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Rescue Dawn [2007]


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The Great Escape "low cost" in Vietnam
Review date: 2008-11-15 Rating: 4 out of 10

A good cast, with Bale in the role of the "german" US Navy pilot, but the plot is boring: POW battered and underfeeded (with a live snake for breakfast ...), nazi-like guards, hostile jungle. The final is ridicolous, between the blue broters-like CIA "ghosts" and the cheers on the carrier. A true story ? Perhaps the reality is more ridicolous than fiction ....

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Reviews


Never seen a Herzog before?
Review date: 2008-09-30 Rating: 8 out of 10

Neither have I. I felt an attraction to this film for the simple reason Christian bale was in it. I have never been let down by his performance in any film and i expected no less in this one. I was vaguely aware of Werner Herzog's previous films but, i'll be honest, documentaries and such don't fare well with me. This was to my mind a pre-Vietnam war film that would tell an acute story of survival and hope/fear.
I wasn't disappointed. Bale is excellent and carries the entire film, right from the initial sequences of boyish innocence and anticipation straight through the scenes of torture (some of which are quite harrowing in their simplicity) to the heart-rending climax.
Its one of those films that you watch and simply, without question, appreciate. The cinematography is astounding, the music haunting and beautiful, the characterisations all spot on, the emotional core a resolute solidarity.
Its not a comedy, but there are some wonderful human moments where you can't help but smile. Yes, i stand by my review. Its an excellent film and well worth a look.

Just not that interesting - 1 or 2 stars
Review date: 2008-09-22 Rating: 4 out of 10

This isn't a particularly bad film, it's just not that good a film either.

This may well be a true story, however that doesn't mean it makes a good film. The acting, the pace, everything felt quite plodding, half-baked and un-engaging (is that a word?).

I didn't feel involved in the story - the mark of a good film for me is that it sucks me in, has me interested / involved in what's happening.

For me, this always felt like a small window into something being acted out, no more, no less. The acting felt 'hammy' and I came away from it completely unmoved by Bale's character (Dieter Dengler).

Each to his own, but if I had the choice again, I'd give this one a miss.

Dawn of the determined to survive
Review date: 2008-06-20 Rating: 8 out of 10

In which renowned German film-maker Walter Herzog returns to two of his favourite themes- Man against nature and madness.Herzog has covered these issues before in such notable films as "Aguirre ,Wrath Of God" , "Fitzcarraldo" and to some extent "Grizzly Man". Rescue Dawn is a dramatic rendering of his 1997 short "Little Dieter Needs To Fly" ,about Vietnam vet Dieter Dengler who was captured by the Viet Cong( indeed he was actually captured twice but this film is based on the second occasion) but escaped and fought through dense jungle crawling with enemy soldiers before being rescued.
The fact that the audience is aware of the outcome does,nt affect the films impact one iota . Herzog still elicits tremendous drama and tension from Denglers plight. In this he is aided considerably by a another impressively committed performance from Christian Bale as Dengler .Bale convincingly portrays a man with the resolute steeliness to survive and flee from the predicament Dengler found himself in. In his determination to escape the prison camp Bale even comes across as a little crazy but his implicit belief that he can escape rubs off on most of his fellow prisoners and they hatch a collective plan.
Talking of committed performances Steve Zahn as Duane Martin and Jeremy Davies as Gene De Bruin , as two of Dengler,s fellow prisoners show astounding commitment to the project .They are both , like Bale himself in the film "The Machinist" emaciated beyond belief. The actors lost the weight before the film so Bale could gain it back as the shoot went on so the narrative was shot in reverse.Martin is galvanised by Denglers positive attitude and his ability to utilise their environment to make escape possible. De Bruin has became institutionalised and views Dengler as a danger to what he feels is their comfortable status quo. Which is clearly nuts as some of their guards are borderline psychotic especially the one they have dubbed "Little Hitler" ( Teerrawat Muluilai)
This version of events has been challenged by Jerry De Bruin , the brother of Gene and one of the other surviving prisoners and Herzog has conceded that had he known he would have re-written the script to incorporate points about De Bruin they raised but by then it was too late. None the less this is a commendable film with some truly stunning imagery( The opening on board shots of a US bomber strafing Vietnamese villages is both shocking and beautiful) fantastic performances and a moving ending . Some may find this film a little gruelling but for anyone with a passing interest in the human capacity for survival i recommend it highly . My only real gripe is the title. Rescue Dawn imply,s ....well a rescue i suppose but watching this it,s clear the only person responsible for Dieter Dengler,s survival is himself.


Old School Classic
Review date: 2008-05-12 Rating: 8 out of 10

It's a pity about "Rescue Dawn"'s misleading title and advertising campaign because it's a really good movie which easily holding its own amongst other classic prisoner movies. Probably most similar to the great "Papillon" (with a little "Shawshank" optimism thrown in) "Rescue Dawn" tells the true story of Dieter Denger (Christian Bale), a German born US navy pilot downed in Vietnam on his maiden mission. Bale reprises his size zero "Machinist" look to great effect and method acts his way through leaches, worms, snakes and other assorted jungle based edible goodies. The film was shot - in reverse (Bale starts skinny and feeds himself up) - in just 44 days in Thailand. Even a slightly out of place, gung ho, cheerleading finale can't ruin a beautifully shot old school classic.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Christian Bale
Steve Zahn
Marshall Bell
Zach Grenier
Jeremy Davies

Creators:
Christian Bale (Primary Contributor)
Steve Zahn (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Pathe Distribution
Manufacturer: Pathe Distribution
EAN: 5060002835937
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2008-04-07
Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 120 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2006
Language: English (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired)
Language: English (Original Language)

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