Rescue Dawn (2007)

I never received my item!

I have never received the video Rescue Dawn that I ordered. It has been almost two months. I am not very happy with my service!
Margaret Chappell September 1, 2008

A story of courage

Inspired by the true story of Dieter Dengler's (Christian Bale) ordeals during the Vietnam war, Rescue Dawn follows Lt. Dengler on his very first combat mission. Prior to the primary ground battles, U.S. troops flew bombing raids missions into Laos, and it is during one such excursion in 1965 that Dengler's plane took ground-fire that caused a crash.

While jungle survival videos produced by the military were supposed to keep a downed pilot safe in Dengler's situation, they did no such thing. Woefully unprepared for the jungle, he's captured in a matter of days and soon faces months of sadistic torture at the hands of both the Laotians and the Vietnamese. Beatings, being bound and tied to a moving oxen, and nearly drowned, he's eventually moved to a P.O.W. camp where other soldiers are being held. It is in this prison camp that a daring rescue attempt is devised by the shared contributions of the prisoners, as Dengler and other prisoners fight through the jungles of Laos towards Thailand and eventual freedom.

Convincing as Dengler, Christian Bale really sells out for this role. Throughout the movie his physical condition noticeably worsens, his weight takes a dramatic drop, and he truly looks like he may have been tortured as a POW.

Troubling, however, is what I have read since watching the movie. Evidently, several other prisoners and their families take umbrage with the manner in which the movie portrays certain events. Werner Herzog takes liberties with certain facts, giving credit to Dengler when others were responsible, and painting other prisoners in a negative light when, in fact, they were courageous and patriotic throughout the entire ordeal.

Not knowing the contested history, this movie is a solid contribution to Hollywood's Vietnam oeuvre. It's a tense, harrowing drama, and I'm upset that this is based in even the remotest sense on reality. Knowing that certain portrayals within the movie inaccurately tarnish the legacy of good men who gave their lives upsets me even more.
August 4, 2008

Fat, thin, fat, thin...

Rescue Dawn starring Christian Bale is an interesting and deeply profound film based on a true story. This film is inspirational and doesn't sugar coat anything that occured during the Vietnam War. Bale sure digs himself into the character, he's definitely a method actor, who could transform his body like the way he does? I've never seen an actor gain and lose weight as quicky as him, also watch The Machinist and you'll what I mean. Steve Zahn also stars and he is absolutely brillant in this, I always knew he could pull a dramatic performance, glad the director took a chance on him, Zahn is more than a comedian. I highly recommend checking out this under-rated gem! July 29, 2008

Average movie...

incredible true story. Well acted, but we've seen similar before. What's different are the details. This man's determination and courage should be seen by all. July 27, 2008

Terrific film; great story

I saw this movie coming and I was very surprised it did not make a bigger impact at the box office. In fact, it was out of the theaters so quickly I missed it, so I waited for the recent DVD release. I was not disappointed.

Rescue Dawn tells the true story of Dieter Dengler, a Navy pilot shot down and taken prisoner in the Vietnam conflict. The movie title is a little bit misleading, since the movie does not center on a "rescue" so much as it does the escape and survival of the prisoners. The movie definitely centers around Dengler, and I think they were trying to give you a real sense of the isolation and confusion that came with being a prisoner of war (it's a little bit artsy).

The characters (mostly fellow prisoners) and Christian Bale as Dengler were terrific. The story flowed well and I was on the edge of my seat almost the entire movie. Great scenery, great acting, great situations. The special features fill you in on some of the details of Dengler's life too. Overall, you can't miss with a true survival story in Vietnam. May not be suitable for children or the squeamish. July 25, 2008

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