Rescue Dawn on DVD (2006)

Another Vietnam film? It's okay, this one's rather good..

Vivacia from London [Highly rated reviewer] , 10/01/2008

With so little attention payed to this film it's surprising how well it actually did upon it's release in the US, and disappointing that it got such small exposure upon it's release here in Britain. Likely you haven't heard of 'Rescue Dawn' or have only seen a few posters scattered around. Don't let this fool you - this is a film that is well worth watching, especially if you have enjoyed other films based in and around the Vietnam war.

We start off in a Top Gun-esque scenario, with the pilots joking and preparing for their secret bombing mission in Laos. This is the very start of the Vietnam War, at a point where many believed it was going to be an easy ride and long before the cynicism and anger had taken over. But when one of the pilots, Dieter Dengler (Christian Bale), is shot down he is quickly taken prisoner and held with another five men in a makeshift prison camp.

Bale brilliantly plays a man who clearly has no idea how serious the situation is and really has no appreciation for how long he may be imprisoned. When he meets his fellow captives his shock at finding out they have been incarcerated for years already, is a suitable reminder that this is an idealistic young man that 'just wanted to fly'.

The performances throughout the film are outstanding, particularly from Mr. Bale, who repeats his starvation look from 'The Machinist', though it's not quite as extreme ('Recue Dawn' was in fact shot backwards as it's easier to gain weight than lose it, so all the actors started filming with skeletal frames). The other players also do outstanding work as his fellow inmates, varying from paranoid to resigned, and all clearly fighting the urge to hope that they may be able to escape with this new arrival.

The visuals in 'Rescue Dawn' also must be mentioned as they are breathtaking. Filmed in Vietnam, Werner Herzog has done a wonderful job of capturing the beauty of the forests, as well as showing how vast they are and as a consequence terrifying to cross.

Sadly the film is not without it's faults - the major one being that though this is 'based' on a true story you really feel that you're not getting the whole picture. Dieter seems too perfect and never seems to doubt or question his actions or motives, and his responses at times feel like an idealised version of what actually happened. Despite Bale's impressive performance you still wish he could be given a little leeway to really get into the feelings such a terrifying situation would cause.

Despite minor problems 'Rescue Dawn' is a highly watchable movie and has you rooting for Dieter from the get go. Though it's not as strong as other Vietnam films, it certainly takes it's place alongside them and can hold it's head high in their company.

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Moving portrayal of one man's plight

Meako [Highly rated reviewer] , 24/11/2007

Based on the journal of Dieter Dengler, a uS pilot who went down whilst on a secret operation in the early days of the Vietnam war, Rescue Dawn is a moving account of his battle to survive through an ordeal of torture and imprisonment. Never letting the situation destroy his will to survive, Dieter (played by Christian Bale) rallies new hope in the fellow prisoners of the detainment camp he finds himself in, plotting a way to escape. Direct Wener Herzog brings a simple, yet powerfully emotive style to the proceedings, letting the tale tell itself without any flourishes. Music is used sparingly, and never overpowers the moment - with most of the ambience being the sounds of the dense jungle surrounding the camp. This style, and tone, conveys beautifully, and disturbingly, the hopelessness of the situation Dieter finds himself in, making his own stance against it all all the more uplifiting for the audience. The cast are very low-key in their roles, with no-one trying to take over the story, and Steve Zahn as Duane (a fellow captive) breaks past his usual funny-man turn and delivers a wonderfully subtle performance as one of the broken few held captive. Bale, as always, delivers a stunning perfromance, and once more sheds the weight to switch from being a figure of fitness, to a humble shade of a man by the end. Filled with delicate moments of cinematography that find beauty in the harshest of moments, and a story that simple engages and drags you along with it, the film wastes not one moment of time and will move and shock in equal measure.

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bale out

brian green from scotland [Highly rated reviewer] , 25/11/2007

good movie again from bale,oh yeah & its based on a true story too.well worth a look

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Another Vietnam film! But this one....

A customer from Harrow , 11/02/2008

I was hyped for this film. Christian Bale in a Vietnam war film? Excellent, I thought. However despite being based on true and somewhat extraordinary events the result is lacking that special something that translates into a good movie experience.

Initially Rescue Dawn starts off strong for the first half hour with the briefing, the crash and the torture. The torture is so brutal and a head VC so irrational and downright mean, so easy to hate that everything that follows his unannounced departure can't help but seem rather nice in comparison. Many of the characters that follow are just there because they probably were there in real life, but their existence in the film doesn't seem to add anything to it since they're entirely one-dimensional. You've got the one who can understand Vietnamese, the hopeless one, the one who doesn't talk, the one who does kung-fu, etc. In fact they seem to subtract from Dieter's story.

Overall Rescue Dawn, whilst a good idea, lost it's focus before the halfway point and didn't really show us anything that we haven't seen before in the war genre.

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Tall Tale

Debdor from Wotton-Under-Edge , 22/04/2008

I watched this film, enjoyed it and was fascinated by the story so decided to do some research about it. What I found out put a whole new spin on the story. Most of it was true, though certain liberties were taken, as with all films of true stories, but the most dissappointing thing was how Eugene - (Jeremy Davies' character) was portrayed. He was not a coward, he was the strongest member of the group and he probably died because he wouldn't leave a sick prisoner behind, and so was slowed down.

Anyway, the acting was superb, and you got a sense of how horrific it all was, without being over the top with torture scenes. Bale was his usual soulful self, I love Davies quirks, but the acting award goes to Zahn, I just wanted to hug him and tell him it was alright.

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Bale Rules!

A customer from SW London , 11/12/2007

Bale did justice to the story of one man's struggle for freedom in Laos doing the Vietnam war. The movie was engaging and interesting.Really superb acting from all concerned, especially Bale. A must see movie!

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