Rescue Dawn [Blu-ray] | ![Rescue Dawn [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51WYfMwo69L._SL500_.jpg)
| Director: Werner Herzog
Actors: Christian Bale, Steve Zahn, Jeremy Davies
Studio: MGM
Category: DVD
List Price: $39.99
Buy New: $8.48
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Rating:  88 reviews
Sales Rank: 4182
Format: Ac-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: Blu-ray
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 126 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 6.6 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: MGMBRM109213
UPC: 027616092137
EAN: 0027616092137
ASIN: B000WMA6QO
Theatrical Release Date: 2006
Release Date: November 20, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Incomparable director Werner Herzog takes another strange turn in his eclectic career with RESCUE DAWN--a major studio picture starring Christian Bale (BATMAN BEGINS). The film is an adaptation of Herzog's 1997 documentary LITTLE DIETER NEEDS TO FLY, which focused on Dieter Dengler, a pilot who was imprisoned by enemy forces during the Vietnam war. Dengler escaped and his incredible reminisces about this period in his life spilled onto the screen in Herzog's documentary. Here, Bale plays Dengler, while Herzog constructs a dark masterpiece around him, inviting his audience to observe a dramatic reconstruction of the events that beset the unfortunate soldier. Bale's Dengler is aided by fellow captive Duane (Steve Zahn), and a capable cast of characters who variously play prisoners and sadistic guards. The film is split into two parts, with the harrowing experiences of prison life taking the bulk of Herzog's screen time, followed by a desperate bid for survival in the jungle. Bale really gets a chance to demonstrate his acting chops as RESCUE DAWN unravels, with the actor heading on a rapid downward spiral as the film progresses. Herzog rarely allows the tension to drop throughout, and while most audiences may expect some relief as Dengler escapes his confines, things get much worse as he heads into the perilous Vietnamese jungle. Herzog presents plenty of raw emotion and a rough, at times barely watchable, portrayal of the human spirit, as Dengler's sanity is severely tested, and often only held together by his companionship with Duane. RESCUE DAWN requires a strong stomach, but it's a rewarding trip, and another wonderful addition to the Herzog canon.
Amazon.com
In the tradition of The Great Escape and The Deer Hunter, Rescue Dawn is Werner Herzog's take on the pulse-pounding POW genre. Unlike most such efforts, however, his isn't just based on a true story, it's a remake of his 1997 documentary Little Dieter Needs to Fly. German-born Dieter Dengler (Christian Bale, who first made his mark in Steven Spielberg's prison camp drama Empire of the Sun) has longed to pilot a plane since he was a boy. When he joins the Navy during the Vietnam War, he gets his wish. Then he's shot down over Laos. Though he survives, Dengler is captured by the Pathet Lao. Through his internment, he meets Duane Martin (Steve Zahn in his finest performance), with whom he becomes fast friends. While Dengler is arrogant and resourceful, Martin is patient and humble. With Dengler's assistance, the prisoners escape, but the untamed wilderness turns out to be just as dangerous (cinematographer Peter Zeitlinger ably captures its cruel beauty). Those who've seen Little Dieter know how this tale ends. Suffice to say, Herzog's reenactment makes for rousing entertainment. If the film has a flaw, it's that the rah-rah finale plays like something from out of a mainstream sports movie. That quibble aside, the actors, including Jeremy Davies as a delusional campmate and Toby Huss as a fellow flyer, are aces. And Herzog, who's been concentrating on nonfiction, like Grizzly Man, proves he can direct a Hollywood-style action epic with the best of 'em. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Beyond Rescue Dawn 
Little Dieter Needs to Fly | 
Christian Bale Films | 
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Stills from Rescue Dawn
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| Customer Reviews: Read 83 more reviews...
 A powerful, inspiring film, but... June 11, 2009
Miles D. Moore (Alexandria, VA USA)
I was disturbed to learn, after seeing and admiring Werner Herzog's "Rescue Dawn," that the surviving families of Dieter Dengler and other Vietnam-era POWs depicted in the film accuse Herzog of lying outright about these men and their histories. In particular, they say he desecrates the memory of Gene DeBruin, a far more positive, courageous and altruistic man in real life than as portrayed by Jeremy Davies in the film. In the DVD commentary, Herzog said he wished he had known the additional information about DeBruin before he made the film; DeBruin's surviving family members, however, say Herzog ignored their multiple attempts to contact him.
This news leaves me sad and uncertain what to think. Certainly Herzog's film, for the sheer quality of what's on screen, is powerful and inspiring. Herzog was so moved by Dengler's story that he filmed it twice: first as a documentary, "Little Dieter Needs to Fly," and then as "Rescue Dawn." The real Dengler--a Navy pilot who was the only Vietnam POW to successfully escape from the Viet Cong--had enough courage, grit, optimism and resourcefulness for a dozen Navy flyers, and Christian Bale gives the performance of his career so far as Dengler. So does Steve Zahn as Duane Martin, Dengler's fellow POW. The film is suspenseful, even harrowing--Herzog, as always, put himself, his cast and his crew through a myriad of extreme situations--and Peter Zeitlinger's photography of the Southeast Asian jungle is magnificent. So how am I to feel upon learning that such a brilliant film misrepresents the lives of some of the people it depicts? All I can say is, see this film for the excellence of its craft, but take the story with a grain of salt.
 Perhaps I didn't get it, but lame acting June 10, 2009
Harry M. Shin (Livermore, CA USA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
1. This is a great story that needs to be told.
2. However, when the movie was over, I was left with a feeling of disappointed / dissatisfaction. After thinking about it for a while, I guess the my main problem (s) with the film is that the Christian Bale's performance was odd vs unconvincing. I know that the pilot in real life was known for his positive attitude, but Christian Bale's performance makes him out to be a goofball... at times. Being former Navy and in the aviation community, I know that aviators are a unique group of people, often being very "colorful", however I've never met or known a Naval aviator that was a goofball as portrayed via C. Bale.
Then on top of that, it was disconcerting that after the pilot's escape companion was killed, there was minimal reflection on his fellow POWs after getting rescued. The film portrayed the pilot as just being concerned with the fact that he was rescued; ie again, there pilot's character lacked any type of depth or complexity. It just didn't ring true.
3. Anyway, I'm sure that a lot of folks have a different take on this. This will spur me on to get the documentary via the same director; by definition, this will be a more realistic take on what the pilot was all about as well as his story etc..
One of Christian Bale's best performances June 9, 2009
Alan Starr (Lawrence, MA)
Real tale of a Vietnam pilot who gets shot down, captured and escapes. Amazing performances from Christian Bale and the entire cast. It makes me want to watch the directors other movies that I've been hearing about ('Fitzcarraldo' and 'Aguirre' are the most highly regarded, I'll have to see them sometime).
GRIPPING AND INSPIRING! June 8, 2009
! MR. KNOW IT ALL ;-b (TRI STATE AREA)
A more psychological POW film than most with good performances through out.
Christian Bales hands in another gut-wrenching performance in this sad, but inspiring tale of a U.S. pilot who gets shot down over Laos during the Vietnam war. The film captures one's man's determination to survive and help his fellow prisoners to escape, but the time line for how long the main character was imprisoned is clouded.
Regardless of a few small flaws, this film will keep most people's interest and shows Bale and Zahn in two great performances. I don't know how Bale's health is after losing so much weight for this film and The Machinist!
 Laughable and Awful June 2, 2009
Keith Langkan (Chicago)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
The story behind this movie is a great one, too bad the movie is ruined by Bale's horrible acting. There are times this movie embarrassed me it was so bad. Bale was acting like he was in a comedy movie, not in a very dire situation. Tropic Thunder was more serious than this movie. I cant see how anyone can give this any good rating. It is just really awful.
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