John Kettler Posted August 6, 2005 Share Posted August 6, 2005 Wasn't able to make the brief and scarce theatrical release here in Los Angeles, so thank heavens for DVD! This incredible German movie (English subtitles) with stunning acting, amazing sets and a deeply based (numerous interviews with primary witnesses) historical story tells the story of Germany's last days from the perspective of Hitler's secretary and other occupants of the bunker. Nowhere have I ever seen better portrayed the madness, fanaticism and surreality which pervaded those days. The Hitler portrayal is mesmerizing, and Goebbels may well give me nightmares. The combat scenes are even more visceral than "Das Boot," with all sorts of goodies in evidence, including a faux Tiger I, OT-810s subbing for 251/Ds, lots of Panzerfausten, StGw-44s, real T-34/85s, PPsh-41s, etc. Talk about mean streets! Modders will love the grubby battledress and various cammies. A Russian 85 AA makes a pretty good 88 standin. No crummy Hollwood napalm HE either. The shellfire will curl your hair. The fighting, and the havoc it wreaks on soldier (from hardened veterans to kids and unarmed Volksturm) and civilian alike, is shown in full grim detail, along with flying squads, drumhead tribunals, and the sheer fantasy that was Hitler's model of the battle. Also shown are small acts of kindness, courage, and simple humanity amid the unfolding obscenity and slaughter. There aren't enough superlatives for this movie, and I haven't even watched the extra goodies yet. Regards, John Kettler [ August 08, 2005, 08:29 PM: Message edited by: John Kettler ] 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panzer_M Posted August 6, 2005 Share Posted August 6, 2005 i was amazed it was filmed in St. Petersberg. althought not too strange, Cold Mountian was done in Hungary IIRC. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panzer_M Posted August 6, 2005 Share Posted August 6, 2005 paid 30$ for my copy at FYE. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeinzBaby Posted August 6, 2005 Share Posted August 6, 2005 Saw the Film, I'll get the DVD too, If I recall, 'Cold Mountain' was done in parts of Romainia, VERY politcally incorrect for a Hollywood American Civil War flick, hence the no show at the Oscars... Damn fine movie too 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkvi Posted August 7, 2005 Share Posted August 7, 2005 I really liked the movie...very tough to sit through goebbles (sp?) wife dealing with her kids...combat was very good...(bought the DVD from www.warshows.com (btw they have new tank posters in current flyer)... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ExplodingMonkey Posted August 7, 2005 Share Posted August 7, 2005 I want to see this movie. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panzer_M Posted August 7, 2005 Share Posted August 7, 2005 my dad was born in Germany, April 22, 1936 I need to send it over to him just to see what he thinks of it. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panzer_M Posted August 7, 2005 Share Posted August 7, 2005 btw, noticed the tons of the StGs..lol...can't remember an old HollyWood War movie that had them other than a bit in the Battle of the Bulge, when one is picked up. I remember reading a StuG Kampfgruppe that attempted to blast it way out of the cauldron. found this "Berlin, 3rd May 1945 by David Pentland Following Hitler's death, the decision was taken by the officers and men of Sturmartillerie Brigade 249 to break out of the doomed capital. Shortly before midnight on the 3rd, what remained of the unit fought to the edge of the city at Spandau. By this time the brigade had been split into two elements, the first under Hauptmann Herbert Jaschke successfully punched their way out to the west. The second group was not so lucky, and it's survivors fell into Soviet captivity." also found out Jaschke was a Knight's Cross holder. Jaschke Herbert Heer Hauptmann St.Gesch.Brig. 249 23. April 1945 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkvi Posted August 7, 2005 Share Posted August 7, 2005 Armor Battles of the Waffen SS, 1943-45 (Stackpole Military History Series) (Paperback)... this book has a chapter describing break out attempts from Berlin...Tigers running through streets and people riding on tanks being shot to pieces off the tanks... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeatEtr Posted August 7, 2005 Share Posted August 7, 2005 Yeah, i just got this DVD a couple of days ago too. I had been meaning to travel away to see this movie in the theatres, but never got around to it. I got the DVD at BestBuy for $17 and must say, it's worth every penny of it. Originally posted by John Kettler: (numerous interviews with primary witnesses) Not sure what you mean here, there's only one interview with Hitlers secretary Traudl Hunge. The rest of the interviews are of the actors and the director. Nonetheless, the 'making of' feature is an hour long, so they don't skimp out on it. Overall, a great movie with a good DVD feature list. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panzer_M Posted August 8, 2005 Share Posted August 8, 2005 Originally posted by mkvi: Armor Battles of the Waffen SS, 1943-45 (Stackpole Military History Series) (Paperback)... this book has a chapter describing break out attempts from Berlin...Tigers running through streets and people riding on tanks being shot to pieces off the tanks... how many tanks were in Berlin? I mean Tank units I guess.. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonxa Posted August 8, 2005 Share Posted August 8, 2005 I agree, this is a really well made movie. I had a bad feeling in my tummy for a couple of hours after watching it (at the theater). 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Dorosh Posted August 8, 2005 Share Posted August 8, 2005 Originally posted by Panzer_M: </font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by mkvi: Armor Battles of the Waffen SS, 1943-45 (Stackpole Military History Series) (Paperback)... this book has a chapter describing break out attempts from Berlin...Tigers running through streets and people riding on tanks being shot to pieces off the tanks... how many tanks were in Berlin? I mean Tank units I guess.. </font> 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David I Posted August 8, 2005 Share Posted August 8, 2005 Saw the movie in the theaters, started a thread here on it when I got home. Ordered it today from Amazon. A great addition to my collection. David 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kettler Posted August 9, 2005 Author Share Posted August 9, 2005 MeatEtr, As noted, I have yet to watch the extra goodies on the DVD. That said, what I was trying to convey is that the people we see depicted on the screen are based on real historical people and aren't composites or made up characters. From what I can tell, numerous interviews (Traudl's being especially telling) were conducted with various eyewitnesses who survived the fall of Berlin, and it is the mosaic of their memories which forms the basis of the script. Hope that clears things up. Regards, John Kettler 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alogie Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 I saw the movie on my flight home to the US from the UK a few weeks ago. It was very good, and not what I usually expect to see as an inflight movie. Alistair 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtcm Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 How about aCMBB "Berlin 1945: Breakout" operation ? would be ideal for solo play as Germans ag. AI 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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