Rescue Dawn (2006) User Reviews (245)

Brutal and tough to watch, but well made

[blott2319-1 · 7/10 · 26 June 2020]

Rescue Dawn is a film that details the real-life struggles that a fighter pilot endured when he was shot down during the Vietnam War. I appreciate that the film doesn't waste any time at all. It seems that not more than 10 minutes into the film, Christian Bale is lost behind enemy lines. You almost have to be engaged by the story of a POW, particularly when they are mistreated in captivity. It's tough to watch all that Dengler was put through in his long time in Laos. I was definitely invested and felt like I was put through an emotional wringer as the film doesn't give you much cause for hope. I found myself worn down as the character began to reach his limits. He couldn't seem to bear much more pain (physically or emotionally,) and I was ready to give up on the film because it was so dire and depressing, but the chance they might try to escape gave me enough to endure.

Knowing that the entire film is based on a true story is both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, I appreciate that there is something to keep my spirits up when the film is so bleak, because I know somehow Dengler must have survived to tell this story. Then again, it takes away a bit of drama at the end of the film, because we know help will come at some point. Christian Bale does a good job in the lead role, and did some of his patented extreme weight loss. I loved what Steve Zahn brought to the film, and I thought this showed he had some range, instead of always being the comic relief. Jeremy Davies is an actor I've always struggled with, perhaps because he is constantly typecast as a bit of a weasel, but I suppose that fits for this role. As a whole film, Rescue Dawn is tough to watch. But it's a powerful tale of survival in the worst of circumstances, so I enjoyed it to some degree.

America gave me the opportunity ..

[ValDudka · 7/10 · 27 February 2019]

The film is based on the story of the American pilot Dieter Dengler (Christian Bale) and his crushing fall onto the territory of Vietnam. Active warfare during the Vietnam War will not be shown here, but you will see the inner side of the horror of the war - the brutal everyday life of the military captivity of American soldiers in the depths of the wild Vietnam jungle, where it is almost impossible to escape and stay alive. The script is very consistent and rich. Christian Bale, as almost as always, is incomparable and delightful in his role. You believe him and empathize. During the movie, he turns from a self-confident guy into a man who has understood, in his own skin, the difference between educational practice and the reality of war. Other actors also play with a high quality. The only drawback for me is how poorly was shown of the plane crash at the beginning of the film, there were obviously problems with the special effects during the shooting of the film ) Someone may decides that the film is tightened and there is little action, but behind such silence lies the deepest drama. You can feel the lack of budget and there are some drawbacks, but the message and the idea are much higher than commercial success. You should only feel a little stronger desire of the heroes to live, to fight for their lives, to overcome obstacles and not to despair, and you as a spectator will not remain indifferent.

Exceptional POW film

[ElijahCSkuggs · 8/10 · 30 July 2007]

After getting shot down in Laos, Dieter Dengler is captured, tortured, and eventually transported to a remote POW camp where he is united with fellow American pilots with the same problem. With the arrival of Dengler, a new spirit emerges among the group, and an escape plan soon hatches. RESCUE DAWN is a story of struggle, friendship, keeping one's sanity, and survival amidst a war-brewing Vietnam and its inhospitable jungles. Werner Herzog does a great job with his direction, giving his actors full reign as well as inspiring them to their creative peaks. Each actor in the film does their best with each role; none becoming too hammy or extreme in their techniques; with Bale, Zahn, and Davies all shedding flesh as well as comfort in preparation for their tasking roles. Great cinematography throughout, as the Laotian backdrop is realized vividly; looming stone cliffs and walls of vine add further quality to the prison feel, and empty fields and lush rain forest paints the wild of Vietnam effectively. The music is excellent, and serves the film nobly, never trying too hard for tears or pity. RESCUE DAWN is a feel-good movie without really trying to become one, which is where so many survival and hardship movies fail; but any imperfections this film does have, is certainly overshadowed by its obvious technical genius, excellent acting, and courageous story.

Straightforward and impressive.

[omkar1984 · 7/10 · 11 April 2019]

A no-nonsense(no bragging about 'Uncle Sam') and sombre depiction of a spasming survival. While the film has a few disturbing historical inaccuracies, the whole experience is gripping. I guess after 'Platoon', I was impressed by this movie's jungle 'fear-factor', the cinematography deserves applause. The background score gives justice to the setting of the movie. Christian Bale has put his heart into the role and well supported by the rest of the cast. There are these rare 'straight stories' that make a mark in a gentleman's way, this movie is one ...

One Flew over the Bamboo Hut

[WriterDave · 9/10 · 16 July 2007]

For me, Werner Herzog will always be remembered for his haunting 1979 remake of "Nosferatu." Next to the silent-era original, it's probably the greatest artistic statement ever put to film on the myth of the vampire. Apart from that, he's been one of those fascinatingly enigmatic European infant-terrible directors, brazenly going against the studio system and doing whatever he damn well pleases, be it documentaries or bizarre art films. "Rescue Dawn" comes as a huge surprise, and proving that he still does whatever he pleases, is a dramatized version of the true story of Vietnam POW Dieter Dengler that Herzog previously filmed as a documentary in 1997 entitled "Little Dieter Needs to Fly." Masterfully realized, "Rescue Dawn" emerges as Herzog's most accessible film. After over 30 years of film-making, he's gone "Hollywood" but has done it on his own terms.

"Rescue Dawn" features classical and feverishly transcendent direction from Herzog, breathtaking cinematography of Laos and Vietnam from Peter Zeitlinger, a triumphant and evocative music score from Klaus Bedelt, and Oscar-worthy performances from an amazing cast. In the lead role of Dieter, Christian Bale once again puts his whole body into the character (as he did in "The Machinist"). Bale has become one of those rare actors whose every role seems to be the performance of his career. Also noteworthy are Jeremy Davies ("Saving Private Ryan," and "Ravenous") as Eugene from Eugene, Oregon, who seems to always get cast as the most emotionally unstable soldier, and a shockingly good and sympathetic Steve Zahn as Duane. Herzog puts the cast through the ringer in artistically rendered depictions of torture, horror, and survival in the harshest of conditions. Even in some of the most cringe-worthy scenes, Herzog turns what could've been wallowing on its head--witness the fantastic transition from Bale eating live worms and one crawling in his beard to a beautiful caterpillar leisurely making its way across a leaf in the peaceful jungle.

Essentially what we have here is the war-movie version of Milos Foreman's "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest" as Herzog depicts a group of average men who were slightly crazy already becoming increasingly more mad through involuntary imprisonment. While Bale's character refuses to be held down and is constantly trying to keep his brain and skills sharp through plotting an escape, some of his fellow prisoners are rendered hopeless as they have turned their own minds into the most impenetrable walls. Herzog does a great job of depicting tiny bits of humanity and dignity shining through in the most inhumane conditions, and how the will to survive can triumph over death. He's somehow crafted a movie that is both boldly anti-establishment and unapologetically pro-soldier and patriotism. Being based on a true story where the ending is known to the viewer doesn't take away from the white-knuckle suspense and human drama. Unlike Foreman's classic from the 1970's, where Jack Nicholson (mirrored here by Bale) flew over the cuckoo's nest and disappeared into his own insanity, Herzog gives up hope. One flew over the bamboo hut...and he made it.

The "Dawn" of Naturalism

[Jonny_Numb · 7/10 · 23 August 2007]

Writer-director Werner Herzog, whose films have always been marked by a rapport with the natural world, takes this trademark to Laos in "Rescue Dawn," a compelling, intimate account of the Vietnam conflict. Based on the real-life tale of Dieter Dengler (Christian Bale), a German-born/American-bred fighter pilot with a cocky, cowboy-like demeanor, the film goes for realism and largely succeeds. The setting is a microscopic POW camp where Dengler and a half-dozen prisoners, including Dwight (Steve Zahn, playing well against type) and Gene (Jeremy Davies--"Saving Private Ryan") plot an escape. Interestingly, the extensive Vietnamese spoken in the film is not subtitled, which actually adds to the strong sense of isolation incurred from the POWs' position. Herzog also paints "Rescue Dawn" as a timely meditation on the Iraq War--while Dieter's John Wayne persona (that takes a drastically different turn in the second half) could be read as an endorsement of American militarism, we see the emaciated, defeated prisoners almost as symbols of a war that's been "lost" from the beginning; even later in the film, the Vietnamese captors begin to show the same signs of fatigue and desperation. The whole concept of "escape" is essential to making an entertaining, suspenseful film (which "Rescue Dawn" certainly is), but also reflective of a current foreign-policy mess that should have been curtailed before it even began. But Herzog is subtle in his politics, and lets the jungle do most of the talking--once Dieter and his fellow prisoners escape, the road to a "happy ending" is anything but "cut and dry." The director often puts us in the midst of torture and terror, but also milks moments of surprising humor to great effect, and gets excellent performances from the entire cast (while Bale is top-billed, Zahn and Davies are the real standouts). My only real complaint about the film is a conclusion that comes off as contrived and unnecessary, stretching the credibility of the harrowing realism that came before. Otherwise, "Rescue Dawn" is one of 2007's standout features.

one of Herzog's very best; it's totally gripping storytelling, stellar performances, touches of great humor and true pathos

[Quinoa1984 · 10/10 · 18 June 2007]

What a way to have a little counter-programming this July 4th! In a time when the summer blockbuster means sequels and remakes galore delivering high powered special effects but not much human soul, we need a picture with Dieter Dengler as the 'hero' of sorts. It's the closest Herzog has gotten to telling a story of the purest kind of survival, where it's not about a guy out to kill all the bad guys in sight ala Rambo, but in its harrowing way much more extraordinary. As played by Christian Bale, who goes once again to be totally gaunt, Dengler is a pilot who's been stripped of everything except for his will to live- which he has in spades, and is both very strong and vulnerable at the same time. Strong in the sense that he's capable of organizing an escape for himself and his fellow prisoners (including an unforgettable Steve Zahn- yes, unforgettable, not the usual tenor for Zahn, and Jeremy Davies, looking very much like Charles Manson), vulnerable enough to get close to Zahn's Dwight, leading to very sad results.

LIke any great POW movie, Herzog does give his film many moments that aren't totally tension filled or with exposition relating to escape: there's humor, like with a prison guard who's a midget named Jumbo, or a dog with a few hind-leg walking skills, or the one prisoner who doesn't say a word but conveys "yes" without even nodding. He even has the wisdom to put the same educational short from Little Dieter Needs to Fly, for soldiers explaining what to do in case put behind enemy lines, only this time with the soldiers giving their own raucous commentary on the ship. And in what could be considered "conventional" in the sense that it's not totally abstract like Fata Morgana or wildly bleak like Aguirre, his style a lot of the time is that of a skilled professional as opposed to the great experimenter he can be. The documentary approach is still there, to be sure, but what's most fascinating considering the studio backing and slew of producers is that it never feels false as a Herzog film, that it still has the technique and approach to telling an epic story that his 8-man crewed films did. There were also many shots that I had rolling in my head long after the film ended.

Featuring appropriately an emotional musical score, exceptional performances, and that good old jungle that's served as one of Herzog's love/hate facets of his career, Rescue Dawn is accessible entertainment that is also profound as a tale loaded with the kinds of ugly details (though not too graphic in PG-13 form) that wouldn't ever get by in the usual sentimental Hollywood malarkey. A must-see.

True and moving POW story.

[come2whereimfrom · 7/10 · 21 January 2008]

What's wrong with Christian bale that he loves so much to play with his weight? You think if a role required him to be painfully thin he'd do another straight after rather than fluctuate back and forth. American Psycho buff, The Machinist almost see-through, Batman Begins buff and now Rescue Dawn thin as a fat stick, this guy really does take method acting to a new level but come on Chris this cant be healthy. That said the level of realism, his physique and his acting ability make this a great film. Directed by Werner Herzog, probably best known in this country for documentary 'Grizzly Man', it tells the true story of Lt. Dieter Dengler a US fighter pilot who was shot down over Laos during the Vietnam war and his struggle for survival and rescue against all odds. Initially we meet the boys preparing for the mission and join in with their camaraderie, they take to the skies to start the bombing but all that changes when Dengler's plane is shot and he crash lands in enemy territory. Captured and tortured he is eventually taken to a kind of concentration camp where he bonds with others that share his predicament, together they hatch an escape plan that they hope will eventually see them saved. Ill, without food and water, constantly taunted and beaten the group endure as much as is humanly possible at the hands of their captors. What transcends on the screen is a story of faith, courage, friendship, endurance and sanity which is all played out against the backdrop of the Vietnam jungle. The cinematography is jarringly beautiful which makes the soldiers struggle all the more painful and real. As the group lose their minds and their weight we as an audience get to observe the cabin fever nature of man who without the body's essential needs starts to slowly deteriorate. Equally brutal as it is beautiful, the scenes where they have nothing but meal worms to eat are particularly stomach churning, the film as a whole contains a message that like others before it, 'Touching the Void', 'United 93' etc, can be surprisingly uplifting.

Outstanding tale of survival

[zetes · 9/10 · 29 July 2007]

If you're a big fan of the mad German genius Werner Herzog, you might be disappointed in this, his first foray into Hollywood film-making. This is polished and not at all experimental. However, to me it feels like Herzog, when he stepped up to the plate, said to himself, "Well, I can make an American film. And I can make a better one than 95% of American films." And there's nothing wrong with that. The film is a dramatization of the events retold in Herzog's earlier documentary Little Dieter Needs to Fly. Christian Bale plays Dieter Dengler, an American citizen and German emigré who had one of the most impressive survival instincts ever seen in a human being. Shot down in Laos in the opening throes of the Vietnam War, he was taken to a brutal POW camp where he met two other American POWs (Jeremy Davies and Steven Zahn in the film) and three Asian men who had worked with the enemy. The two Americans had been there for an average of a couple of years, and had all but given up hope (the Davies character is sure there will be peace soon enough). Through his amazing ingenuity, Dieter planned a heroic escape. Most of the movie takes place in the POW camp. Most of what I remember from Little Dieter Needs to Fly, which I saw around two years ago, is the escape. It's a disturbing, horrifying tale of survival. I would have liked this part to be the longer, but it works very well. It's certainly harrowing. I was disappointed that one of the images I really remember from the original film did not appear: the bear that stalked Dieter during his final days wandering in the jungle. He considered it almost a friend, but in the back of his mind realized it was following him because it wanted to eat him. Herzog keeps things extremely subtle, telling them very much the way they happened. The story develops more like real life, not like a movie. It keeps melodrama to a minimum. My only problem is how it ends. The ending is way too boisterous and uplifting. Dieter Dengler was most definitely an upbeat kind of guy, but his suffering and the awful things that he saw – heck, with the awful things that we just experienced with him, so vivid is this movie – don't lead well to the celebration that ends the movie. I very much liked this film, and think it is one of the best I've seen so far this year.

overly familiar but well-acted POW drama

[Buddy-51 · 7/10 · 27 January 2008]

In "Rescue Dawn," Christian Bale plays Dieter Dengler, a navy pilot who was shot down over Laos in 1966. He spent many months in a prisoner-of-war camp not far from the Ho Chi Minh Trail, suffering torture and starvation along with the half dozen or so other men who were imprisoned with him. A man of great determination and resourcefulness, Dengler engineered a daring escape that earned him the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Flying Cross and a Purple Heart.

"Rescue Dawn" was directed by Werner Herzog, the world-famous auteur of such visionary films as "Aguirre, the Wrath of God," "Fitzcarraldo" and "Grizzly Man." Given that pedigree, one is struck by just how conventional a piece of film-making "Rescue Dawn" turns out to be (Herzog made a documentary on Dengler, entitled "Little Dieter Needs to Fly," in 1997). Perhaps because the director found himself hemmed in by the biographical nature of the material, "Rescue Dawn" feels pretty much like every other prisoner-of-war film set during the Vietnam Era (and before). The main distinction of this movie lies not in its plot details or character insights but in the fact that Bale and several of the other actors were willing to go on drastic diets and drop massive amounts of weight in order to achieve their emaciated looks. With their ribs and spines clearly sticking out through their taut skin, the actors never allow us to doubt for a moment their total commitment either to the material or to their art. The problem is that it becomes such a distraction to us in the audience that it may actual have the opposite effect than what was intended. We begin to worry more about the actors than about the characters, questioning whether any role is worth putting one's health and life at risk in such a manner. In other words, rather than drawing us deeper into the story, it actually winds up pushing us away.

Reservations aside, it is important to note that "Rescue Dawn" is still a film well worth seeing. It is superbly acted by Bale, Jeremy Davies and Steve Zahn (as two of his fellow POWs), and features any number of disturbing, harrowing moments as we watch men, pushed to the limit of their endurance, trying to keep hope alive even after all reason for hope has vanished. We watch in complete empathy as deprivation, confinement and emotional abuse take their toll on the characters' bodies, psyches and spirits. The last half hour of the film, in particular, is poignant and heartbreaking as the men become increasingly desperate in their efforts to stay alive.

I wish the filmmakers had provided some clue as to what happened to some of the other prisoners after they and Dengler part company late in the film. We're happy that things eventually worked out well for Dengler, but we would like to know how the other characters we've come to care about fared as well. I imagine that Dengler himself would have wanted it that way.

An excellent Herzog movie

[TheTourist123 · 9/10 · 10 September 2006]

I saw this at the world premiere last night, and it was really great. Not my favorite Herzog movie, but overall his most well rounded one and definitely his most mainstream. It has a chance of doing quite well at the box office. The acting is all around terrific, and the camera work beautiful.

Most Herzog movies seem like these flawed masterpieces; movies that are worth watching for several moments of intense brilliance. Rescue Dawn had these moments of brilliance, and the rest seemed like a very well made thriller / action movie. However, it didn't quite pack the same punch as the best moments of Fitzcarraldo or Aguirre. Still, I gave it 5/5 on my voting ballot.

Overall Good movie

[Triple_980 · 7/10 · 23 January 2008]

I am big Christian Bale fan, and of course, as soon as I heard about "Rescue Dawn", I had to see it. This is not Bale's best moment, but he is still able to pull off the character of a fighter pilot. There are a few memorable scenes that real affect the viewer. One of the negative things about movie is the lack of development. We do not get to learn much about the characters. But regardless of this, "Rescue Dawn" is still worth watching. It may not be the best movie of the year, but it is worth the time. I would compare this movie to the likings of "Behind Enemy Lines." But unlike "Behind Enemy Lines," "Rescue Dawn" is not filled with bullets flying everywhere, and things exploding. "Rescue Dawn" is more about the survival aspect of P.O.W. In one scene, you see Bale picking up a few pieces of rice and eagerly eating. You can't help but feel sympathy for the prisoners who look like they are just walking skeletons.

Not a "popcorn" film

[tomcardello · 1/10 · 4 August 2007]

Besides terrific acting & a compelling (true!!) story, this film does not wallow in over-glorifying itself. It doesn't try to pump up the audience with patriotic blather or "gee whiz, what a guy" feel good stuff. It simply tells the story of this incredibly courageous and resourceful man, Dieter Dengler. This is a great example of how films should be made. Also, the film's historical content was very, very accurate, the writers took few if any liberties with the truth.

Christian Bale is indeed an actor to be reckoned with. He's quickly becoming one of my favorites. His acting is believable and subdued.

Highly recommended but see it in a theatre and not on DVD in order to get the full effect of this great story.

above average..

[spirit_of_truth2000 · 7/10 · 13 August 2007]

Rescue Dawn is an admirably good, fact-based film about a rookie pilot fighting for his life and assuming the role of a true leader in a pre-Vietnam POW camp after being shot down from his fighter jet. Werner Herzog's Direction is amazing, and the film has a highly original and effective score.

Christian Bale plays the lead role of pilot Deter, (in which he synthesizes an American accent flawlessly, as usual), who eventually becomes the heroic sole-survivor of a brutal POW camp in Laos. His supporting cast was very strong, and the filming process was apparently a very harsh one. Christian Bale reportedly lost sixty pounds for the movie, eats insects, and even has himself covered in leeches, as does the rest of the supporting cast.

The main aspect of the movie that impressed me was how realistic it was, and how it focused on the psychology of the victims of the camp in unique ways.

Basically, it's virtually a flawless film, and anyone who appreciates quality film should seriously consider watching Rescue Dawn.

Realistic and well done

[dworldeater · 8/10 · 7 January 2019]

Rescue Dawn is an excellent Vietnam War POW drama directed by Werner Herzog. Christian Bale gives one of his finest and most grueling performances as German/American pilot who is shot down on a secret bombing raid in Laos. Bale and the rest of his POW costars were totally dedicated to their roles losing an unhealthy amount of weight for absolute authenticity and realism. Rescue Dawn is a harrowing and totally realistic trip to Hell, via the humid, scorching jungle and his sadistic captors. Rescue Dawn is a riveting tale of survival and perseverance that is raw and gritty. The cinematography is excellent and the score is powerful, but subtle. For the most part, the politics of the war are not much of a factor in this film and is mostly about what Dieter Dengler(Christian Bale) and his fellow POW's had to endure. Rescue Dawn is a very good film that in my opinion is very underrated.

Semi-arty Vietnam War survival drama

[Wuchakk · 7/10 · 15 October 2015]

Released in late 2006-2007, "Rescue Dawn" is based on the true story of German-American Dieter Dengler (Christian Bale) who was shot down in February, 1966, during a Vietnam bombing mission. He was held in a Laotian prison camp with several other prisoners, including Duane Martin and Gene DeBruin (Steve Zahn and Jeremy Davies), before attempting to escape the following Summer.

Directed by the famous German auteur, Werner Herzog, known for cult hits like 1972's "Aguirre, the Wrath of God" and 1982's "Fitzcarraldo," "Rescue Dawn" has a somewhat artsy air compared to more conventional Vietnam War flicks, like 1986' "Platoon" and 1989's "Casualties of War," which isn't to say it's a better viewing experience than "Platoon," but it's about as good as the other one. In any case, it lacked the mega-budget of those blockbusters. It was shot in the jungles of Thailand in 44 days and things got ugly when the producer couldn't pay the crew for lack of funds.

I'll be honest with you, during the first hour I was taken aback by what struck me as bad acting on Bale's part, like his smiling and comedic words at the absolute wrong time. It just didn't ring true, but then I saw that it was intentional, particularly after watching the "Making Of" featurettes on the DVD, which show that Dieter was a weirdly obsessed guy who absolutely refused to give up. It was his naïve-yet-unshakable optimism and iron-will that got him out of his jungle hell. The director would know more about the real Dengler since he made a documentary of his POW travails in 1997, "Little Dieter Needs to Fly." After watching clips from that film you'll realize that Bale's performance isn't far from the truth. Dieter always had this perpetual smile and weird sense of humor that either annoyed people or endeared them. So the performance is SUPPOSED to be eccentric. Besides, there's more than a hint of black comedy in the movie because the situation for American POWs was nigh surrealistically absurd.

The movie has been severely criticized by members of the families of Gene DeBruin and Phisit Intharathat, the latter being the only other survivor of the group, a Thai. Herzog acknowledged that DeBruin acted heroically during his imprisonment, refusing to leave while some sick prisoners remained, but claimed to be unaware of this until after the film had been completed. He said that this angle would've probably been included in the story had he learned it earlier. However, the DeBruin family said that Herzog was not interested in speaking with them prior to the film being completed. For me personally, I didn't think Debruin was portrayed THAT badly. The way he's depicted is simply the result of his being incarcerated in a primitive jungle prison for two years BEFORE Dengler arrived. The latter was "only" there for five months before attempting to escape.

A critic referred to "Rescue Dawn" as "One Flew Over the Bamboo Hut" on the grounds that it's essentially a war version of 1975's "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." Like that movie, "Rescue Dawn" depicts a group of average men who were a little off BEFORE undergoing involuntary imprisonment. While Dieter (Bale) refuses to be locked down and is constantly trying to keep his mental skills sharp through humor and plotting, some of the other POWs are increasingly becoming lost in their own minds, which then sets up its own impenetrable walls. The fact that "Rescue Dawn" is based on a true story where the ending is known doesn't prevent it from being a quality jungle survival drama. Please take note because this isn't a war action film, although there's some of that; it's a survival drama. In any case, unlike "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" where the protagonist flew over the cuckoo's nest and disappeared forever, this movie offers hope. One flew over the bamboo hut, fell in for a while, but makes it out!

The film runs 120 minutes.

GRADE: B

Excellent film

[Dziga7 · 9/10 · 28 June 2007]

I saw this tonight at a preview in Somerville, Mass - a really excellent film. Just such good storytelling, with great suspense, and the usual Herzog weird touches that I am guessing must have come from him (and not the true story). The acting is also superb - both Christian Bale and Steve Zahn are fantastic. Bale really captured this guy's incredibly indomitable spirit, but also his almost child-like wonder and naivete at the world - which ironically enough helps him survive. I found the whole story really moving. The very ending of the film really disappointed me, but it didn't ruin the evening by any means. Wonderful music too. Interesting also to see the documentary about the REAL Dieter, LITTLE DIETER NEEDS TO FLY (http://imdb.com/title/ tt0145046/), also made by Herzog. I saw it at a film festival 10 years ago - and Herzog and Dieter were there! Of course, much of Dieter's 'real-life' obsessive-compulsive behavior - such as opening and closing a door multiple times after passing through - turns out to have been 'suggested' by Herzog! Cheeky filmmakers...

Ending Is Uncharacteristically Flawed for a Herzog Film

[evanston_dad · 7/10 · 11 January 2008]

Director Werner Herzog revisits his favorite theme -- Man going mad in the wilderness -- in "Rescue Dawn," the fictional remake of his own documentary, "Little Dieter Needs to Fly."

Christian Bale plays Dieter Dengler, an American pilot shot down while on a covert bombing mission in Laos in 1965. He's tucked away in a prison camp but plans and executes an escape with the other inmates. Most of the movie is utterly gripping (much of it is also extremely grueling), and Herzog tells the story with his customary lack of editorializing. What I always like about Herzog's films is that he never tries to tell us how we should feel, but rather approaches his stories, whether fictional or no, with an almost journalistic objectivity. However, his instincts fail him in the film's final scenes, and he falls prey to a bombastic Hollywood ending that's at complete odds with the rest of the film or anything else he's ever done, for that matter. For that reason, my mostly positive review of the movie has to come with qualifications.

Bale is remarkable, as usual, as Dengler. He's incapable of giving an ordinary performance, and no matter how good or bad the movie he's in is, you can always count on him to give you something interesting to watch. Steve Zahn plays a hollowed out fellow prisoner who escapes with Dengler and accompanies him on his frantic and nightmarish journey through the jungle, only to meet a shocking end. And an unrecognizable Jeremy Davies gives an off-the-wall performance as a prisoner resistant to Dengler's plan and convinced that they will all be saved by the Americans at any moment.

The jungle settings look stunning. As usual in a Herzog film, the environment is as much a character as any of the actual people on screen, and as Zahn's character says at one point, represents more of a prison to these men than the actual walls and buildings of the prison they're in.

Grade: B+

Don't Politicize This Film!

[joe-886 · 10/10 · 13 March 2007]

I am amazed at how many people are so consumed with Anti-War fever that they can't appreciate a true story about a man who overcomes something that most people couldn't. If it does not reinforce their preconceptions then they consider it propaganda. Yet these same people hale anything, no matter how absurdly ridiculous that reinforces their beliefs. They completely miss the point. Their own prejudices keep them from recognizing and appreciating a work of art when they see it. Many of today's filmmakers seeking to make both fictional films and documentaries about the war in Iraq, as well as wars from the past, are running into a brick wall. Both Hollywood and the Independent Film Industry are refusing to show films that do not take a distinctive anti-war slant. Filmmakers that show an objective view of warfare, neither taking a position for or against the war, are finding it next to impossible to get their films shown. Likewise, if the film is even remotely related to a war and does not blatantly condemn it then it does not get shown. Just ask Nick Bicanic & Jason Bourque how hard it was for them to get their excellent documentary about the modern day use of Private Security Companies seen. As them how many studios offered to purchase the rights to film if they would only change the tone to one of condemnation rather than examination. I get the sense, from the back story about the lack of financing Herzog was able to get for this project that he ran into the same problem. Frankly I am appalled. The industry, both mainstream and independent, are pushing their own agendas over all else. The art form is suffering greatly for it. I congratulate filmmakers like Bicanic and Herzog for refusing to take no for answer. As for this film, it honors a man who risked his life not only for his country but for his fellow POWs. You can hate war and still respect the men and women who were called upon to fight it. You can hate war and still call a POW who escapes capture despite impossible odds a hero. You can hate the war in Iraq and appreciate the sacrifices the men and women who are fighting it are making on your behalf. Don't let your own personal bias lead you to make a mistake you'll regret for the rest of your life. Protest the war all you like, just do it in a way that does not belittle the airmen, soldiers, sailors and marines who are fighting it. Whether you agree with their decision or not, they deserve your understanding and your respect. Just as Dieter Dengler, the POW on whom this film is based, deserves your respect. Don't belittle his sacrifice by politicizing this film. Whether you agree with his decision to become fighter pilot or not, his accomplishments.

Impressive...

[paul_haakonsen · 7/10 · 22 December 2015]

I have seen "Rescue Dawn" three times by now, and the movie is still as entertaining and impressive as it was the first time around. And the fact that the movie is based on a real story just adds a whole outstanding level to the movie experience.

The story told in "Rescue Dawn" is not your average war drama, so don't expect a heap of gunfights and explosions. This is a war drama that focuses on survival and the ordeal of Dexter Dengler (played by Christian Bale).

I will say that the story is told in a very nice manner; a way that really draws the audience in and puts us right there in the midst of the traumatic ordeal deep in the jungle.

There are some amazing performances in "Rescue Dawn" and a really impressive cast. Christian Bale puts on an amazing performance as always, and so does the always impressive Jeremy Davies. But Steve Zahn is really outstanding in this movie, casting aside his usual comedy roles and really stepping up to the role. All three actors really showed commitment to their roles with their weight-loss and authentic appearances.

"Rescue Dawn" is definitely a movie that should be watched if you enjoy character driven dramas with outstanding performances.

Expertly Crafted, Politically Muted War Drama

[rcbbo · 9/10 · 23 July 2007]

The biggest compliment I can give Werner Herzog and his crew is this: Rescue Dawn is the most most well developed plot of this year.

Rescue Dawn follows Dieter Dengler (Christian Bale) and his struggle to survive in the jungles during the early stages of Vietnam.

All Dieter Dengler has ever wanted was to be a pilot. He was pretty much neutral when it came to war, but his main reason for signing up for military service was so he could fly. His one and only passion.

His first mission was a heavily classified mission in Laos. Dieter is shot down and begins on the run in the jungle. It doesn't take too long before he's captured and sent to a prison camp of sorts. He's locked up in Vietnamese huts with 5 other men. The two he immediately connects with are Duane (Steve Zahn) and to a lesser extent, Gene (Jeremy Davies) One thing becomes obvious quickly. His captors are relentlessly mean and his cell mates are borderline insane. Especially Gene. Dieter appears to be the only one who completely has it together.

Dieter becomes frustrated and quickly realizes he's not going to live much longer if he stays where he's at. Along with the 5 other fellows, Dieter plans his escape.

What Herzog does so brilliantly in this movie is set it all up to come full circle. In the opening scene, Bale and others mock a training video that tells you what to do if you are stuck in the jungle on your own only to end out needing similar skills when he's on the run. The 5 men all appear crazy and we wonder "What's with these guys? Is Dieter the only sane one in the bunch?" well, Herzog makes you feel claustrophobic in that camp. Slowly we see Dieter's mind go and start to understand that all of these fellows were probably just as sane at one point as Dieter.

This is a slow paced, expertly developed war drama. If you don't like slow moving character studies, avoid at all cost, but if you can even slightly appreciate such a thing, you will love Rescue Dawn. One of the better films of 07.

9/10

Survival Story

[loco_73 · 7/10 · 16 July 2007]

I found "Rescue Dawn" to be a good movie, not a very good movie, but all in all a solid effort. I found that at times the movie was a bit convoluted and the story was not coming along with the sometimes frenetic rhythm of the movie, actually it was somewhat lagging. I found the Vietnamese and Laotian characters to be too undefined and even a bit superficial and cartoonish; most of them are there as screen filler, i.e. the "bad guys". Another irksome thing was Jeremy Davies's performance (not all of it though). Being weird for the sake of weirdness can get repetitive and tiring in some cases, and this was one of them. Jeremy Davies is a fine actor, but in this movie his whole demeanour was a bit too much, too overplayed.

However, having said all of the above, it does not diminish the strength of the movie, its essence or its central message about faith, perseverance, strength of spirit and character, which when added will help an individual triumph against the most incredible odds, case in point Dieter Dengler, an immigrant to the US that loved his adopted country and saw honour and duty in serving it and paying back what he perceived as the opportunities that had been bestowed upon him by his new homeland.

The movie is anchored by yet another brilliant performance by Christian Bale who is undoubtedly one of the best actors in the business today, and a performer that actually deserves to be called an actor. I would also be remiss not to mention the great performance by Steve Zahn, a very very underrated actor that is mainly and wrongly known for playing dimwitted potheads, losers and slackers. How wonderful seeing his range when given a decent role in a good movie! At the heart of this movie is the incredible story of survival of Dieter Dengler an odd and even colourful character who found himself amidst some quite extraordinary circumstances. No matter how one feels about the Vietnam War, what it represents and its place in history, one cannot deny the amazing and touching tale that this movie imparts.

Rescue Dawn is a deplorable and libelous movie

[CinemaZealot57 · 1/10 · 31 October 2007]

This movie is a complete misrepresentation of a factual event. To make it even worse the libelous part is that an admirable and honorable man was portrayed as a scum-bag Charles Manson type. If you want to read about the REAL story check this out... www.rescuedawnthetruth.com/ at this site family members and two of the POW's make statements about their experiences. Deiter Dengler has passed on and one Thai (Pisidhi) is still living in Thailand. Both of these guys made video testimony to the quality of the type of man Debruin was. The base message of this site is the fact that Gene Debruin was an honorable man. In the movie he was portrayed as a Manson type. The Director was contacted several times by the survivors and family before during and after the making of the movie. He NEVER replied to them. NEVER got any facts. He made a typical movie from Hollywood. Isn't it wonderful to know that if you go out and serve your country and then conduct yourself in a true and honorable way some idiot in Hollywood will drag your name and reputation through the mud. I can only hope that the Debruin family can bring a lawsuit against Director Werner Herzog. Seems to me that they would be able to easily win. There is also a critique of this farce of a movie by Debbie Schlussel at... www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/2007/08/what_happened_t_1.html Strangest thing is that the Manson look for Debruin in the movie is more that a little coincidental. The actor that portrays Debruin did in fact portray Manson in the movie Helter Skelter. How's that for slander?

This isn't a war movie

[kellyf-30288 · 19 June 2018]

This isn't like other war movies so don't expect a Saving Private Ryan or even a Band of Brothers like drama. Rescue Dawn is one of the few mainstream efforts by legendary German auteur Wernor Herzog and you can see why- This isn't a war movie rather a survival film and it takes us dep into the jungle where the main character (portrayed impeccably by Christian Bale) has to fight himself, his urges and nature. A scene of him devouring a raw snake can make you squirm. A good film that should be given a chance. (Herzog goes mainstream).

Well acted and an Inspirational tale

[Floated2 · 7/10 · 31 December 2015]

Rescue Dawn single-minded focus exposes some flaws, such as the film's disinterest in Dengler's captors who are, like Dengler, slowly starving to death and who think they are defending their country. But that focus also makes the story gripping - there is danger everywhere and a sense that Dengler (Christian Bale) is so resourceful that he thinks of almost everything but that it's the "almost" that could get him killed.

The film is inspiring and gripping, but it plays it cool. It doesn't pump up Dengler's heroism, for instance, because it knows it doesn't need to. It doesn't strain to make big statements about Vietnam or to assert a political argument because it knows all those arguments have been made.