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Rescue Dawn

Christian Bale carries this excellent adventure

By Geoff Berkshire, Metromix

July 4, 2007

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(Credit: Lena Herzog/MGM)

Rescue Dawn

Running time:: 125 minutes

Rated:: PG-13

Cast:

Christian Bale -

Dieter Dengler

Steve Zahn -

Duane

Jeremy Davies -

Gene

Galen Yuen -

Y.C.

Abhijati ``Meuk'' Jusakul -

Phisit

See full cast

Director:: Werner Herzog

Genre:: War

Official Movie Web Site:: http://www.gibraltarfilms.com/projects/rescuedawn/#

Movie Trailer:: View Trailer

Overall User Rating:: (1 rating)

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German-born U.S. Navy pilot Dieter Dengler (Christian Bale, "Batman Begins") gets shot down over Laos and becomes a prisoner of war during Vietnam. After he's imprisoned with some other men he hopes to motivate his fellow captives—including Steve Zahn ("Out of Sight") and Jeremy Davies ("Saving Private Ryan")—to escape to freedom.

Big question: Is this really the right time for an inspirational Vietnam-era tale?

Catch it: Compelling from start to finish, "Rescue Dawn" is above all a first-rate adventure tale. Bale continues to impress with his bold performances and interesting choice in material and he's as instrumental to the movie's success as film-geek favorite director Werner Herzog ("Grizzly Man"). This just might be the first time the idiosyncratic filmmaker has applied a master's skills to a story accessible to the masses.

Skip it: If you're too squeamish to handle torture, leeches and Bale taking a bite out of a barely-dead snake. The PG-13 rating ensures this isn't exactly "Hostel," but it's not pretty either.

Bottom line: A simple survival story actually feels refreshing in these complicated political times, especially when it's this well made. "Rescue Dawn" immediately joins the ranks of the year's best movies.

Bonus: Like what you see here but looking for a less-fictionalized version? Herzog told the same story with the real Dengler in the 1997 documentary "Little Dieter Needs to Fly," made for German television but available on DVD.