Jennifer StilesDec 27th, 2008 - 19:55:42

What movie did you see? Because the 'Valkyrie' I watched was not so good.

Noted I am measuring Tom Cruise with the other actors in the film, so by comparison (to such intellectual thespians) Cruise was laughable; From everything to his distracting American accent to his below average acting.

Valkyrie might have worked with someone else playing the role, but even the plot altered history & reduced character performances to center full attention on Stauffenberg.

You've made it sounds so grandiose that I'd have to guess you were paid for this review.

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uptrendsDec 27th, 2008 - 23:57:12

This is a very good bit of film-making. Unfortunately, it seems to be lost on a lot of people who are slamming Cruise playing a German officer (not a Nazi officer as is pasted everywhere) that people like Staffenburg actually put their very lives on the line to stop a mass murderer (Hitler).

There seems to be an undercurrent of some kind running against Cruise in many comments and reviews I have been reading. It seems that it is somehow 'anti-American' for a leading star to play anything except an American! Talk about narrow minded! The words 'Nazi officer' are everywhere in the comments and reviews - and that is simply not true. The real Nazis were in the SS, the Gestapo, the Hitler Youth and similar organizations. Most of the mainline German officer corps were always at odds with the SS and similar Nazi organs and many were murdered for their opposition to Hitler's murder campaign across Europe early in the war. There seems to be some kind of dislike for this man (Staffenburg) among the reviewers because he took action against the state. I have no idea why there is such opposition to this movie with it's heroic deed and sacrifice.

If you go into the man's personal history, you will see he was a Catholic and this played a role in his decision to disobey the state, hatch a brilliant plan and carry it out in spite of the deadly consequences probable for himself and his family.

It seems to me that a lot of critics are overlooking the sacrifice made by Staffenburg and others. 60 years after the incident, they throw good men away simply because they are not American - or they view Staffenburg as not having their own 'purist' motivation. Let them oppose even a corporate boss who is a tyrant, and stand up for fellow employees and see how they do. No - they will keep their jobs and stand up for no one.

Many negative reviews decry Cruise playing anything other than a make-believe, Hollywood stereo-type. It is very myopic view to say the least. Get over it America - there are heroes in other countries, too.

My dad flew 32 times in the RCAF over Germany in a WWII bomber. 32 times may not seem like a lot to critics - but 32 operationsmeant that you would have statistically been shot down 3 times! He and his crew put their lives at great risk to help shut down the 1000 year Reich. If Staffenburg could have given my dad the co ordinates of Hitler's bunker - I am sure the crew on my dad's Halifax MK VII would have obliged with a 1,000 pound bomb on Hitler's table.

In July 1944 my dad's crew and Staffenburg were on the same team.
Two thumbs up, Tom.

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InTheKnowDec 28th, 2008 - 01:31:25

Notice how the second poster insinuates that that maybe you were for Hitler if you don't like TC.

This type of intellectual baiting is just too common and too cheap. Thanks for showing your colors.

Besides, have you seen TC in one of his infomercials about his belief system? Everyone I know of commented that it resembled that manic style that followed Hitler.

I don't believe in coincidences TC. Have you ever read the stories about the stars that spent careers trying to kill off their true personification.

Oh, so sorry this is getting a little too heady for the average TC fan.

Merry Christmas and Happy New year!

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eagleproxx11Dec 28th, 2008 - 06:54:15

i dont know why everybody is judging this movie becuase of cruise.
it was a exellent film one of few realesed from liberal media hollywood.
exellent plot to the movie and the main message of the movie was to tell you that not all of the germans were like hitler not everyone was as cruel as him. and those brave men put there lives on the line for there country. so stop criticizing this film because you dislike a actor
4.8 out of 5.
EXCELLENT!!!

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HappySlugDec 29th, 2008 - 15:47:21

I can understand if you just don't like Cruise as an actor. Some actors are just not going to sit well with some people. Their style and mannerisms just annoy. But I think the comment about the American accent is a bit off. For one thing, the only reason his accent stood out at all is because the other actors were European. They certainly used their native dialects, so unless you think he should have done a British accent to blend in, I'm not sure what else you could ask. Or have everyone do a Col. Klink imitation? I think this was the best solution and I like the use of the 'Hunt for Red October' device of having it start in German and then fade into English. Personally, after the first few minutes, I never thought about the various dialects again.

As to some of the other comments. I think it's exactly right that we remember the social and political situation was completely different than today and we must be very careful in our judgments about individual's decisions and their timing. It's easy to armchair quarterback from 50+ years away. It should be noted that these men *did* act not *when* they did. I'm not sure how easy I would have found that decision in those circumstances.

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cge8472Jan 5th, 2009 - 03:24:21

The film was amazing, quite historically accurate, and well acted (especially by Cruise and Branagh). The discussion over his accent (or lack thereof) is quite ridiculous. And credit should be given where it is due, regardless of one's likes and dislikes of T. Cruise's personal life choices, etc. The ending of the movie left me with a great sense of what real loyalty to one's friends and fellow soldiers means. Look past the dislikes of particular actors, and look at the characters they play and the stories they tell, for once. You might actually learn something...

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Jim WagnerJun 3rd, 2009 - 18:13:48

I think people are missing the point. It is impossible for this movie to be credible or believable with Tom Crusie speaking in his 'American' dialect. It stands out even more in contrast to the 'English' dialect by other actors typical of Nazi protrayals in WW II movies of the past.

If Cruise couldn't pull off a German accent, the film should have cast someone else or not been made at all. I believe any noted film director would agree with me.

Even Hitler didn't sound like a German. It's hard to believe that millions of dollar were put into a film project with the foundation off from he beginning.

I'm not being hard on Cruise or others. I'm saying the film was unbelievable because of the accents. That is the truth for me as a recognized artist.

It didn't work at all.

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missing the pointAug 10th, 2009 - 08:05:37

i think a lot of movie goers nowadays are missing the point. people are getting too critical of the mundane details of a movie such as the actors, actresses, sets, etc, that they are totally out of it. as with any creative product, whether it be a movie, a song or wht have you, its main objective is to move the audiences emotions according to the flow of the story. my watching valkyrie, for instance, put so much emotion in me that i cannot even imagine the real feelings each character felt at that particular point in history from the conception of the plan, the complexities of it, the doubt and distrust with each co-conspirator, the sudden rush of adrenaline when the plan was put to action, the wait and inaction and ultimately, the resulting failure and death by different means of each one of them. now try adapting in the present what they did at that time to what i percieve as numerous attempts in different countries today to seize power. and remain as courageous as you think you can in the face of the opposition. terrifying.

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