WAR

I have placed "sizzler ratings" next to movies to give you an idea of how good they are

	Enemy at the Gate
	Saving Private Ryan
	Three Kings

ENEMY AT THE GATE (2001)

Starring: Joseph Fiennes, Jude Law, Rachael Weisz, Ed Harris
The plot: It's 1942 and the Nazi's are at their height of power. Many countries have fallen to the might of the German army, and Russia is slowly being claimed. As the Nazi front approaches Stalingrad, a shepherd suddenly becomes a hero when he kills several German's in the Stalingrad ruins. A journalist witnesses this and uses the sniper as a source of inspiration for a Russian army with is undersupplied and overwhelmed by the German might.
Comment: The opening scene was not unlike Saving Private Ryan, with lots of bullets and bodies and survival being absolutely nothing more than dumb luck. The senseless waste of soldiers lives is never more vividly demonstrated when the Russian Generals order their own army to retreat - but can't distinguish them in the gunfire smoke and shoot anyone who moves. Wow, what a great thing to be viewing this on a wide screen! But then, the movie becomes more one on one and focuses solely on the Russian Sniper and his battle with a German General. From that point on, there is less need for a large screen with digital sound... And though it all, it seems somehow incongruous that these Russian hero's all speak with a fine upper class British accent...

No matter how dirty the fighting gets, the blinding white of Jude Law's eyes blaze out through the blackened face. However, Law gets to display more acting prowess here with his chiseled looks buried under war grime. Its a pleasure to see Joseph Fiennes back on the big screen after a practical absence since his undeserved snub after "Shakespeare in Love." Ed Harris is surprisingly good as the German sniper seeking revenge, and Bob Hoskins brilliant as he is unrecognisable his role as a Russian General(?).
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SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (1998)

Starring:Tom Hanks, Edward Burns, Matt Damon
The plot: Set in France during WWII, 6 men are sent behind enemy lines to retrieve Private Ryan and send him home alive to his mother who has been left bereft of 3 of her 4 sons.
Comment: Much hyped for its harrowing opening battle scene, its actually the final battle scene that would have any sane person swearing to avoid war at all costs. A real, gritty action film well worth all the accolades it gets.
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THREE KINGS (1999)

Starring: George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube, Spike Jonze
The plot: As the American soldiers rev it up after the Iraqi surrender in the Gulf War of 1991, a few soldiers find a 'treasure map' in an unsavoury location on one of the captured Iraqi soldiers. Troy (a homesick family man), Conrad and Christian decide to get themselves some gold in the name of America before returning home. In steps Special Forces Major Archie Gates who quickly strikes up a deal with the soldiers. Throwing a journalist, Adrianna Cruz, off the scent proves easy and the boys quickly break camp for what is supposed to be a a half day trip. However, when they arrive at the village with the gold, things get complicated and suddenly the uneasy truce that exists between America and the Iraqi's is looking pretty fragile and the soldiers are left very vulnerable.
Comment: Right off the bat, this film is fast and dirty. Filmed with the same washed-out colour of "Lock, stock and Two Smoking Barrels" this movie is slick, full of wacky camera angles and gritty, exuberant performances from all the cast. In other words, you expect a peppy promotional Hollywood glitzy movie and what you get is a much better product. I wouldn't be honest if I said Clooney was surprisingly good - he was about the only component in the entire film that does unfold according to expectations. Everyone else is very good and I was impressed with Wahlberg (albeit, one gets the impression he would play a gay person very well...). If a bit of mental titillation and excellent acting, script and filming is up your alley, then see this movie
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