During 1942, the Germans have reached the city of Stalingrad and everything looks lost for the citizens of the Soviet Union. As a last effort to save the city, the Red Army launches a foot assault against the Germans, however many of their soldiers are without weapons to defend themselves and are moving forward in a suicide charge. Vassili Zaitsev (Jude Law) is one of many who are dodging bullets waiting for a free weapon to fight for his very life. When the smoke clears, hope appears dismal with the Red Army completely down. When a Red Army car gets blown off of its wheels racing through the streets trying to find safety, political commissar, Danilov (Joseph Fiennes) survives and hides within the dead. Danilov sees his chance to take out a few German officials but doesn’t have the marksmanship to do the task. Vassili whom has also been hiding among the dead, offers to try his hand at taking out what starts out as only two officials to five. Waiting patiently for his shot since he only has exactly five bullets, Vassili shoots each German one by one with the sound of artillery in the background to mask the sound of his kills. Inspired by Vassili marksmanship, Danilov makes Vassili a national hero to the people of the Soviet Union and a propaganda icon. Story after story the world and in particularly the Germans, learn of the greatness of Vassili Zaitsev whom has advanced to their sniper division. Head of the German Army Sniper School at Zossen, Major Erwin König (Ed Harris), is brought to Stalingrad to take out the hero and major threat. In the midst of all the chaos, Vassili and Danilov’s friendship is tested when the both fall in love with a local volunteer named Tania Chernova (Rachel Weisz).

Will jealous or a German sniper be Vassili’s downfall or will he ultimately triumph and be the hero to the Soviet people? Enemy at the Gates is an intense multi-layered film that keeps you on your toes to the very last minute. Along with the film, the Blu-ray comes with some nice bonus features as well. Good or for bad the bonus material here is the same offered in the original DVD version and is not offered in HD. It would have been nice to add a commentary track to this edition. Through The Crosshairs is an almost twenty minute feature that includes interviews with director Jean-Jacques Annaud, producers and the stars on making the film. Inside Enemy at the Gates clocks in at fifteen minutes and talks about how the cast studied the involvement of the Russians in World War II and their training using a rifle for the film. There is also a total of nine deleted scenes that could have easily been included in the film and focus on some key moments that help to flesh out the characters. Finally a theatrical trailer is offered here and is the only bonus feature offered in HD.

Enemy at the Gates is a well made film with wonderful performances by some of the best actors working today. There are questions on the historical accuracy of the film, yet Enemy at the Gates holds up as a solid war film. If you are a fan of the actors are war dramas take a chance and pick up Enemy at the Gates on Blu-ray.

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