Numerous Battles To The Germans example essay topic

Enemy at the Gates Rating: Cast: Jude Law, Joseph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, Bob Hoskins, Ed Harris, Ron Perlman, Gabriel Thomson Written by: Jean-Jacques Annaud and Alain Godard Directed by: Jean-Jacques Annaud Running Time: 131 minutes Synopsis: Enemy at the Gates was inspired by a true story and set against the siege of Stalingrad during World War II. This is the tale of a young Russian sharpshooter, Vassili, who becomes a legend by shooting numerous high-ranking German officials. When his friend, Danilov, a soviet political officer, realizes the propaganda value in Vassili's skill as a sniper and makes him the hero of his propaganda campaign and the hero of Russia with the help of Khrushchev, who was sent by Stalin to oversee the Russian effort. Stalin ordered that the city not fall... whatever the cost.

It was a battle that the Russians had to win. To not overcome would have meant the complete collapse of Russia and its ultimate takeover by the German forces after Russia had already lost numerous battles to the Germans. So thousands of poorly trained and ill-equipped (many actually unarmed) Soviet troops were poured into battle, motivated by Russian security forces who followed with orders to kill anyone who might try to flee or retreat. Russia was in need for a hero. The Germans outnumbered in men and weapons compared to Russia. Everyday numerous Russians were being killed, either by Germans bullets or Russian.

Vassili gave the Soviet troops the courage and bravery to fight despite the overwhelming odds. The friendship between Danilov and Vassili is threatened when Danilov become jealous of the man he created and he too falls in love with an attractive, and intelligent female soldier, Tania. As the battle for the city continues, Vassili faces his ultimate challenge when the Nazi command dispatches its the best marksman of the German army, Major Konig, to hunt down and kill the man who has become the hope of all Russia. Though out the movie they remain in a cat and mouse chase both showing extreme patience and skill and setting traps for each other. While Sasha, a young Russian boy, passes between the Russian and German camps passing information to Major Koenig by bribes and using Sasha as bait and then passes information to the Russians. From this Sasha gets hung by Major Koenig, upsetting Vassili and Tania because Sasha was so close to them.

When Tania and Vassili go to tell his mother what has happened Tania is was hit with shrapnel. Sasha's mother who was about to leave from Stalingrad on a boat because the city of Stalingrad was about to fall begged for them to take Tania. Vassili believes that she isn't going to make it and leaves to go and find Major Koenig and kill him for what he did to Sasha. While he is in a building trying find where the Major is. Danilov comes and talks to him about Tania and finds out what happened to her. In despair he stood up and told Vassili he could help him find the Major's position and is then shot and killed by the Major giving away the Major's position to Vassili.

Then the Major thinking that he had killed Vassili went to go and claim his dog tag. When he came Vassili shot him finally ending the long cat and mouse chase. Now the table began to turn and Russia was beating Germany. Vassili goes to find Tania and finds that she is alive. Reviewer's Opinion: I gave it 3 stars out of 5 stars because it tried to be two different movies at the same time, a war film and then a romantic drama.

Which doesn't go very well together. But besides that it had great action scenes and fantastic special effects. Although it had a good plot it was very predictable. Also the movie portrayed the Battle of Stalingrad very well. It's better to rent Enemy at the Gates then to go and spend $8 to see it in the movie theatres. Impact of the movie on me: After seeing this movie it made me realize how horrible war is.

In one battle there was an enormous amount of life lost. As many as 1,100,000 Russians and 800,000 Germans died at the Battle of Stalingrad. A famous quote came to my head while I was watching this movie. General Sherman once said on his March to the Sea, "War is HELL". War is hell.

People are dying all around, bombs are blowing up the city you and your family grew up in, and the war is killing everyone that is near and dear to your heart. This is exactly what happened to the star in this movie, Vassili. Vassili lost close friends and comrades in the war and almost lost the love of his life, Tania. This movie also showed how gruesome war is.

You couldn't walk 20 feet with out seeing a dead body and the way some people were killed will remain in my mind forever. It was hard to watch such a powerful portrayal of how humans use and abuse one another in so many ways. This movie made me think of how lucky I am that I was never alive during a war and I was never exposed to such gore. Importance of the movie on concerning American History: Waged in 1942 and 1943 the Battle for Stalingrad was one of the defining moments of WWII and helped shape the political landscape for the rest of the 20th century.

In the summer of 1942 The Nazis invaded Russia, America's ally during the war and the nation bearing the burden of the fighting against the Germans. In an amazing feat of logistics and fighting skill, the Nazis crossed 1,000 miles to reach Stalingrad, a major industrial center on the Volga River. The Germans were confident they would capture the city and then cut traffic on the Volga River to southern Russia. The city would also provide an anchor for the German drive into the oil fields of the Causcuses and catching Stalin's name-sake city would be a major propaganda coup for Hitler. The Soviets put up heroic resistance and mad this the most eastern point that the Nazi would reach.

Germany's failure to take the city marked a turning point in the war, and from then on Germany always found it's self in retreat. It was the most disastrous military defeat of German history. It also started a reaction that made the once-pessimistic Soviet population see that the war could be won, and gave courage to resistance forces in other nations occupied by the Germans. Although America was not involved in the Battle of Stalingrad it benefited America. If the Nazi had gotten to the oil fields in the Causcuses they would have been able to refuel and continue with the their fierce driving power.

It would also keep the Nazis in the war longer causing America to be in the war longer using more war materials and losing more men. Also if the Nazis became more powerful America's security could have been in danger. It also encouraged other countries that they could beat the Nazis helping in the overall defeat of the Nazis and helping America and it's allies defeat the axis..