stock characters, dialogue and situations, it plays more like a high-budget school pageant then a truly gritty war drama. As much as I admire Jude Law, he is very miscast in the role. He has the face for the role, but he needs to dispense of his British accent and refined ways if we are to really beleive he is a Russian peasant. Joseph Fiennes' character is underdeveloped. The love story is merely an annoying distraction, tho that may just be my bias. I would prefer to see this as a "buddy" picture or even more. The electricity generated between Fiennes and Law often suggest as much, and I would love to have seen the emotion between them developed more.

The battle scenes are entertaining and impressive, but more surreal than real. That could be great, but I don't think that was that the artistic intent here.
Then there's the "soul stirring" musical score. "Sounds like Titanic." I thought. Sure enough, music is by James Horner.
Anyone who thinks this is a great war epic, hasn't seen many, but at least it wasn't dull. Indeed, the main reason I enjoyed Enemy at the Gates was for the mesmerizing beauty of the two male leads. But it waste of their acting talents.