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Valkyrie [DVD] [2008]
enlarge	Director: Bryan Singer Actors: Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Terence Stamp, Eddie Izzard Studio: MGM Home Entertainment Category: DVD List Price: ~~£19.99~~ Buy New: £5.38 as of 20/11/2009 18:12 GMT details You Save: £14.61 (73%) New (21) Used (6) from £5.38 Seller: twentyfiveorless Rating: 57 reviews Sales Rank: 115 Format: PAL Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over Region: 2 Number Of Discs: 1 Running Time: 121 Minutes Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2 Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.4 x 0.6 EAN: 5039036041348 ASIN: B001U8A55Q Theatrical Release Date: 2008 Release Date: June 8, 2009 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days


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Customer Reviews: Showing reviews 1-5 of 57 1 2 3 4 5 6 ...12 Next » Taut and compact thriller - very much a movie rather than a historical study March 8, 2009 Barney McGrew (UK) 57 out of 68 found this review helpful Tom Cruise stars as Colonel Von Staffenberg in this semi-factual account of the most notorious of all wartime plots to assassinate Adolf Hitler and end WWII. Cruise portrays Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, a wealthy aristocrat who lost an eye and a hand while fighting for Germany during World War II. Stauffenberg became the key man in a large-scale conspiracy that set out to assassinate the Nazi leader and seize control of the German government. The film's main event is the assassination attempt that took place on July 20, 1944, at the Wolf's Lair; Hitler's Eastern Front military headquarters located in what is now Poland. The film examines the preparation for the assassination, its implementation and the attempted coup that followed. The interest isn't in the final results -- it's the details of what happens along the way that matter. br / br /Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects) directs with his trademark economical flair; there is no fat on this movie and the predominantly British cast all acquit themselves well. Tom Wilkinson, Kenneth Cranham, Terence Stamp and the ubiquitous Bill Nighy are just some of the accomplished cast, which also features comedian Eddie Izzard in an unusual but inspired piece of casting. The action is sparing but consequently the film's intensity is maintained throughout, as the band of disillusioned conspirators gradually move towards their goal. br / br /Much has been made of Cruise's willingness to participate in this relatively low-key project, and of the director's decision that the actor were to speak in their own accents during the movie. However, I didn't feel that the latter detracted from the power of the performances nor did Cruise seem out of place as the mutilated and enigmatic Staffenburg; in my humble opinion. I was also disturbed but intrigued by the film's historical aspects, as I had little knowledge of the Staffenburg plot or any of its participants prior to watching this film. Critical reception seems to have been mixed, but all I can say is that I would recommend this as an edgy historical thriller, with a decent cast and high production values. br / br /DVD extras include The Valkyrie Legacy', a fairly lengthy documentary from The History Channel. Historians and spokesmen for the German Resistance Memorial Centre talk about the events dramatized in the film. we even hear from two of Von Stauffenberg's children, one of whom was born in a concentration camp. I unexpectedly enjoyed it, May 31, 2009 Bill Calamita 23 out of 28 found this review helpful I was a little hesitant to see this movie since it's an historical story also because of the mediocre reviews, I expected to be bored, but my husband wanted to see it I thought that I would fall asleep watching, as usual, but I was wrong. The movie engaged me from the beginning even though I knew the ending, the movie was quite captivating kept me up waiting to see what will happen. A very nice surprise. Also Tom Cruise was great even though I don't care for him much lately he really gave this movie a soul. Well done. A Well Made Drama June 11, 2009 C. Walker (Bristol, England) 3 out of 4 found this review helpful How good this film is depends, I think, on what you are expecting from it. It describes itself as a 'thriller'; I would NOT characterise it as such. Ultimately, you know that the coup fails, which removes any real element of suspense, and there really isn't enough action in it to make up for this - it just isn't particularly thrilling. As a character-driven drama, however, the film works magnificently. br / br /Much has been made of Tom Cruise's performance, with a critic in the Guardian calling his performance 'like Top Gun with an eye patch'. Personally speaking, how anyone who has actually seen the film can think this, is beyond me. Cruise portrays von Stauffenberg very well, capturing the vital elements of the man's character; the fact that von Stauffenberg is a gung-ho man of action can hardly be blamed on the man playing him 65 years after his death - I mean, that's just the way the guy was. br / br /The rest of the cast function well, although they are really not given the attention they deserve within the film; it really is about von Stauffenberg. This relates to the direction of Bryn Singer, I think, which has resulted in a film tightly focused on the plot generally, and the key plotter specifically, at the exclusion of everything else. br / br /If I had one criticism, it is that the resistance is portrayed a little TOO leniently; the July 20th plotters were disaffected aristocrats who were happy to support Hitler when Germany was winning, but wanted a replacement when they started losing. br / br /I've given the film 5 stars because, even though there are a couple of minor issues, overall the film is as well made as it can be, and tells a story more people should be aware of. A Stunning Historical Spectacle April 5, 2009 Steven Stewart (steveo.stewart@hotmail.co.uk) 7 out of 12 found this review helpful We all know who Hitler is. If you don't, you're an idiot. If you don't, let me give you a very short and vague lesson as to the man that is Hitler. Hitler = very evil man, killed many people, tried to create a German empire and almost succeeded, became a bit too power hungry and had his allies turn against him. Now you know Hitler, then this can lead you on the path to understanding this film and just exactly what operation Valkyrie was. br / br /Operation Valkyrie is an operation put in place by Hitler which ensures that in the event of allied bombings on major German cities that may cause disruption to law order and the upper authorities, that order and law is upheld. This is the basic ways in which operation Valkyrie would work and the movie tells the story of how Colonel Claus von Staufenberg (Cruise) and other major figures in Hitler's army attempt to use operation Valkyrie to their advantage to help the takeover of Hitler's government after he's assassinated. br / br /Of course, many people can be forgiven for thinking that Hitler's Germany was all on his side. After all, that's the way it is portrayed in our school history lessons. Very rarely are we shown the good side of Germany, and very rarely are we taught about the numerous attempts on the Fuhrer's life. "Valkyrie" brings one of the more infamous attempts on Hitler's life to the big screen, which develops into one of the most thrilling movies of the year. br / br /The film itself starts off with an attempt on Hitler's life as Major-General Henning von Tresckow (Kenneth Branagh) hides a bomb within a wine case which is brought onto the same plane as Hitler as he leaves the airfield. The Bomb doesn't detonate and Tresckow is approached by fellow conspirator General Friedrich Olbricht (Bill Nighy) who informs Tresckow that another member of their secret committee was arrested and therefore must be replaced. A recommendation is made that General Claus von Staufenberg (Cruise) should be brought in to help develop a new plan of action. br / br /Throughout the film there is some fantastic dialogue which ignites genuine discussion over the nature of the German people during war time. Were all Germans 100% behind Hitler or were they simply taken intimidated by his prowess and posture? From the appearance of this film it would seem that some of his highest ranking generals weren't even an ounce behind him. It's not only the historical depiction that is great about this film but it's more about the way it's filmed and the appearance of the cast. The settings seem authentic and in some senses present an intimidating portrait of the Nazi's we have come to know about today. br / br /Although this film is based around the plot to kill Hitler and restore Germany's dignity before they are invaded by the allies, we see very little of Hitler himself, played by David Bamber. The depiction of the Fuhrer is that of a frail, beaten old man who says very little. This is in high contrast to the electrifying and terrifying speeches we have seen him perform before his followers. Maybe the brief sightings of Hitler allow for the terrifying image we hold to stay within, whilst presenting this brief glimpse to remind us that "this is the man who must die." br / br /It's a brilliantly shot, brilliantly acted and brilliantly paced film. Tom Cruise is astonishing as always and I think the many criticisms that I have heard about this film are highly unjust. Valkyrie - History Hollywood style!! April 17, 2009 rocco (UK) 3 out of 5 found this review helpful To be fair it was a great film and Cruise was superb. What was funny (but at the same time very frustrating) is that most of the audience were expecting a Cruise/Mission Impossible-type blockbuster - instead hundreds of spotty teenagers (who had most likely never even heard of Hitler, Nazi's and the Thousand Year Reich!) soon got bored with what is quite a remarkable story of extreme courage that almost changed the course of history!!! This is definately on the shopping list when it's released - roll on 8th June!! Showing reviews 1-5 of 57 1 2 3 4 5 6 ...12 Next »

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