Enemy at the gates

[attila]

Just got back from seeing the flick. Quite good. Although ,as a fencer, I get to look at the movie like the duel I think it is. Two individuals going after the same thing ( victory), A series of encounters, recon forays, intelligence gathering, ruses, second intentions, opportunities lost, and finally the climax where you HAVE to look into the eyes of the guy you have "crushed", just at the point where he thinks he has won,only to realize his *** is grass. Good performances, though I was greatly bugged to hear English accents instead of Russian.

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"Kill the men, save the women, and by the gods, do not spill the wine"

[Amie]

Originally posted by attila:
Good performances, though I was greatly bugged to hear English accents instead of Russian.

Why does everybody harp on this? I've been told that Russians speak english with a UK accent because they learn the King's English in school, at the turn of the century the fashion was to be All Things British, and in the early 1900's especially, it was particularly fashionable to have an English governess/tutor (rather than German). No, I don't know why.

So, was the movie worth seeing? I'm interested in the sniper story but not so much inclined to see it, having been told that there is an Annoying Romantic Plot Device.

A

[attila]

Hi
I was greatly annoyed because I spent two weeks in Moscow and all the English speaking Russians have a "Russian" accent.Just like I have an "American" accent when I speak the little Russian I managed to remember after 21 years. The plot device was a bit weak, but the girl love interest is a dead ringer for a former girlfriend. Brought back some fond memories. Bloody,bloody mess it was. The horrific opening scenes are reminicent of what happened to the poor Iraqi foot soldiers getting strafed by the Desert storm forces during the gulf war.

[darius]

The reason why is that England was considered the center of the "civilized world" by a lot of (Eurocentric) people.

Personally, when I watch a movie, I'd rather see a flawless performance in one's native tongue than trying to force an accent and missing. (anybody remember the beginning of Costner's Robin Hood? Barf.)

If you want to be a stickler, it should have been in German and Russian with English subtitles.

darius

[oiuyt]

Good film, but go read "War of the Rats" by David Robbins. Novelization of the same events, has all kinds of sniper fieldcraft and thinking processes that aren't in the movie (not that I'm complaining about that, it's stuff that just doesn't translate into the medium well).
Haven't read "Enemy at the Gates" yet, hope to once I can locate a copy.

-B

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"Oh but you can't expect to wield supreme executive power just because some watery tart threw a sword at you!"

[Christopher J Umbs]

First off, enjoyed it utterly though I too could have dealt without the romantic plot. What I found interesting is that, in fact, the historical love interest was American, but for some reason they made her Russian in the movie. Normally movies with American releases turn non-Americans into Americans (or change some major plot lines to promote America - which is why I can't stand the American version of Chess), but it was the opposite way this time.

[attila]

Any one seen "the duellists"? There is a scene where I laughed my *** off. A wintery scene where this Cossack on horse back rides up to where the french are laying down and says something then get shot. Well right before he gets shot he asks in Russian " Hey ,you guys cold??", then gets promptly killed. Absolutely funny..........

[anam_cara]

I liked Enemy at the Gate, even though it's not the type of movie I usually choose to see. The beginning, especially, was very moving and thought-provokingly realistic.
I was curious about the English accents, but I didn't feel they detracted from the film.
And though the love interest angle may have been outta' place, that one scene sure was HOT! WOW!!
How are we rating movies here?
Outta' 5 swords, I'd give it a 4...that's pretty good considering that, as a rule, I don't even LIKE war movies!!!
~~cara

[attila]

Yes, that was a hot scene. Been there. done it. Enjoyed it trenedously!!!!!!!!!!!

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"Kill the men, save the women, and by the gods, do not spill the wine"

[SpaceCowboy]

I enjoyed Enemy at the Gates... I especially liked the close-ups of Ed Harris' ice blue eyes... sent shivers down my spine... thinking of them on the other end of a scope. I definitely wouldn't want his character coming after me!! But I do have to say that I it was kinda strange watching a Nazi Major speak with an AMERICAN accent!!