JH reviews 'Valkyrie'...very solid WWII-era film

[Jetheelz]

First of all, SJ always says I only like the movies with "gore and all that $hit."

Well, I am here to tell him that although that may be true, I am a lover of history and I do watch more than just slasher flicks.

So anway, I had the chance to go see 'Valkyrie' today at the 5pm showing. I am very glad I did, as this movie was solid from start to finish.

It begins in the North African campaign, and you are introduced to Tom Cruise's character, a German general who is convinced he can succeed where so many others have failed-he can devise a scheme to not only kill Adolf Hitler, but replace his Third Reich as well. This was called the "Central Solution."

If you are looking for a WWII film that shows battlefields and warfare, this is NOT what you will get. In fact, you see only one actual scene of fighting, where British planes assault the German ground forces in North Africa. After that, the closest you get to war is hearing a bombing raid during a scene where Cruise and his family are in their basement waiting things out.

I do not know who the actor was playing Hitler, but he did a stand up job. The likeness was uncanny, as was his demeanor.

The film is based on the entire cat-and-mouse scenario; Cruise and the others around him who want to change Operation Valkyrie to replace Hitler vs. those loyal to the Fuhrer. Each side tries to one-up the other....and to see it all unfold is alot of fun and entertaining.

Besides Cruise, you have some very good actors, such as Tom Wilkinson and Terrence Stamp. They help to make a good supporting cast that helps add to the story and the tension.

My advice if you love history, or you just want to see a good film that centers around a true story and a very interesting plot, is to go see this film. I plan on seeing it at least once more in the theater, I liked it so much.

[Bob]

Thanks, Heelz. I'm anxious to see this and Frost/Nixon.

[war ensemble]

I'm just wondering...does anyone even attempt a foreign accent throughout the movie? All the commercials are in the "Tom Cruise voice." I find it rather offsetting when there are foreign landscapes/events mixed with a pure American accent. That's my one gripe on Cruise, he hardly changes his voice.

I want to see this and Frost/Nixon. And the two movies Jet Mo suggested. That's just my one question, although minor, about the movie.

[PatriotReign37]

I want to see this movie.

Not a huge Cruise fan, but this plot looks good.

[SeniorFlaJet]

JH, as someone who has been very interested in WW 2 history and quite familiar

with the activities surrounding the attempted assasination of Hitler, I wondered

if you get the same opinon of some critics of the film who say Cruise doesn't

come off as a German officer. In fact they say he was the one fault of the film.

I am looking forward to seeing it in the next few days.

[Bob]

My opinion on the accent thing is just the opposite. I'd rather not have bad fake accents distracting me from the story.

[Jetheelz]

JH, as someone who has been very interested in WW 2 history and quite familiar

with the activities surrounding the attempted assasination of Hitler, I wondered

if you get the same opinon of some critics of the film who say Cruise doesn't

come off as a German officer. In fact they say he was the one fault of the film.

I am looking forward to seeing it in the next few days.

Cruise does not use any type of accent...he just sounds like himself. Honestly, I did not really notice that because I enjoyed the plot and the flow of the film.

As far as him coming off as a German officer, he basically just blends in and helps advance the operation. He is pretty much just Tom Cruise in a German outfit.

Other characters did have accents (not all, but many). I can understand how critics would not like that, but still it is definately worth a trip to the theater.

[PatsFanTX]

I want to see this movie.

Not a huge Cruise fan, but this plot looks good.

Saw it last night.

It was a great movie.

[Jetheelz]

Saw it last night.

It was a great movie.

Nevermind everyone, I HATED IT!!

[war ensemble]

My opinion on the accent thing is just the opposite. I'd rather not have bad fake accents distracting me from the story.

That's true. If they can act their character well, that's more than good enough. Just don't force it. I'd rather they leave it consistent though, with either all American or all German accents. Mixing it up is worse than anything else.

[Bob]

That's true. If they can act their character well, that's more than good enough. Just don't force it. I'd rather they leave it consistent though, with either all American or all German accents. Mixing it up is worse than anything else.

Agreed.

[Bugg]

Saw it this afternoon and was very impressed. A good movie, and while Cruise is the focal point, there are many good supporting performances. The concern is in any movei is he's in, he becomes a distraction,and that wasn't the case here. Kenneth Brannagh, Tom Wilkinson, Terence Stamp, Eddie Izzard(unrecognizable from his standup) and others add to a fine effort. The plot is compelling, even though you know how it will end. And more importantly the moral courage of the plotters is undeniable.

Thankfully they dispensed with any accents in the opening credits. None of that Angelina Jolie doing Bela Lugosi stuff in "Alexander". All thr actors (English, Americans and a few Euros) speak in their own voices.