Soviet veterans dislike Enemy at The Getes

A lot of people are not happy with that movie. Most argue that in Saving Private Ryan everything was perfect, from make up to the idea.

Problems

Train

Like a prisoner who is heading for a workers camp our hero Vassili is caged in the train

Let's Run Guys

Solders run with mud on their faces and doing stupid face expressions

Rape

The part where Vassili is some what raping his love while other are sleaping next to them

Is that a T-34?

The city was destoyed, most solders had to run inside the buildings, but in the movie a T 34 can perfectly get around

Sasha is very smart

There is a boy who is running back and forth. From German side to Soviet

Sing and Dance your night away

At night the solders on the Soviet side are resting and dancing

 

Have you actually seen the movie? It's no rape, they are in love.

Best regards/ Daniel

 

Here you decide

http://www.battlefield.ru/shame/enemy/enemy.html

 

I agree with some points of the review while others just are silly. Those remarks I think are silly are: the rape accusation; that they weren't frightened and the 'well fed faces'. I also have a hard time understanding why he excuse himself for the blocking detachments.

And by the way, I don't think it's a good movie.

Best regards/ Daniel

 

I think that many people can argue about blocking detachments. Some say it happened and some say it didn't.

I agree, Enemy at the Gates is number one on my "TOP 10 WORST MOVIES"

 

No way is it rape !!!!
However, I do agree that Enemy at the Gates isn't a very good film and is arguably one of the worst war films produced in the 90s.

Jet

 

The worst thing about the movie is how it gave people the idea entire battle was decided by just two guys shooting at each other in the rubble. I also don't think that it was rape in that scene.

 

I agree with you panzergrenadiere. Also what made me sick in that film was when the young boy, probably aged at about 11 or 12, was hanged. Now if you ask me thats just sick. And also when the boats were getting shot up by the German planes, I don't think the commanders would have shot the men, would they?

 

Granted, since the movie WAS about two guys shooting it out, there should have been a different title. Also, that was no rape. Rachel Weiz started the act. As far as well fed soldier, it would be rather difficult to have extras go on a starving diet just to look the part in a movie. Perhaps we are being too critical. It is just like with Pearl Harbor. The movie was about a couple of people caught up in the bombing of Pearl Harbor. It was not about the Bombing itself. Same with Enemy at the Gates. From that perspective, it was ok. My opinion.

 

Hi all, I have to agree that this was IMO a poor movie, the makers had an opportunity to make a worthwhile movie about the battle of Stalingrad and fell into cliches. There are some great battle scenes but thats par of the course in war movies today.

the most positive thing about the film was that it was portrayed from the Russian point of view which is pretty unusual.

the title was very missleading aswell William Craigs book EATG covers the entire battle and as I had read the book I expected a lot more.

 

Yeah, thinking about it the title is very misleading. It would have been better to focus on the battle of Stalingrad rather than a Russian and a German snipe. For me the movies is very fast paced as well. Welcome to the forums Phil C, hope to see you around.

Jet

 

I happened to like it. Yes, it wasn't great, and they probably could have made a few aunthenticity changes, but jess...it sure beats watching pearl harbor, U-571, hart's war or the other crap that was released lately. Movies with a red army point of view are rare, I'd like to see more of them.

And as far as the "rape" most likely she was try to portray a girl losing her virginity....submissive, scared, and a little painful. (but you guys wouldn't know about stuff like that)

 

I agree with Mike--I liked the movie--wasnt great--could have been better--but was still entertaining.

 

I agree that Enemy of the Gates was better than U-571 (personally I cant stand that film ) But still it would of been better if they had focused a little bit more on the battle of Stalingrad. Its just like Pearl Harbour really. A love story mixed in with a terrible event. Personally I cant stand Pearl Harbour or Captain Corellis Mandaline, in my view love stories dont go well with war stories.

Jet

 

Yeah, not really the best possible movie but you know, die-hard war movies cannot be made because not very many people would watch them and thus, it must have stuff that attracts people like romance, jealousy etc etc. to make the money for the film companies.

And besides I read that "Enemy at the gates " was used for posters or such at Leningrad autumn 1941, not Stalingrad. Or maybe for Stalingrad as well in 1942, but seems like a rip off as well. Sounds good for the film though.

 

Well, why don't all those guys in the site read a little on the actual battle first?! There WERE T-34s in the streets of Stalingrad! (T-34/76 not 85, that is an error). The recruits from the Red Army did not have bath facilities... why are they so surprised that they do not look clean? Every desertor was shot in Russia in 1941-1942 and in Russia not getting killed by the enemy meant desertion. Comrade Kruschev, by his rank could have vodka with whoever he wanted! His secretary, his propaganda chief (in Danilov's case) or whatever! A 12-year-old kid who knew the city could easily go from one part of the city to another using the city drewers! Soldiers caged in a train! Ha! You don't know Stalin's régime then!
And certainly the Russian soldiers had little stupid parties when they had the time because they may be killed the other day and that was the only way of freedom they had in that Army and in that country!

I suggest those 'experts' as Von Root says, to read a little on the battle first.

 

i thought enemy at the gates was ok ish . the battle for stalingrad from what i have read and viewed was truly awful , a real hell on earth ....im not surprised russian veterans were not happy with the film .....could the russian officers be any more vile towards there own men??????? run forward get shot by the germans or run back when theres no hope and get shot by your own countrymen ???????? i found this a horrible portrayal of russians.......... but was it true ????????

 

Yes, it was. 12.000 Soviet soldiers - the effectives of a full-strenght rifle division - were executed by the NKVD in the Stalingrad front during the whole duration of the battle.

And when the German VI Army was surrounded, there were some 350 executions in the German side too.

 

This film was based on a book called "War of the Rats"' a fictional account of a sniper battle between Vasily Zaitsev and a fictional character SS Standartenfuhrer Heinz Thorvald. The setting for the book/film just happened to be Stalingrad.

Later

 

i have read about zaitsev a while back .this account sort of happened in stalingrad but if i remember right the german sniper was killed only because zaitsev shot where he guessed the german was which i think was behind some steel plates . is this correct ?????