Despite trying the 'search' function I couldn't find our earlier discussion of this movie so here goes with a fresh thread..... Mt recent re-viewing of Enemy At The Gates prompted me to buy a DVD of Stalingrad. I tried watching it on VHS years ago and gave up ; but I've done a lot of Stalingrad reading since. It's much more my sort of war movie than EATG ; the makers have made a pretty good job IMPO of recreating the 'feel' of Stalingrad, something which EATG didn't do for me. Stalingrad was truly horrific and some of the scenes reflect this. I also liked the way in which both parts of the Kessel are portrayed ; the sewer-rat fighting in the city itself and the end-of-the-World bleakness of the Steppe. Also noteworthy for me was that the actors actually look cold ( the clouds of vapourized breath are hard to fake ) and the Ju52 scene is far more impressive than the plastic kit/CGI aviation in EATG. But it can be confusing - it's more Cross Of Iron than EATG. Certainly not aimed at the 14-year-old popcorn audience. But - and here's the big BUT, and also the reason I gave up first time around - the only print I could find was overdubbed in appalling, Ve haff vays off making you talk English. AWFUL ! I've hunted all over e-bay and can't seem to find a subtitled version ; maybe I'll just have to buy the new German Special Edition and memorize the dialogue...... Interesting to watch EATG and Stalingrad back-to-back, though. For me, I liked EATG a lot less than when I first saw it - with the opposite being the case for Stalingrad. Good war movie......
Martin, if you will follow this Link, it says that this movie has english subtitles. http://www.amazon.de/Stalingrad-Dominique-Horwitz/dp/B00004RYA8
Thanks, Ulrich - I will probably try this ! As with Das Boot, I think it is essential to hear the movie in the original language to give the correct atmosphere......
Over the past winter I've watched "Stalingrad" on bluray on several occasions. In HD and Dolby Digital audio channel it is even more realistic.
Excellent movie. Agreed that you need to hear it in German to get the "100% feel". My personal "fave" moment is the T-34 attack scene where the penalty battalion manages to stop part of the attack as some tanks turn towards them with infantry following. You definitely can sense the fear and pressure there. " Where is our artillery?" " You are our artillery!"...EEK!
Indeed, "synced" Germans sound ridiculous. Fortunately I understand German pretty well and do need no translation. In contrast to Hollywood combat movies, in Vilsmaier's movie wounded soldiers moan and scream, wounds and blood are almost as real. The "Untergang" is also a great movie even though I prefer in this category "Hitler's Last Ten Days" with Alec Guiness featurig Führer.
