Enemy at the Gates (2001)

Synopsis: During the siege of Stalingrad, in World War II, a sniper becomes the symbol of the resistance.
Appraisal: The main storyline is quite tedious, basically revolving around a duel between a German major and a Soviet sniper. There is also an uninteresting love triangle comprised of said sniper, a local educated young woman and a Soviet officer. There is hardly any battle in this movie; anyone who expects to see the film about the siege of Stalingrad will be sourly disappointed, except for the opening sequence containing a very well staged depiction of the arrival of Soviet soldiers in the city, and a few skirmishes later in the film. The writers didn't miss a chance to insert anti-stalinist comments in the dialogue; those comments seem rather strained and out of place; of course, as propaganda it's as innocuous as beating a dead dog. The stakeout and shooting sequences are well staged, which, along with the opening sequence, make the film piecewise endurable; as a dramatic unit it doesn't stand.
Rating: 45