Valkyrie ~ A "Bad, Good" Movie

            Last Friday I finished the movie Valkyrie, a film produced in 2008 and directed by Bryan Singer. The film is based on the true story of the July 20th Plot (also known as Operation Valkyrie) which was led by Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg and over a dozen other conspirators (including high ranking German officials and Generals) planned the assassination and overthrow of Adolf Hitler. The movie prominently stars Tom Cruise as Colonel Stauffenberg and Bill Nighy as General Olbricht as the brains behind Operation Valkyrie. Set in late 1943 and into early to mid 1944, the film not only describes the events that occur on July 20th, but also what led up to it. Specifically, it shows the origins of von Stauffenberg's hate for Adolf Hitler while he was fighting in the North African campaign. In fact, during the opening scene in North Africa, while a German general is speaking to Stauffenberg, he mentions that the main reason that Stauffenberg is on the front lines in Africa right now is because he has previously expressed discontent with Adolf Hitlers Germany. Thus giving a little bit of backstory and understanding that Stauffenberg had previously harbored anti-Nazi sentiment. Due to all of this, the movie itself stays very true to the actual plan of the plot, the uniforms, weapons, etc. and is overall one of the most historically accurate WWII films produced by Hollywood. However, the film is lacking in many other more objective qualities such as message, the ability to create emotions, and suspense. As it is a movie based entirely off of historical fact and holds tightly to what actually happened, the film has a hard time creating suspense and making the audience wonder what will happen in the end because, as we all know, the assassination fails and Hitler (unfortunately) survives the July 20th plot. In addition to this, for the same reason that I just stated above, there is no real message or underlying meaning in the movie as it keeps to what actually happened without any variation or cinematic change. The only message one could possibly (and barely) extract from this movie is that it is better to die resisting something you don't believe in than die fighting for it. 

            Due to Valkyrie's ability to stick exactly to the facts of the plot and it's impressive amount of historical accuracy, I personally loved this movie, even though I knew what would happen in the end. The way it told the story of Stauffenberg made you feel connected not only to him and his fate but also to the other conspirators, and although you know the plot fails in the end and everyone is executed, you cannot help but almost root for Stauffenberg and feel a small amount of hope that everything might turn out right in the end. Additionally, the historical accuracy of the movie in regards to weaponry, uniforms, battles, and tactics is second only to a few legendary war films such as Saving Private Ryan or Fury, which really appeals to me personally as most Hollywood war movies are completely inaccurate both in subject material but also the specifics such as the ones listed previously. Overall and with all things considered, I would rate Valkyrie as a solid "Bad, Good" movie as it's attention to detail is second to none but could use work on many objective qualities.