A Cinematic Treat

    Valkyrie was produced by United Artists and released to theaters on Christmas day 2008.  Staring Tom Cruise, Valkyrie was based upon an actual assassination plot that unfurled during the height of WWII. Rated PG-13, this movie was directed by Bryan Singer and based on the screenplay written by Christopher McQuarrie and Nathan Alexander. On it’s opening weekend, Valkryie earned $21,027,007. But does that make it worth seeing?

      Valkyrie follows the dramatic story of Claus Von Stauffenberg, a colonel in the German army during WWII. Unhappy with how Hitler is controlling Germany, Colonel Stauffenberg and several co-conspirators conclude they must take over Germany. Their plan is to assassinate Hitler. Cunningly, using Hitler’s own plan for succession, which is called Operation Valkyrie, the conspirators will take over Germany. Operation Valkyrie was designed to allow the Nazi’s to stay in power if Hitler was ever assassinated. However, with a few modifications by Stauffenberg and his co-conspirators, Operation Valkyrie allows them to take over Germany, using Hitler’s own troops. In order to assassinate Hitler, Colonel Stauffenberg conspires to blow him up using a time bomb.

      On July 20, 1944, everything is prepared and Colonel Stauffenberg is to attend a meeting with Hitler, where he will place the time bomb. When Stuaffenberg arrives at the designated meeting place, he begins preparing the bomb, which he shrewdly conceals in a briefcase. While in the meeting, Stauffenberg receives a call from his co-conspirators. Quickly, Stauffenberg exits the room, leaving the bomb in the briefcase inside the bunker with Hitler. As soon as he exits the humid bunker, in which the meeting was held, the bomb explodes.

      After having detonated the bomb, Stauffenberg flies back to Berlin, believing Hitler is dead. Back in Berlin, the coconspirators are to start Operation Valkryie, but because they didn’t receive confirmation that Hitler was dead, Operation Valkyrie didn’t commence right away. When Colonel Stauffenberg arrives three hours later, he finds that Operation Valkyrie has just begun, rather than three hours earlier when it should have. Undaunted, Colonel Stauffenberg proceeds with his plan, despite the delay. Now the conspirators must make up for lost time, but even the best of laid plans sometimes go awry.

      Anyone who has ever studied World War II history in depth will know the outcome of the movie. Even still, Valkyrie manages to keep viewers on the edge of their seats throughout the duration of the film. The movie also keeps the viewer guessing what will happen next. The characters in this movie are very compelling, allowing viewers’ to connect to the characters. The acting was phenomenal, really bringing the characters to life. For instance, when a co-conspirator didn’t fulfill his part in the plan, the audience sympathizes with the man’s actions, even if they don’t agree with them. Additionally, the movie is very historically accurate. Valkyrie’s gripping ending, leaves the audience craving for more, and is unforgettable. However, this movie does contain many intense scenes, and is not recommended for younger children. Over all, Valkyrie was a rare cinematic treat for older teens and adults who enjoy action or war films, crave suspense movies, or adore history.