Stalingrad (1992)

It's tempting to call this harrowing picture a World War II version of All Quiet on the Western Front: both films take the perspective of ordinary German soldiers at ground level. Stalingrad surveys the misery of the battle of Stalingrad, the winter siege that cost the lives of almost one and a half million people, Russian defenders and German invaders alike. Not unlike Spielberg's approach to Saving Private Ryan, German director Joseph Vilsmaier rarely steps outside the action to comment on the higher purpose of the war, assuming the audience is aware of the evil of the Nazi regime. Instead, we simply follow a group of soldiers as they endure a series of gut-wrenching episodes, events which have the tang of authenticity and horror. Vilsmaier has a taste for symbolism and surreal touches, which only add to the unsettling sense of insanity this movie conjures up so well. --Robert Horton Amazon.com

Depressing + Engaging acting = Realistically showing the terror of war. Definitely worth watching.

The movie is very dpressing. The acting is very engaging. The director realistically shows the terror of war. I read in the books that soldiers, civilians, horses frozen to death along the trails in Stalingrad. However, it horrifed me when I saw these scenes in this film because they were so real.
It's definitely worth watching. Im not sure if I want to watch it the second time though. June 27, 2008

Not thrilled

This movie did show the battle with Stalingrad during WWII but it was too racy and had much profanity...and I had periods of boredom. Not good to show to a history class of students. April 28, 2008

Excellent war movie

This movie is just set in Stalingrad, but in truth follows the story of some simple German soldiers, a story that could serve as example for soldiers of any antion caught in impossible situations.

I tought to be very well made in relation to the budget it had. Acting was strong, the general feeling was one of doom and no chance of living and the finale was tear-jerking and extremely sad.

There were some flaws, but what is a flaw for me can be a plus for other person watching the movie, so it's a subjective thing...

As far as war movies go, this is one of the best.


March 26, 2008

Stalingrad

The film views the Battle of Stalingrad from the eyes of the German Army. I'm generally don't watch foreign films, but this one is well made and I liked it enough to watch it more than once. "Stalingrad" makes a decent companion film for "Enemy at the Gates". January 13, 2008

Stalingrad: the movie

Stalingrad This movie is great. It's the one movie that probably gives you the most accurate portrayal of what it was actually like to fight on the Russian Front. The situation was hopeless, almost from the beginning, and that is shown in this movie. It's nice to read books on the strategies and politics being played by the head honchos in World War II, and then see a movie like this which shows the soldiers that have to carry out those plans. It would be cool if somebody made a movie out of the book "Through Hell for Hitler" for the same reasons mentioned above.
Although, I'm sure that if someone made a movie about what the SS was doing in those countries, the movie would have an entirely different character. December 22, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...