Click to read the article
Enemy at the Gates (2001)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:123
Fresh:71
Rotten:52
Average Rating:5.8/10
Consensus: Atmospheric and thrilling, Enemy at the Gates gets the look and feel of war right. However, the love story seems out of place.
Runtime: 2 hrs 11 mins
Genre: Dramas
US Box Office: $50,507,533
Synopsis: September 1942. The German Army has advanced to the gates of Stalingrad. The Russian Army holds on desperately. It is so poorly equipped that every pair of soldiers is given a single rifle--the... September 1942. The German Army has advanced to the gates of Stalingrad. The Russian Army holds on desperately. It is so poorly equipped that every pair of soldiers is given a single rifle--the second man only gets the weapon when the first is cut down. Trapped in no man's land between the opposing armies, Russian recruit Vassili Zaitsev (Jude Law) finally acquires a rifle from Political Officer Danilov (Joseph Fiennes). Danilov is astonished when Zaitsev picks off several German officers. On their return to the Russian lines, Danilov writes about Zaitsev's exploits in the army newspaper. Zaitsev is assigned to a sniper unit. He kills more German officers and, thanks to Danilov, becomes a hero. In retaliation, the Germans bring in sharpshooter Major König (Ed Harris) from Berlin--to hunt Zaitsev. The two snipers engage in a desperate duel, as the appalling Battle of Stalingrad rages. In ENEMY AT THE GATES, director Jean-Jacques Annaud uses a palate of dull greens, blues, and greys to tell the powerful, true story of Russian sniper Vassili Zaitsev. The film is distinguished by fine performances from Law, Fiennes, Rachel Weisz as a female soldier, and Bob Hoskins as Nikita Khrushchev--with Harris particularly notable as the chilly, aristocratic König. [More]
Starring: Jude Law, Joseph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, Bob Hoskins
Starring: Jude Law, Joseph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, Bob Hoskins, Ed Harris, Ron Perlman
Director: Jean-Jacques Annaud
Director: Jean-Jacques Annaud
Screenwriter: Jean-Jacques Annaud, Alain Godard
Producer: John D. Schofield, Jean-Jacques Annaud
Composer: James Horner
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Reviews for Enemy at the Gates
Time and again the movie feels like it's working toward a Hollywood moment but always retreats before succumbing to the opportunity.
Although "Enemy" is a huge production, with burning cityscapes, hundreds of extras and uncommonly vivid period detail, Annaud's combination of stark realism and contrived romance doesn't always jell
Good but not great, marred by a sometimes implausible storyline and an accentuation of a love story that seems grafted onto the real movie.
Much more character development and depth would vastly improve this ... instead of ... relying on Jude Law's good looks
Its rarely-seen subject matter has real merit, and I suspect will distinguish the production for some time to come, but "new" and "different" don't necessarily mean "good."
Bogged down by soap opera melodrama, Russians and Germans that don't sound Russian or German, and a failure to give Ed Harris a more substantial role.
The real story is the tense, calculated, exciting strategizing of the two snipers.
A waste of talent on this scale would, in a just world, earn Annaud and Godard a well-placed bullet apiece.
La cinta es aceptable, tiene sus momentos, y visualmente es impactante.
Pudo haber sido una mucho mejor cinta, de no ser por uno que otro elemento que cae dentro del cliché hollywoodense.
Latest News for Enemy at the Gates
June 13, 2007:
Rachel Weisz to Star in Peter Jackson's "Lovely Bones
Remember when everyone was wondering why Rachel Weisz declined to be in the third "Mummy" movie? Here's why. More...
More Movies
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 70% 70% | Where the Wild Things Are | 03/12 |
| 83% 83% | Paranormal Activity | 03/12 |
| 89% 89% | Zombieland | 03/12 |
| 76% 76% | The Informant! | 03/12 |
| | The Strength of Water | 03/12 |
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Sponsored Links
Around The Network
- Enemy at the Gates at Rotten Tomatoes
- Enemy at the Gates at IGN
- Enemy at the Gates at AskMen
Fresh Links
Featured

Tim Burton's costume designer talks to Movieline about her long collaboration with the filmmaker and Johnny Depp.

The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox

We've got 20 copies of the hit TV series' Pilot Episode to giveaway.

Double passes up for grabs to the new comedy starring Paul Giamatti.

Get all the latest movie updates, reviews, interviews and features here.
Competitions

Enough Prequel, Original Trilogy and Family Guy DVDs to fill a space cruiser

Everything from Dr. No to Quantum of Solace could be yours.

We're giving away the 10th Anniversary Blu-ray, plus Braveheart and the Rocky collection



Top Critic

