My Husband, being in the marketing world scored us ticket to a preview showing of Valkeyrie, the new world war II movie based on a true story. Those of you who know me know that I enjoy a good movie, preferrably a well written and directed movie. You also know that I do not do horrible ending movies. This world is aweful enough why should I pay $8 to see a sad, frustrating or angering movie. There's enough in this world to make me cry, make me angry or make me frustrated. I will not pay to get more of it. An example of this it the movie, The Traiter. Aweful movie. The only exception to this rule is true stories. Schindlers list, Saving private Ryan, The Changling, all aweful endings but wonderful movies. So, I have been looking forward to this new Worl War II movie. I find the most interesting wars to be World War II and the Civil War. So I was so excited when my husband scored these tickets. If you plan on seeing this movie and do not want to read my idea of how the ending should have gone because it might give away something minor, skip the end of this blog post.
Here is a minor historical synopsis of the movie's plot.
Valkyrie’ is about Count Claus Schenk Von Stauffenberg, the Second World War hero, who led the Operation Valkyrie assassination plot that tried to kill Adolf Hitler in 1944.
Stauffenberg planted a bomb in a briefcase near Hitler at his military headquarters in Rastenburg on July 20, 1944, but while the bomb exploded and killed several officers, Hitler himself narrowly escaped death, thanks to a large oak table in the room that saved him.
Stauffenberg was caught and executed that night at Bendlerblock, as were 7,000 other sympathizers.
Sounds awesome right? Done with the right director and screen play writer this movie could of been amazing. It wasn't. It was mediocre. Full of awesome acters but the director doesn't push them. There needed to be more to just 2 or 3 of the main characters. Amazing actors just not well written characters. And they had time. If anything this movie is not too long.
Here is a theactrical synopsis.
The “July 20 Plot” on Hitler’s life is one of the most heroic but least known episodes of World War Two. Severely wounded in combat, Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg returns from Africa to join the German Resistance and help create Operation Valkyrie, the complex plan that will allow a shadow government to replace Hitler’s once he is dead. But fate and circumstance conspire to thrust Stauffenberg from one of many in the plot to a double-edged central role. Not only must he lead the coup and seize control of his nation’s government… He must kill Hitler himself.
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Again, sounds awesome. As you read, they all get executed. Those that get caught with their hand in this plot get shot. Well, that's how the movie ends. You see them get shot and they give you a few lines telling you when everyone else gets shot and then roll the credits. Come on people, this is your chance to put this plot TO KILL HITLER, that no one has really heard about, on the map and that's how you end it. This is my ending. Those of you who know also know that when I don't like a movie's ending I make one up in my head and from there on out that's how the movie ended. ( it's so bad now that when I watched the final episode of Alias again I was like "wait where the heck is Jack? I remember him coming back in the end and walking with them on the beach") In my ending, you roll the descriptive lines of everyone else who is executed with Tom Cruise's voice in the background reciting something about standing up for the true Germany and the courage of the men who chose to fight the horendous actions of Hitler. Then cut to Count Claus Schenk Von Stauffenberg's son telling his son, as a bed time story, of his Grandfathers bravery and courage about fighting for Germany by fighting against Hitler and the slaughter of half a nation and, thereby, solidifying this act of bravery and courage as a wonderful story in History if not around the world at least with in the family. That would have made the movie great. A better Director and writer would have helped too.
All in all, I think it's worth seeing but probably waiting for it to come to the dollars. I give it 3 out of 5 stars.
Col. Stauffenberg and Tom Cruise.
To watch the trailer click the link.
Now I can tell you that this
Is how I feel almost all the time. Apropriately taken in the bathroom at work. Me and that toilet know each other pretty well now. On a good week my face says hello about mmmm....3 times a week. On a bad week about 3 times a day.
Left to right: Luke, Katie, Kevin and Keely ( who is leaving for Guatamala shortly for a mission) Keely, you will be dearly missed.
Left to right: Luke, Katie, Kevin and Keely ( who is leaving for Guatamala shortly for a mission) Keely, you will be dearly missed.
