Valkyrie

Spanks - 3

Director - Bryan Singer

Writers - Christopher McQuarrie & Nathan Alexander

Starring - Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Terence Stamp & Eddie Izzard

Release Date - 25 December 08

MPAA Rating - R

Valkyrie is about the assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler on July 20, 1944. Tom Cruise stars as Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, who is a key member of the German Resistance and the man who lead the assassination attempt at the Wolf's Lair. The film starts in Tunisia where Stauffenberg is wounded in battle, then sent back to Germany where he is recruited into the resistance. The film follows how the plot was put together, carried out, and its aftermath.

From what I read, the film is historically accurate, but has a few Hollywood liberties added. Before seeing the film I knew of the assassination plot, but I didn't know the details. I was surprised by a lot of it. The filmmakers also got permission to shot at many of the original locations around Berlin.

Valkyrie is a good film to see if you are into World War II history. It is detailed well about Project Valkyrie, the characters, and the event. If you don't care, then you probably won't like it. It doesn't have loads of battle scenes like Saving Private Ryan, so don't go expecting that. There is action and suspense, just not your typical war movie kind.

RocknRolla

Spanks - 4

Director - Guy Ritchie

Writers - Guy Ritchie

Starring - Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Thandie Newton, Jeremy Piven & Chris Bridges

Release Date - 31 October 2008

MPAA Rating - R

Rocknrolla is similar to other Guy Richie films. Its characters are gangsters or criminals. It involves drugs, double crosses, heist, guns, torture, and sex. The film is very complex, like Snatch and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, but it all comes together at the end and makes sense. It is set in London is about buying real estate to sell for more. All is going well for criminals who are scamming to get rich in real estate, until a "lucky" painting is stolen.

Being very a very complex movie, it is hard to follow at times. Its one of those movies you have to get on DVD when release to watch again, because you are sure to miss something. Don't let this discourage you from seeing it, as it is a well made film and you will enjoy it.