Review: Valkyrie
Valkyrie: A female figure that chooses who lives or who dies in battle. They arise from Viking mythology. I haven’t fully worked out the connection though…
The film Valkyrie is about Nazi Germany in WWII. The entire movie is about enacting an alert code named Valkyrie which would go into effect if Hitler was somehow killed. It is actually based upon the events surrounding the last of 15 attempts to assassinate Hitler. As history already shows though, it was a failed attempt. Also, this is the latest of Tom Cruise’s movies to hit the box office and does not appear to be a failed attempt.
The movie opens with Cruise, as Colonel Claus von Stauffenburg, sitting in his tent in North Africa writing in his journal. He talks about how he originally thought that Hitler was okay, but as the war has progressed and he has seen the evil atrocities that were committed, he can no longer be comfortable fighting or believing in Hitler. It is here that he decides he wants to stop fighting for Hitler and maybe even try to kill Hitler.
Lucky for him he is noticed by important people…after he loses a hand, two fingers, and an eye in an attack on his military convoy in the days after writing in his journal. These important people are a group of Nazi generals and others who have grown unhappy with how Hitler is running the war and tarnishing the image of Germany. They want to restore order and beg for mercy from the Allies so that the country can be restored to its former glory.
Stauffenburg is so moved by his hatred of Hitler that he jumps right into their plan and actually takes over most of it. He moves up in the ranks to become an underling to the General of the Reserve Army, which he will need once Hitler is killed so that he can take control of the country for the group he is associated with. He even places his own life in jeopardy before the plan is completed.
One way that he risks his life is by rewriting the Operation Valkyrie instructions. They decide they must take out the SS from the Operation because they are to loyal to Hitler. In order to do this the new instructions need to be signed by Hitler himself. Stauffenburg takes the instructions to him in person, and Hitler trusts his changes are all for the best.
The movie continues on from there, with the actual events that were the assassination attempts on Hitler at the Wolf’s Lair. I don’t want to ruin the rest of movie, but if you’re a history buff, you will probably already know what happens.
The movie is very well written, the scenery is gorgeous in the mountains (if that’s where it was actually shot) and some of the footage was actually taken in historic parts of Berlin. All of the locations were related to the events of WWII and this assassination attempt. The cinematography and props were all amazing as well. No jittery cameras or really fake looking scenery.
It was refreshing to learn a piece of history not from a book, but through a movie, which helped bring it to life. Plus, it also shows that there were a lot of people in Germany, not to mention the Nazi regime, who did not like what the Nazis stood for. This is something that is not always made clear.
Despite its strong points, the movie has few disappointments. While Cruise did a good job it was sad
that there was not a German actor, or an actor with a German accent for Stauffenburg’s part. In talking with some people, the suggestion is that for true justice to the event, it should have been shot in German with English subtitles. While this would be nice, I always find it hard to be able to watch a movie and read one at the same time.
This movie is definitely one to see. Especially if you have any interest in WWII. And seeing as many games have come out in the past few years that are related to WWII, most of us have some inclination for it. Just overlook the fact that Stauffenburg is played by Tom Cruise and you will be set.
Running Time: 120 min
Rating: PG-13
My Rating: 4 out of 5
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