Refreshing

Rating: 8/10 (24 June 2009)

I think Second World War has always been a favorite subject for Movie Making.
Ever since movies like Saving Private Ryan & Thin Red Line hit the big screen we have seen a series of new techniques to uphold the gritty images and the brutality of the War.
Past has always romanticized the subject on World War, pre Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan.
Well we have seen so many movies from Hollywood which has always shown us the story from the Allies POV.
It was refreshing to see movies like 'Downfall' 'Stalingrad', because it really gave us some idea what it was like to be on the other side.
'Stalingrad' can be said as a War Drama, rather than only action oriented Movie.
More aspect has been given to the humane elements to make it more memorable. I think almost every one knows why Stalingrad had been so memorable name in the annals of History. This was the war which was considered to be the most bloody and brutal war of 21st Century. This is where Germans had started to lose the war and their complete 6th Army was annihilated.
'Stalingrad' starts with the story of a German company which gets redeployed from El Alamein Campaign (North Africa) to Stalingrad to push back the Russian Offense. We get introduced to some of the men who will be there through out the movie and we see the confrontation through their eyes. For the most part, the characters which was most unforgettable to me was the battle hardened Corporal Fritz Reiser (enacted by Dominique Horwitz) and the inexperienced idealistic Platoon Leader Lieutenant Von Witzland (brilliantly performed by Thomas Kretschmann).
As said earlier this Movie has only two major battle scenes, one happens within the Factory Compound at Stalingrad and the other one is a well portrayed Soviet Mixed Tank Infantry Offence on a prepared German Positions. Action scenes were well executed and since there was less amount of CGI it was realistic. Note this movie was five years prior to 'Saving Private Ryan' and taking into consideration that I would say the special effects were really good. For couple of times I have mentioned SPR* because I think when it comes to absolute realistic graphic violence SPR * has bench marked the Movie Industry how a War Movie should be depicted.
Overall this movie will be enjoyed by those who like Genre based on Second World War.
* Saving Private Ryan