Valkyrie Movie Review

Walküre

By Anna Anderson

The year was 1943 and Nazi Germany controlled most of Europe. German officers who gave an oath swearing to serve Hitler and their country soon realized that the Fuhrer was destroying their country. Valkyrie is the story of the brave men and women who would defy the infamous Hitler to save the country they loved so much. These events were shown through the perspective of Colonel Claus Von Stauffenberg, played by Tom Cruise, a man that served in North Africa who soon became a big part in the July 20 Plot to stop Hitler and save Germany.

Rated PG-13,Valkyrie (2008) was produced by MGM studios and directed by Bryan Singer who also directed Superman Returns and was the executive producer of well known titles such as House M.D. and Dirty, Sexy, Money. This film is speckled with familiar faces and big names such as Bill Nighy (General Friedrich Olbricht), Tom Wilkinson (General Friedrich Fromm), Kenneth Branagh (Major-General Henning von Tresckow) and Tom Cruise(Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg).

Valkyrie starts off in Africa where we are first introduced to Colonel Stauffenberg where an accident sends him home to Germany where he is invited to join the German Resistance who believe Hitler is not good for Germany. In this movie you are introduced to many characters but it’s quite hard to follow along with who is who. You don’t get a good idea of who the characters are and with some even what their name is. But there is something in common with all of them. Eventually they have to pick a side; for Hitler, or for Germany.

A key moment in this movie is when Colonel Stauffenberg is with his family when he comes home from North Africa and there is an air attack. With his wife and children with him in the bomb shelter, The Valkyrie starts playing on his record player. It’s it visible on his face, with the bombs exploding, that song playing and his battle wounds still fresh, that something must be done to stop Hitler; and he knows what that something is.

Personally I do not believe Valkyrie is for everyone. There were many things in this film that could have been added or done differently. One, for example was the lack of character development, it can leave you confused half of the time trying to figure out who is who and that really takes a lot away from the movie. Also just little mistakes just as Colonel Stauffenberg’s eye patch is on the wrong eye in a scene. But there are some very good touches in the film such as the typography; it definitely added to the movie. An interesting thing though is the portrayal of Hitler himself in this film. It centers on a plot to kill Hitler and save Germany but when you see Hitler, he doesn’t seem as ruthless and maniacal has he is seemed to be. Either this was to remind people that he was just a man that could be killed, or it was a mistake on the makers’ part. While watching this movie, many people seemed to forget the true outcome of the plan and found them selves really thinking that Hitler would be killed. With this, I do have to applaud the film. I wouldn’t say that Valkyrie is for young children just for the reason that I don’t think they would be interested and having a background on the history helps understand the movie better. I would give this movie a 6; not terrible, but not amazing either.