Rescue Dawn | Christian Bale, Steve Zahn | Terrific film; great story

Rescue Dawn | Christian Bale, Steve Zahn | A story of courage

DVDs:

Rescue Dawn

	Rescue Dawn Christian Bale, Steve Zahn MGM Home Entertainment, 2007 average customer review:based on 76 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Real-life story of a US fighter pilot Dengler shot down and captured during the Vietnam War. Christian Bale as Dengler plans a death-defying escape.System Requirements:Run time: 126 MinutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE/MILITARY & WAR Rating: PG-13 UPC: 027616093578 Manufacturer No: M109357

Terrific film; great story

I saw this movie coming and I was very surprised it did not make a bigger impact at the box office. In fact, it was out of the theaters so quickly I missed it, so I waited for the recent DVD release. I was not disappointed.

Rescue Dawn tells the true story of Dieter Dengler, a Navy pilot shot down and taken prisoner in the Vietnam conflict. The movie title is a little bit misleading, since the movie does not center on a "rescue" so much as it does the escape and survival of the prisoners. The movie definitely centers around Dengler, and I think they were trying to give you a real sense of the isolation and confusion that came with being a prisoner of war (it's a little bit artsy).

The characters (mostly fellow prisoners) and Christian Bale as Dengler were terrific. The story flowed well and I was on the edge of my seat almost the entire movie. Great scenery, great acting, great situations. The special features fill you in on some of the details of Dengler's life too. Overall, you can't miss with a true survival story in Vietnam. May not be suitable for children or the squeamish.

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A story of courage

Inspired by the true story of Dieter Dengler's (Christian Bale) ordeals during the Vietnam war, Rescue Dawn follows Lt. Dengler on his very first combat mission. Prior to the primary ground battles, U.S. troops flew bombing raids missions into Laos, and it is during one such excursion in 1965 that Dengler's plane took ground-fire that caused a crash.

While jungle survival videos produced by the military were supposed to keep a downed pilot safe in Dengler's situation, they did no such thing. Woefully unprepared for the jungle, he's captured in a matter of days and soon faces months of sadistic torture at the hands of both the Laotians and the Vietnamese. Beatings, being bound and tied to a moving oxen, and nearly drowned, he's eventually moved to a P.O.W. camp where other soldiers are being held. It is in this prison camp that a daring rescue attempt is devised by the shared contributions of the prisoners, as Dengler and other prisoners fight through the jungles of Laos towards Thailand and eventual freedom.

Convincing as Dengler, Christian Bale really sells out for this role. Throughout the movie his physical condition noticeably worsens, his weight takes a dramatic drop, and he truly looks like he may have been tortured as a POW.

Troubling, however, is what I have read since watching the movie. Evidently, several other prisoners and their families take umbrage with the manner in which the movie portrays certain events. Werner Herzog takes liberties with certain facts, giving credit to Dengler when others were responsible, and painting other prisoners in a negative light when, in fact, they were courageous and patriotic throughout the entire ordeal.

Not knowing the contested history, this movie is a solid contribution to Hollywood's Vietnam oeuvre. It's a tense, harrowing drama, and I'm upset that this is based in even the remotest sense on reality. Knowing that certain portrayals within the movie inaccurately tarnish the legacy of good men who gave their lives upsets me even more.

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Fat, thin, fat, thin...

Rescue Dawn starring Christian Bale is an interesting and deeply profound film based on a true story. This film is inspirational and doesn't sugar coat anything that occured during the Vietnam War. Bale sure digs himself into the character, he's definitely a method actor, who could transform his body like the way he does? I've never seen an actor gain and lose weight as quicky as him, also watch The Machinist and you'll what I mean. Steve Zahn also stars and he is absolutely brillant in this, I always knew he could pull a dramatic performance, glad the director took a chance on him, Zahn is more than a comedian. I highly recommend checking out this under-rated gem!

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Familiar POW Drama Lacks Punch

Werner Herzog, the filmmaker behind such legendary films as "Fitzcarraldo", "Aguirre: The Wrath of God" and the documentary "Grizzly Man" among many others, made a documentary called "Little Dieter Needs to Fly" almost a decade ago. The filmmaker follows Dieter Dengler, a pilot with the United States Navy during the Vietnam War, as Dengler revisits the country where he was shot down and taken prisoner and as he returns to his home country of Germany. Herzog believed the story to be so powerful that he decided to make a film about the incident.

"Rescue Dawn", directed by Herzog and starring Christian Bale as Dieter along with Jeremy Davies and Steve Zahn as two of his fellow POWs, follows Dieter as he prepares for his first mission as a pilot in the late 60s. He receives instructions to fly into Laos, before the war has even begun, to bomb suspected targets. During the mission he is quickly shot down and tries to attract a rescue copter or plane. Instead, soldiers and extremely angry militia find him and take him to a POW camp, where he meets Duane (Steve Zahn) and Gene (Jeremy Davies), two of the handful of American soldiers who are already being held captive in a small clearing in the middle of the harsh, hot jungle. Their guards aren't giving them enough food or water, they are chained up at night, and Dieter realizes he simply can't sit around waiting until they starve to death or the guards decide to shoot them because they are bored. He comes up with an escape plan and tries to convince everyone that it will work. But as they are starving and any potential escape means living in the jungle for a significant period of time, they are frightened and scared of the prospects.

I understand what Christian Bale is trying to do as Dieter, but the effect is still a little strange. And the character doesn't work. When we first meet Dieter, we could be watching a sequel to "Top Gun", the pilots are in a briefing, ready and raring to go, ready to jump into their planes and start flying. There are no political discussions about their mission and the objective, they are American pilots and their mission is their objective. And Dieter is particularly gung ho as this is his first mission. He smiles as everyone pats him on the back because they know this is the culmination of a lifelong dream for Dieter; Dengler was actually born in Germany and immigrated to the United States and became a citizen always dreaming of becoming a pilot and flying planes. Bale uses a very slight accent to portray Dengler's origins. And throughout the film, this accent gets a little more pronounced when Bale is trying to show Dengler's frustration. I get this part of the character. What was less successful for me was Bale's portrayal of Dengler's 'enthusiasm' throughout the film. As Dengler tries to convince the rest of the POWs, he seems to smile here and there, trying to show them that his plan will work, that there isn't a lot of danger out there. Throughout, he appears to remain particularly lucid and determined, as though the lack of food, water and livable conditions has no effect on him.

When you watch Bale's performance next to that of Steve Zahn and Jeremy Davies, there is just something that doesn't mesh. Granted Duane and Gene have been in captivity longer, but even when Dengler is loosing weight (Bale will soon challenge DeNiro for the title of "Most Method Actor in Films" if he continues to lose and gain weight for every film role) he continues to appear determined and the madness affecting his friends never seems to enter the picture for Dengler. This, combined with the faint accent, makes the character seem less real even though I am sure Bale studied footage of the real Dengler, studied his mannerisms and voice.

Because there are really no politics in this film, it becomes less interesting somehow. Initially, the pilots are gung ho for the mission, despite the fact they are about to bomb many villages. And the conclusion of the film seems to indicate Dengler is ready and willing to go on another mission, as soon as he has recovered. In fact, a coda states as much at the end of the film.

I have not see "Little Dieter Needs to Fly", but I have to think that Herzog probably captured some remorse from the former pilot. In "Rescue Dawn", the story ends much earlier than this and we have no evidence of this.

"Rescue Dawn" is an interesting story but it lacks the necessary punch or a great performance from Bale to fully move the viewer.

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Average movie...

incredible true story. Well acted, but we've seen similar before. What's different are the details. This man's determination and courage should be seen by all.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

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