Enemy at the Gates

REVIEW
Battle sequences nearly as stunning as those in Saving Private Ryan collide with the familiar subplot of two soldiers in love with the same woman, making the visually exciting Enemy at the Gates a rousing if routine war film. Based on the experiences of real-life Russian hero Vassili Zaitsev (Law), the story begins as inexperienced youngsters recruited by Stalin's demoralized army are immediately thrown into deadly battle at the strategic location of Stalingrad (as realized in a brilliantly staged opening sequence). One of these is Vassili, who demonstrates a rare talent for marksmanship. In an effort to bolster morale, a writer follows Vassili's successful sniper attacks on German officers, turning him into a national hero. This also attracts the attention of the Nazis, who send a cold-blooded assassin (a sensational Harris) to hunt him down, setting in motion a thrilling cat-and-mouse game between the two marksmen. Enemy at the Gates is at its best detailing the components of war, from bloody battle to the final hunt. It loses much of its dramatic momentum by giving equal time to an uninvolving love triangle.