Stalingrad

The movie is a rah-rah tribute to the scrappy comrades who fought the Nazis in what became one of the bloodiest battles in history.

...Joseph Vilsmaier becomes the first German feature filmmaker to tackle the doomed invasion of Russia that ultimately proved to be Hitler's downfall.

...simple elements—intractable snow, uncooperative vehicles, poorly-rolled cigarettes, the sound of a bullet whirring past the ear—that evokes a simultaneous sensation of lose-the-will-to-live tedium...

...a surprisingly effective anti-war film, filled with horrific images and powerful performances from all five leads.

...the first glimpse of the city is impressive, as thousands of men cross the Volga in a hellish end-of-times tableau replete with religious symbolism and sacrificial imagery. Its an astounding, assured moment...