Rescue Dawn (PG-13)
Mike:
Scott:
Scott: Tonight we are reviewing Rescue Dawn
, a movie about a naval pilot shot down over Laos during the Vietnam War.
What did you think Mike?
Mike: I was impressed. This movie seemed very realistic and Christian Bale gives a great performance.
What about you?
Scott: The movie was surprising. You get a lot out of a little with this movie. Bale was incredible. I've seen him in movies before, but this was the best I have seen him.
Mike: I've always been impressed by Bale, but this has to be one of his best. I guess he's not just Batman.
Scott: The movie is shot in Thailand in some very beautiful locations. The stuff that Bale's character Dieter Dengler had to go through is amazing.
Mike: This is not a Rambo movie.
Scott: Not at all.
Mike: They strive for as much realism as possible here. The thing is this is as engrossing as many fictional adventure stories.
Scott: Yeah, and it's based on a true story. A story that for a long time was classified, just as the mission Dengler was on when he was shot down was classified.
Mike: Right, it’s based on Dengler's real life as chronicled in his book "Escape from Laos".
Scott: I had not heard of him, or the book before seeing the movie.
Mike: This movie reminded me of some great World War II movies like The Great Escape or Bridge over the River Kwai.
Scott: You mentioned Rambo, the POW camp was reminiscent of that movie.
The thing I found most odd was Dengler's never ending optimism. At almost every step of the way, he had a half smile, like he knew everything would turn out ok. He didn't seem to take anything too seriously either.
Mike: Yes, Bale's Dengler is determined to get out of there from the moment he is captured.
Scott: Even as he was captured he seemed to think he would be released, or rescued. He is a rookie pilot and that may have contributed to his never-ending optimism.
Mike: No matter what he goes through (and it's a lot) he is the one that pushes the others to believe that they can escape.
Scott: He states he will escape the first day he arrives at the camp.
Mike: An interesting note is that Writer Director Werner Herzog had previously made a documentary called Little Dieter Needs to Fly featuring the real Dieter Dengler.
Dengler has since passed away.
Scott: Lost fans may recognize François Chau. He has a brief scene in the beginning of the movie.
Mike: Who is he on Lost?
Scott: He is the most visible head of the Dharma project.
Mike: He's the guy in the films Locke finds in the hatch, isn't he?
Scott: Yes. It's funny I recognized his voice before I saw his face.
Mike: The other two most recognizable guys in the film are Steve Zahn and Jeremy Davies.
Scott: Zahn plays the Air Force pilot Duane. He was so scruffy and unkempt, that it took a while for me to recognize him.
Mike: Davies looks like Charles Manson throughout the film, but is best known for Saving Private Ryan.
Scott: He was in that?
Mike: He is the scaredy cat. Think about it you will remember.
Scott: He did play Manson in a movie. I thought he looked like him as well. He must have barely weighed 120 lbs for this movie.
Mike: Well, there you have it.
Scott: I don't think special effects can make a man appear that skinny.
Mike: I think I read that all these guys lost like 40 pounds to get the look of people starving in a POW camp.
Scott: It was amazing how they looked.
Mike: Even Bale looks substantially different in the camp then he does at the beginning of the film.
Scott: To me, the movie had the look and feel of Castaway. It was so quiet with such beautiful and dangerous locations. You would probably like to visit the jungle there, but you wouldn't want to escape from a POW camp in the middle of it.
Mike: Zahn usually plays lighter roles. This is probably the most serious I have ever seen him.
Scott: It's the first time I have seen him in a serious role.
Mike: I like him in comedies, but he does a great job here too.
Scott: Speaking of comedies, it was interesting seeing Toby Huss in this movie. I remember him from Reno 911! and Bedazzled.
Mike: I didn't recognize him, but he has some funny scenes at the beginning.
Scott: He's the obligatory funny pilot.
Mike: Werner Herzog is a well known director, but I think this is the first of his films that I have seen.
Scott: I haven't seen any of his movies either.
Mike: I think he does a great job here. This movie is exciting, horrifying, touching and humorous.
Scott: Very well put.
So how do you rate this?
Mike: Let me think. I am going to go out on a limb and give it ... 4 stars overall and 4 stars for war drama.
I know you didn't see that coming.
And you?
Scott: I give it a 3.5 overall and a 4 for war movie. The end of the movie really brought out the good rating for me. It was a great close to a very good movie.
Mike: Let this movie Rescue you from a summer of pirates, wizards and superheroes.
