You kind of know what you're getting into when you watch this movie and that's not a bad thing because when I started watching this movie I expected to watch it over two nights but then I got sucked into the story and watched it all in one night. It's a POW movie set during the Vietnam war where the POW's escape, so there's not really going to be much else to go on story line wise. This is definitely a movie that is the polar opposite of The Great Escape but like The Great Escape, Rescue Dawn is also based on a true story and that is about where the similarities end.
Where as The Great Escape had a huge ensemble cast, Rescue Dawn focuses on one character.
Where as The Great Escape was a more fun movie to watch, Rescue Dawn is more brutal and realistic.
Where as The Great Escape is more epic in nature, Rescue Dawn is more intimate and on a smaller scale.
The one thing I didn't expect from this movie was the violence, brutality, and realism depicted but all of that really helped to create a world that sucked me into and sympathize with the main character. Herzog does a great job of creating the world Dieter Dengler found himself thrown into and then had to will himself to survive. His direction helps to drive the narrative home without being flashy or over-the-top, but is subtle without relying solely on visuals and interpretation to drive home the story line (I'm talking to you Terrance Malick). He's a great communicator of story and character and never once did I feel lost at to what was going on and the only time did was when it fit into the story line as the main character Dengler was also lost as to what was going on. His direction of the jungle when Dengler escapes was vivid, entangling, as well as being lush, beautiful, and full of color. This just added to the savagery and force of the nature surrounding Dengler.
Ultimately though this seems like another movie for Christian Bale to showcase, not just what a good actor he is, but to what lengths he will go through (physically) for a part see: The Machinist, The Fighter, The Batman trilogy, or American Psycho. I really wonder how his body is going to hold up over time and he continues to fluctuate between thin and muscular with an ease that is startling and scary to watch. He does a great job at his character and wholly brings him to life and the story line doesn't shy away from things that make Dengler kind of jerk, which (in my opinion) adds a lot more weight to the story and character and help to make him feel real.
Like I said before you know what you're getting into when you watch this movie. It's a movie about POW's who escape a prison camp but how it's told makes it worth while to watch.
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