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Visitors Review

2012-05-25 15:53:17

Courage and Survival

Defiance, 2006 filmIn 1941 Germany occupied Belorussia. SS death squads and local police arrested Jews. Fifty thousand were murdered. Families were rounded up. A few escaped into the woods for safety. They shared scarce food. One man gets his revenge [but doesn't acquire arms or food]. More bad news arrives. The Bielski's become active in the resistance and learn from experience. They must survive and build shelters in the woods. More arrive. There is dissension, some will join another group of partisans. Tuvias asks people to flee into the woods. A watchmaker becomes a gunsmith. Women will learn to shoot. The group lives deep in the forest, snow is falling. Tuvia gets more food.A young lady meets a wolf while carrying food. They requisition medicines from a police station. Tuvia develops a cough, but he is still in charge. A German officer is captured [believable?] and suffers his fate. There is a threat of a German attack, they will leave for a new location. An enemy airplane drops bombs. Some remain as a rearguard until they are overwhelmed. They pass across the swamp to safety [recalling the Red Sea]. "Keep moving!" An enemy tank and soldiers show up. It looks bad until help shows up. They continue to retreat into the forest. They built a new camp and were joined by new people over the next two years. The last scenes tell of their future. They never sought recognition for those they saved.This motion picture is based in part upon actual events and people. Certain actions and characters were dramatized, some are entirely fictitious. The purpose is to tell a story about one part of history. These events happened in Belarus (White Russia) but the scenes were filmed on location in Lithuania. [Many names in the credits are Lithuanian.] The Bielski brothers lived in the country and had the skills and knowledge to survive in the woods, unlike city dwellers.

2012-05-25 09:10:53

Polish Jewish Resistance

This review is from: Defiance (DVD) I had read the book. The movie sticks closely to it and is very moving. A great action film.

2012-05-23 11:54:18

Confrontation of the passive Jew archetype

World War II. Germans are slaughtering Jews by the thousands. It's a virtual hunt for the quarry, where those who don't overtly display themselves as Jewish are the game. The Bielski brothers, a rugged trio of pseudo paramilitary farm-boys, take refuge in the wilderness where they attract a vast and ever-growing following of starving, desperate people escaping extermination.Soon enough the Bielski clan grows to over 1200, and along with their growing ranks comes a need to feed and support the group, not to mention actively fighting the Germans who would desire their death. The brutality of war, and in particular the horrendously inhumane manner in which the Nazis treated the Jews, is explored, but the essence of the story falls within the anxiety and rejection of reason cemented deep within the existential aspects of survival. With each daring raid for food and supplies, the philosophical clash of individuals on the brink of death causes tension within the group that grows to rival that of the enemy, as well as the local rogue Russian armies. Eventually the Germans get wind of trouble in the forests, which causes the cat-and-mouse game of survival of the Bielski brothers and their fellow ensconced runaways.The power of Defiance is within the ability to entice the viewer to challenge and question the decisions involved in the flight or fight instincts faced by the Jewish during WWII. Much like the rebellious group from Red Dawn - with an obviously more significant historical perspective - the elements of strategy, discipline, and solidarity against the enemy are present. Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber deliver great performances as two main protagonists, Tuvia and Zus, but Jamie Bell steals the show as brother Asael Bielski.A truly compelling tale of non-glamorized primitive survival that is sure to touch a nerve, this is a somewhat hidden gem; and despite slow moments and weak romantic story arcs, it's a superb addition to the military history genre.

Fernando F. Croce 2012-05-22 15:08:08

The tone is desaturated gravity, the action is smudged, the Old Testament parables subtle as anvils

wolftab-1 2012-05-19 09:02:27

A Good Film About a Lesser Known Story

Defiance is a good adaptation of a little known story of Jewishbrothers hiding out in the Belorussian forests fighting Nazi's andtheir collaborators. All the whole, they save the lives of escapingJews. Starring Daniel Craig (taking a break in between Bond films),Liev Schreiber (so good to see him in something more substantial thanWolverine where he clearly looked like he hated that experience) andJamie Bell as the fighting Bielski brothers.It's not a great film, as it is fairly predictable at spots and DanielCraig generally playing one emotion for the majority of the film. It iseffective and it is nice to see a film about the Jews in World War 2who are not just lambs for slaughter for a change. I did enjoy seeingthe struggles of the fugitive Jews to retain their humanity whilehiding out in the forests. Edward Zwick does well in his direction. Igive Defiance 3 out of 5 stars.

svnltn101 2012-05-19 03:49:06

A Very Good Film

This is a very good film with good characters and well written script.Hollywood films are made to entertain us not to educate us. DanielCraig and Liev Schreiber are two of the best actors in the filmindustry right now I wish them both all the luck to get more greatparts in great films. Edward Zwick is putting together a great body ofwork like Blood Diamond, The Last Samurai, and Legends of the Fall.There are some films that I have not seen that I will now put on mylist for future viewing. I am a fan of great directors and when I findone I like to see all their work to see how they have progressed thruout the years. Books are a whole different media than films, so bookswill always have more info and story.

Alonso Duralde 2012-05-18 10:24:10

It's too bad that Zwick didn't feel secure enough about what's best about Defiance -- the action-packed scenes of armed resistance against Nazis -- and found himself trapped in the archetype of the serious, self-aware, Important Holocaust Drama.

Ross Anthony 2012-05-17 13:31:42

A harrowing story of bravery & survival, Defiance tells it Hollywood-style. Still, somehow the true-story courage bleeds through the at-times hokey formula scripting.

2012-05-10 03:58:44

The Defiant Ones

The 2008 holiday season gave us two cinematic efforts detailing the true stories behind two separate acts of resistance to the Hitler regime, Bryan Singer's "Valkyrie" and this. Each is guaranteed to haunt you after it's over, and make you marvel afresh at the depths of both cruelty and courage of which human beings are capable. I recommend watching them both as a double bill to see some of the most committed acting performances of recent times.Powerhouse Daniel Craig cements his reputation here as the most versatile and passionate actor to ever fill 007's shoes. Somewhere between the grueling shooting schedules for his two Bond films, he also found time for this even more grueling picture, spending three or four months on location in Lithuania, and speaking very credible Russian for at least half of the film. He plays Tuvia, the eldest of the four Bielski brothers who flee to the vast forests of Belarus after their parents are brutally slain by Nazi collaborators. At first intent only on their own survival, they become the reluctant protectors of a ragtag band of fellow Jewish refugees. The leadership role falls naturally to Tuvia, who recognizes that his humanitarian duty to save fellow Jews outweighs personal interests. After a daring visit to the Nazi-guarded ghetto, their number swells to 1200. With Tuvia as their commander, and a sort of 20th-century Robin Hood, these ordinary citizens organize a forest community, learning woodsmanship and weaponry, and survival skills. Next-eldest brother Zus (Liev Schrieber) is not content to remain in a defensive posture and joins the nearby Red Army battalion so he can kill Germans. The tension between the vengeful Zus and the more pragmatic and pacifistic Tuvia is central to the narrative. In contrast to the "Valkyrie" script, which essentially covers the events of one day, and can do so in minute detail, the story of "Defiance" spans more than three years that the "Bielski Partisans" lived in the forest. This is too large a canvas for the filmmakers to do little more than broadly sketch what this forest existence must have been like and some of the personalities involved, but we do get a pretty vivid taste, throughout the seasons, of life spent in the wilderness and on the move, constantly afraid for the security of their camp. Apart from everyone looking too clean (personal hygiene must have been nearly impossible, especially for the women), one gets a sense of authencity. The one concession to movie artifice is probably Tuvia's rousing speech to the people from astride a white horse--very "Braveheart/King Arthur"esque--but it's a stirring and wonderful speech as delivered by Craig. Really, why is he messing about with James Bond? Here he brings to life a TRUE action hero, and the results are stunning.Liev Schreiber as Zus is also a revelation. None of Mr. Schreiber's previous roles had disposed me to put him in the top drawer of American actors, but here he more than holds his own opposite Craig. One thinks the "Wolverine" movie is hardly worthy of his talents based on his work here. Jamie Bell and George MacKay as the two youngest brothers are less central to the story but also comport themselves well. Director Edward Zwick ("Glory") is fond of the big historical canvas; as in his earlier film, committed performances from the leads elevate what could have been just a dry and somber historical lesson into a deeply-felt personal statement. And just like "Glory", "Defiance" adds a much-needed chapter of previously-overlooked acts of heroism in war to our collective consciousness. Be sure to watch the bonus features for a touching photographic tribute to some of these brave unsung soldiers who defied evil until the very end.

2012-05-09 16:17:58

Awe Inspiring

What a tribute to the human spirit. A group of Jews during WWII who survived hiding in the forest, with little but their hearts and spirits to sustain them while they are hunted by the Nazis and their minions. True stories are so much better than fiction. I highly recommend this movie to anyone who thinks the human situation is negative. This will inspire all to remember the indominatable will of people to not only survive but to rise above the horrors surrounding them.

2012-05-05 14:51:49

Brothers Of One Mother Fight For More Than Just Each Other!!!!!

This movie about a set of brothers who take to the woods in order to fight the Nazis. The brothers are targeted because they are Jews, but eventually they take different paths to fighting the damn Germans. One stays in the woods where he and another brother protect a band of jews who are hiding in very rough conditions, while another takes up with the communists to fight the Nazis. What we see in their interaction is how different outlooks lead to different outcomes, but also conflict between family members. All in all, a very good movie that contains strong emotions, good acting, and serious action. A very, very good movie to purchase.

2012-05-05 07:10:59

Inspiring!

This review is from: Defiance (DVD) Among my favorite movies. What the Bielski brothers accomplished is almost incomprehensible. Christians in particular ought to watch such movies to acquire both knowledge of history and moral courage.

grenmonkey 2012-05-04 05:34:38

Could have been a lot better

Defiance (2008) tells the story of the Bielski brothers who constructeda community of their own in the Belarussian forests during the SecondWorld War and fought against Nazi Germans in the process. The film isbased on a true story which I'm not very familiar with but I'm sure theHollywood studios have had their hand in the mix because the finishedstory here has a very overly "heroic" theme in it and the story feelsvery one-sided and "simplified for the masses". There's multiple sceneswhich try to show different sides to the story and the events at handand try to throw some shades of gray into the otherwise black and whiteway of seeing the world but all those scenes suffer from a heavyunderlining and they only scratch the surface of the issues that shouldhave been explored more deeply - like the tension between the campers,the nature of the Nazi soldiers, the nature of the Jews etc. This allends up to the fact that the story told here is a very shallow one andfeels through-out very "Hollywood-ish".It's no surprise that the story feels so shallow: Edward Zwick's(director, co-writer) isn't the most gifted man working in Hollywood.He seems to do the same movie over and over again; The Last Samurai(2003), Blood Diamond (2006) and Defiance feel very much the same whenit comes down to the theme and nature of the stories and the films. Thefilms even have the same gritty look that admittedly works.The cinematography, editing and the visual look (with sets, wardrobeetc.) are the film's strongest sides. Everything looks appropriate andthe editing grabs you along for the ride. Edward knows how to makeinteresting looking Hollywood films, I just wish he would give as muchattention to the story and the dialog as he gives to the visuals.Because the dialog and acting (along with the story) were the things Ihad the most issues with. The dialog is horrible: why, oh why did theydecide to make the characters speak bad English with a heavy "EastEuropean" -accent? Why not make them speak English right or make thewhole film with the other languages and put some subtitles on it? Imean, they speak horrible and barely understandable English to eachother – does the accent bring some value to the film? Does it make thefilm feel more original or what's the point? Or were they just hidingtheir lacking writing skills by producing simple and horrible soundingdialog? At least it's a nice way to get a way with it...Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber as the Bielski bros. make the best theycan with the bad dialog written for them and they manage to do a decentjob with it, the rest of the cast doesn't really deserve any praise.Defiance is a very mediocre and uninspiring film that lacks any realthought or emotion. It looks good but it doesn't have anything to sayor comment on anything – it just "is". The short action scenes aren'tvery interesting and the CGI used in them won't be bringing any awardshome. The film relies heavily on drama and the interaction between thecharacters which all is ruined by the garbage they call dialog. Couldhave been a way better film. 2/4

Tim Grierson 2012-05-03 17:57:28

In trying to add a new chapter to the long history of films made about the Holocaust, Defiance can barely move a narrative muscle without bumping into another, better movie that covers some of the same ground.

cooley103 2012-05-01 04:27:47

Why all the questions about "mistakes"

Generally not a bad movie, but I'm curious why people are sohypersensitive on the "mistakes" in the movie. There are complaintsabout Russian accents of the Jews, among other things, because themovie was set in Poland. Well, the part of Poland in which the moviewas set (the area just west of Minsk...a city that was 40% Jewish atthe start of WWII, by the way) only converted back to Polish control inthe 1920s, it had been under Russian control for almost 150 years andhad gone from majority Polish to majority Russian during that time.Rather than having got the accents wrong as some have suggested....justmaybe the writers got it right? Geez, it seems as if everyone withcomputer and an internet connection has become an expert on EasternEuropean migration patterns and political geography.

James Kendrick 2012-04-30 12:26:46

simultaneously encourages us to cheer in the aisles while also recognizing the disquiet that must accompany any moment of violence, not matter how seemingly righteous

2012-04-28 16:03:02

WOW

This was an outstanding story of love, loyalty, brotherhood and bravery... TWO THUMBS way UP

Enrique Buchichio 2012-04-28 07:14:47

Un drama bélico eficaz que rescata la heroicidad de los hermanos Bielski, protagonistas de un episodio poco conocido de la Segunda Guerra Mundial.

David T. 2012-04-26 06:35:58

Don't mess with us Jews. Really. Don't.

As I've said before, notwithstanding the unique straits of those whowere rounded up in the Holocaust, we Jews have no particular innatestreak of meek subservience, as this film amply proves. Even in thescene where the weakened crowd subsisting in the forest to hide fromthe Nazis and their henchmen kick and beat the stray German soldier todeath, I realized it was right and proper, even though your firstimpulse is to think Tuvia Bielski (Daniel Craig), their leader, isgoing to step in and stop it. But he doesn't, recognizing that theirmurderous rage is a just revenge for the ruthless brutalization oftheir loved ones at the Germans' hands. I must say, I disagreed withRoger Ebert's view that Craig's character is flat while his brother's,played by Liev Schreiber, is nuanced and evolutionary--he has itexactly backwards. It is Craig who gets to play the role where therequirements of leadership impose the toughest choices--choices heoften wrestles with and resists, growing more resolute and decisiveonly when forced to; sometimes not soon enough. Directed by Ed Zwick of"The Last Samurai," "30something" and "My So-Called Life."

2012-04-25 12:24:48

ENGROSSING THOUGHT PROVOKING, BUT LACKING IN SOME DETAIL! 4 1/2 STARS!

This is a wonderful film despite some minor flaws. It's a true story I knew little about and one worth telling! Besides being a great looking film the cast is also very strong. I only wish it would have had a little more detail in the little things about their survival in this bitter wilderness setting. It's easy to overlook these minor annoyances because of the thought provoking look at this groups many obstacles and how the Germans weren't the only enemy to overcome. The DVD has an excellent transfer and for fans of Holocaust films, this is a must see film!