Stalingrad: German Film of the Epic Battle

From the producers of Das Boot came the epic film Stalingrad. This German film is one of the greater movies about World War II. Unlike so many American films that glorify the war, Stalingrad exposes World War II for the pointless slaughter that it was. I don't think any other WWII film rivals this other than Das Boot and Fatherland.

The films stars several Germans as the battle for Stalingrad is fought between the two largest armies in history. Urban warfare dawns the film as major encounters rage on in the harsh Russian winter. Blood and gore is not as prevalent, but it is not something that is a major concern in this film. What is center in this flick is the suspense and drama that is overbearing on the German soldiers who have barely had a chance to live lives of their own.

I do believe one of the most intense scenes in when a captured Russian woman is at the mercy of the Germans. As one of the soldier's says, they are about to "go by rank" at a chance to have their way with the poor woman. The first unharnesses her from the bed she was previously bound to and cleans up her face. As the Russian gives him sass, he yells his frustration of just wanting to know a woman one last time before the war takes his life. In the end none of the men lay a finger on her. This is why the movie doesn't require severe special affects that illuminate grotesque violence.

Still, despite the lack of blood involved in the movie, the battle scenes are something of a thrill. Taking out a squadron of tanks with nothing but a litter of fox holes and sticky bombs is something Private Ryan's saviors couldn't even accomplish by themselves. And unlike Enemy of the Gates, there is no fake love story that distracts from the reality of the war.