Saw 'Valkyrie'......

[FAST FRED]

.....and think it's recommendable as a rental, if you are a Tom Cruise fan or a WWII buff.

Not a lot of action or drama in what I felt was an underwhelming retelling of a war story with which I was already familiar.

Remembering what I'd read before about this assassination attempt, I think the story was accurately told but that the events portrayed just aren't compelling enough to make a memorable movie.

Of course, if the screenplay had been overly embellished to make things more exciting or suspenseful, I'd probably be pointing out how the movie was historically inaccurate.

Tom Cruise isn't a favorite of mine and I thought he came up short here, but the main shortcoming for me was in the material rather than his actual lack of height or his ability as an actor.

A movie that would please me more could probably be made based on these events, but this one, IMHO, just wasn't that good.

 

[WorsterMan]

I have done a fair amount of reading on this story (but I am far from an expert on the subject). I went to this movie last week with hesitation about Cruise in the lead role and Hollywood depicting this event. I came away mostly pleased with what was presented and how accurate it was. I even remarked to my son that I would have chosen someone else to play Lt. Col. Stauffenberg besides Cruise, but that he played the role ok and didn't get in the way of the story.

 

[DoobieWah]

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[texas_ex2000]

Tom has put together some good movies:

The Outsiders, Risky Business, Color of Money, Born on the Fourth of July, Rainman, A Few Good Men, Magnolia (one of my favorites), Jerry Maguire, Collateral

Top Gun, Mission Impossible, Tropic Thunder, War of the Worlds, Minority Report...those are all great popcorn movies.

Give the guy a break. If I had to draw a random movie to watch from a hat with either Cruise's work or any of his other contemporaries (Hanks, Ford, Clooney)...I'm gonna pick the Tom Cruise hat.

 

[FAST FRED]

Those indeed are some good movies.

I also thought Cruise was good to memorable in them and in others you didn't mention.

I gave him a "break" above when I said that Tom Cruise fans will enjoy this movie and that he wasn't a main reason for my not liking "Valkyrie" more than I did.

He's still not a favorite of mine and I didn't think his portrayal here or this movie was especially good.

I thought he was really good in "Collateral" and "Magnolia."

 

[eflow24]

I am pretty lukewarm on Cruise, but I do want to see this movie. Thanks for the review!

 

[Texoz]

Also of note, this movie was produced under the banner of MGM. Tom is a partial owner and was trying to revive the studio. The numbers for this film weren't what they had hoped for. It'll be interesting to see if the MGM banner is lowered yet again.

 

[GigoloJoe]

Saw it and liked it very much. Excellent acting, gripping story.

Stauffenberg was a noble and courageous man.

 

[alt875]

You would think Hitler would just say "That ****** has an American accent, kick his ***!!!"

 

[gecko]

I haven't seen it yet so please don't post any spoilers. I want to be surprised by the ending.

 

[p_town_horn]

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[TheFied]

I saw it a couple of weeks ago and liked it. The only thing that sucks is you know the ending. It doesn't work. I was hoping that it would and then end. THat would be bad-*** (but not real).

 

[RockyBalboa]

Rommell was never directly involved with the plot to overthrow nor approached by any of the leaders of the coup.

 

[FAST FRED]

I believe Erwin Rommel was accused of knowing about the Valkyrie plot and not warning Hitler.

I don't know whether he knew or not or whether he admitted it or denied it.

I have read that Rommel was not one of the Valkyrie plotters, but was aware there was going to be an attempt on Hitler's life.

I have not read that he knew any specifics.

I've read there were several unsuccessful plots at different times that reached varying degrees of planning and accomplishment.

 

[Wulaw Horn]

I liked it but did not love it. Definately worth seeing.

Cruise did ok. i thought he was much better in Tropic Thunder, but that was one of the greatest movie parts of all time for him imo.

Vanilla sky sucked all sorts of horribleness but for the most part Cruise makes a likeable flick.

I wonder how accurate the movie was. It seemed that if they could have swung 2 or 3 more things (radio, messenger guy and the guy going to arrest Goebels that the plot might have worked, even not killing Hitler.

I like that his family got to live. Also, he got lucky with the firing squad after the coup attempt. Much, much better then what could have happened.

 

[RC Didnt Offer]

"Also of note, this movie was produced under the banner of MGM. Tom is a partial owner and was trying to revive the studio. "

I think you mean United Artists.