Underrated film about Stalingrad

Rating: Null/10 (21 June 2004)

I had only heard bad things about this movie until I rented it a few days ago. I had heard it was slow, dull, stiffly acted and unrealistic. And also I had heard people being critical to fact that the cast speaks flawless Oxford English throughout the film.
I was very positively surprised by this film. I too would have preferred an all-Russian/German cast (see Stalingrad (1992)), but that's my only real critique of the film. The production values are great, you really get the sense of being in Stalingrad during the war with all it's horrors and not in a movie set. Jude Law is terrific as the Russian sniper along with rest of the cast. I liked the pace of the film also.
I watch this film just after having seen Saving Private Ryan for the first time since it came out, so I really can compare them. Enemy at the gates isn't as great as the Spielberg film, but it certainly holds it's own when you compare them.
I was also surprised not to hate the love scene. I usually hate misplaced and redundant love scenes you often encounter (see Matrix: Reloaded and you will know what I mean). But I think this one makes perfect sense. In the face of imminent death the two characters takes an opportunity to make love that might not present itself again.
If you liked Saving Private Ryan you're probably gonna like this one too. I rate it 7/10.