Saw "Valkyrie" today. I'm in the "It's Pretty Good" camp.

I'm no fan of Tom Cruise, but I have to say, he did well. Sorry, Cruise-haters...

The film as a whole is excellent. I'm one of those World War II nerds the critics warned you about who spots mistakes even in the most painstakingly researched films, like this one. There were a few, but nothing to go crazy over. One observation: the multitude of German military uniforms all looked like uniforms, instead of comic-opera costumes as in a lot of WWII flicks.

Best directorial decision: One moment in the film that elicited from the star his patented 1000-watt Tom Cruise grin; the director chose to film it from behind the actor, so it couldn't be seen by the audience. Good call. You would have lost me if Colonel Claus Von Stauffenberg broke out in a Risky-Business-Maverick-Lt. Kaffee-Magnolia-couch-jumping-you're-being-glib grimace.

I recommend this film.

on my "list" but is now so I have about four movies I need to see in the next couple of weeks.

my daughter wants to see it.

:hi:

like "Saving Private Ryan" have. There's the battle in North Africa at the beginning of the film in which Von Stauffenberg sustains his crippling injuries; but it's comparatively tame. The explosion at the Fuhrerbunker, the firefight during the attempted coup, and the execution of the officers at the end. None of the scenes is especially shocking. I think your daughter will like the film, if she enjoys historical subjects.

:hi: mcctatas!

for "Defiance". That will be my WWII movie for the year.

He's a history nut from the get go.

He thought it was excellent, and yes,
he said Cruise did a good job here.

Hi Aristus! :hi:

Hope you're staying safe and dry up there.

Man, the Pacific NW got socked this fall/early winter!!

:pals:

Were the accents--or lack thereof. Visually, it was excellent. The uniforms looks authentic, the settings seemed true, you felt a real sense of misery and dread and constant fear. But then Tom Cruise spoke in his Tom Cruise accent, which was jarring compared to the British accents of the rest of the cast. At the very least, they should all have spoken in similar accents.

Seriously, Russell Crowe and Meryl Streep can master any accent, so why can't Cruise at least TRY?

Other than that, the film was surprisingly good, though the ending wasn't nearly as emotional as it should have been, due to being toned down for the PG-13 rating.