Valkyrie

The theatre was full for the latest matinee on a Saturday. However, we arrived early enough to get our favorite seats. These are on the top row at the the top of the stairs on either side of the theatre. We like these because we have leg room and because those kinds of people who like to kick the back of your seat are not able to sit behind us. That said, we still had to deal with the "Texting Teenagers" (TT's). The TT (a girl) sitting to my left finally got the message when I actually turned in my seat with my back to her so I wouldn't be distracted by the screen on her cell phone. I noticed that she finally put it away. It's a good thing or I might have had to grab it from her and toss it all the way down to the Exit sign by the theatre screen.

Anyway, about the movie. It was very good. Somber, as would be expected, but great performances. Tom Cruise was not spectacular, but he wasn't supposed to be as a disciplined German soldier. This brings me to the TT again that was sitting next to me with her other TT friends. Why were they at this movie? This was not a movie most teenagers would go to on a Saturday afternoon. The only thing I could figure out is that they hoped to swoon over Tom Cruise. However, Tom Cruise in a Nazi uniform, with a missing arm, missing fingers and a black patch over his eye isn't exactly "swoon material" in my book.

This was a movie where you know it's not going to end well for these guys. And it doesn't, of course. But, the events leading up to the doomed finale were very interesting. Based upon facts of which I was not aware, it tells the story of a fairly courageous group of German soldiers who plot to assassinate Hitler, one of 15 other assassination attempts according to a note at the end of the movie. They had consciences as opposed to the majority of other Germans. It is nice to know that someone wanted to stand up to the monster.

The costumes, the filming, the script and the acting were all first rate. Go see it but leave your TT home, please.

Rating for

VALKYRIE