Best War Movie of Recent Times!?
- Rescue Dawn review by CP Customer
During the Vietnam War, German-born Dieter Dengler (Christian Bale), a U.S. fighter pilot, is shot down over Laos and taken captive by enemy soldiers. Interned in a POW camp, he and his fellow prisoners (Steve Zahn, Jeremy Davies) endure torture, hunger and illness while they await their chance to escape. Dengler has no intention of sticking around the nightmarish camp, so he begins to dream up an escape plan that takes his fellow prisoners by surprise with its savvy and audacity. Dengler doesn't even know where he is--but he knows with unwavering certainty that he must not stop fighting for his life. As he makes his way into the jungle, his journey will never let up, as it takes him from the bonds of fraternity to the brink of despair, to one of the most remarkable rescues in modern history. I found this movie to be utterly compelling and if you are a fan of this genre it's certain to hold your attention from start to finish!
3 out of 4 members found this review helpful.
Hard to believe its true
- Rescue Dawn review by CP Customer
What with a German national by birth, with a name that probably is more appropriate in an adult film, finds himself fighting for the USA in the jungle. Again we have an excellent physical performance from Christian Bale as Dieter Dengler. A young pilot, facing extreme conditions, he refuses to give up and inspires those prisoners around him to wake and take control. Being a Herzog film it does not shy away from the hard hitting aspect and war itself. Highly recommended.
2 out of 3 members found this review helpful.
rescue dawn
- Rescue Dawn review by CP Customer
yes well worth a watch,well acted as allways by cristian bale,if a little too well , he certainly takes his work seriuos enough, loosing weight as he does for the roles, a true story that leaves you shocked in places at the voilence that war creates.
a little on the long side but only by 15 mins.
1 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
A wonderful film with a brilliant Christian Bale performance
- Rescue Dawn review by TB
Dieter Dengler's life is one of incredible luck & horrific experiences. This film was made following on from the Werner Herzog documentary Little Dieter Needs to Fly. Following Dengler signing up to fight in the Vietnam war and his shooting down & capture, through to the daring escape from the prison where he and other captives are held, the film is incredible.
Bale gives a wonderful performance, imbuing Dengler with an unbelievable optimism & strength, even as he is slowly starved & threatened with death. His escape and subsequent rescue is exhilarating and so damn emotional, especially considering the losses he has to deal with.
But despite this praise, there is something that does have to be said that is not mentioned or referenced anywhere in the film: Gene DeBruin, played by Jeremy Davies, is shown in the film as a duplicitous and scheming, almost treacherous man. This is NOT accurate and is false. DeBruin was in fact totally the opposite, helping with the plan and even refusing to leave until he had gone back to rescue one of the injured prisoners. It is to me a major failing of this film that this isn't included and as much as I love Herzog, this is a real negative against him, especially as his family have gone on record as saying they repeatedly tried to contact him.
But this is still a great film & absolutely one to rent.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.