Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #881 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-11-19
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Anamorphic, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English, German, Russian
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 131 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Enemy at the Gates opens with a pivotal event of World War II--the German invasion of Stalingrad--recreated in Saving Private Ryan-like epic scale as ill-trained Russian soldiers face German attack or punitive execution if they flee from the enemy's advance. Director Jean-Jacques Annaud captures this madness with urgent authenticity, creating a massive context for a more intimate battle waged amidst the city's ruins. Embellished from its basis in fact, the story shifts to an intense cat-and-mouse game between a Russian shepherd raised to iconic fame, and a German marksman whose skill is unmatched in its lethal precision. Vassily Zaitzev (Jude Law) has been sniping Nazis one bullet at a time, while the German Major Konig (Ed Harris) has been assigned to kill Vassily and spare Hitler from further embarrassment. There's love in this war, too, as Vassily connects with a woman soldier (Rachel Weisz), but she is also loved by Danilov (Joseph Fiennes), the Soviet officer who promotes his friend Vassily as Russia's much-needed hero. This romantic rivalry lends marginal interest to the central plot, but it's not enough to make this a classic war film. Instead it's a taut, well-made suspense thriller isolated within an epic battle, and although Annaud and cowriter Alain Godard (drawing from William Craig's book and David L Robbins' novel The War of the Rats) fail to connect the parallel plots with any lasting impact, the production is never less than impressive. Highly conventional but handled with intelligence and superior craftsmanship, this is warfare as strategic entertainment, without compromising warfare as a man-made hell on Earth. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

On the DVD: with a choice of Dolby 5.1 or DTS the sound is suitably spectacular (James Horner's Prokofiev-inspired score comes up well amid whizzing bullets and explosions), while the 2.35:1 anamorphic picture makes the best of the epic battle sequences. "Through the Crosshairs" is a standard 20-minute behind-the-scenes documentary, which is complemented by "Inside Enemy at the Gates", a 15-minute montage of interviews with the stars and director. There's also a 25-minute French-made documentary (with English subtitles) about the real battle that includes a short interview with the real Vassily Zaitsev. Eight brief deleted scenes can be played separately or neatly inserted into the movie by pressing Enter when the gun sight icon appears on screen. The commentary by director Jean-Jacques Annaud is as informative as might be expected from a director who always seems passionate about his film projects. Storyboards, posters, a trailer and filmographies round out an excellent disc package. --Mark Walker

Video Description
DVD Special Features:
Director's Commentary
3 Documentaries
Deleted scenes
Filmographies
Story boards
Film posters
Theatrical trailer
Audio description
2.35:1 aspect ratio, widescreen 16:9 version
Language: English Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English Hard of Hearing

Synopsis
September 1942. The German Army has advanced to the gates of Stalingrad. The Russian Army holds on desperately. It is so poorly equipped that every pair of soldiers is given a single rifle--the second man only gets the weapon when the first is cut down. Trapped in no man's land between the opposing armies, Russian recruit Vassili Zaitsev (Jude Law) finally acquires a rifle from Political Officer Danilov (Joseph Fiennes). Danilov is astonished when Zaitsev picks off several German officers. On their return to the Russian lines, Danilov writes about Zaitsev's exploits in the army newspaper. Zaitsev is assigned to a sniper unit. He kills more German officers and, thanks to Danilov, becomes a hero. In retaliation, the Germans bring in sharpshooter Major Konig (Ed Harris) from Berlin--to hunt Zaitsev. The two snipers engage in a desperate duel, as the appalling Battle of Stalingrad rages.
In ENEMY AT THE GATES, director Jean-Jacques Annaud uses a palate of dull greens, blues, and greys to tell the powerful, true story of Russian sniper Vassili Zaitsev. The film is distinguished by fine performances from Law, Fiennes, Rachel Weisz as a female soldier, and Bob Hoskins as Nikita Khrushchev--with Harris particularly notable as the chilly, aristocratic Konig.

Customer Reviews

Visually stunning
OK, first thing's first - the script could have been a bit better and it's hard to imagine that the Russians at Stalingrad sounded as Cockney as they do here (although false Russian accents would undoubtedly have been worse). Still, if you're open-minded enough to cast such things aside, you're in for a real treat because this is a very different war film, and visually it is mindblowing. The Stalingrad set is out of this world - so authentic, they have it down to a tee. If you have ever read about Stalingrad, or have seen the episode of "The World at War" that deals with the battle, you'll see just how real they managed to make it. The mud, the blood, the ruined buildings, the statue of the children really transport you into the city. Plus, the fact that the film portrays the Russian war effort, mercifully sparing us American flag-waving and really annoying British toff accents and moustaches, is a welcome new angle to the WW2 epic. No reputation is spared either - there is no heroic glossing here, even with the central character Vasili Zeitsev, made out to be an unstoppable hero in the press but really just a lad from the Urals who can't live up to his manufactured reputation. Great performances too, especially from the frighteningly handsome Jude Law and the always-fab Ed Harris - the scenes between those two, playing cat and mouse, are the most gripping of the movie. True, Rachel Weisz is a bit weaker than usual, but the rest of the supporting cast, notably Joseph Fiennes and Bob Hoskins (who actually does look a lot like Gruschev) more than make up for that. Exciting, stunning and terribly sad in places, this is well worth a watch and definitely worth adding to your collection if you are a fan of war films.

A compelling war drama which is a must buy
I first saw this film at the cinema and was blown away by the quality of the performances, the storyline and the amazing reality of the sets.

The film is set during the battle for Stalingrad in the winter of 1942, and as with all good war films has a very personal story line set in the midst of this massive confrontation. There are several fine performances from key British actors, especially from Jude Law in the main role of Soviet Sniper - Vassili Zeitsev.

I especially enjoyed the lack of American or British armed forces involvement, as films such as Pearl Harbour and Saving Private Ryan have taken much away from the massive contribution the Russians gave to the World War II effort.

I was keen to purchase the DVD as soon as it was made available, and I would recommend this as a worthy addition to any film collection.

On of the best modern-made war films
A good film, that sums up Enemy at the Gates. War is hell, and that is what this film shows without the need for a over the top story that Private ryan used.
Jude Law is at his usual best, and like all the characters in this film, is believable. Based on a true story, two snipers (Jude Law with the Russians) and Ed Harris (German) play a game of propoganda cat and mouse, who is the best?
This film is also non-patriotic to either side which is a much needed relief from the biased U-571, Thin Red Line and Private Ryan.
Its not the most succesful War film but the best films rarely are.
watch it and enjoy.