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History Needs Extraordinary Heroes. As the globe stands on the brink of World War II, Shanghai has fallen and deadly Japanese bombers target the infamous city of Nanking. As panic breaks out and savage bombing raids devastate the city, veteran entrepreneur John Rabe, a German living the high life in the social whirl of Nanking, must make an agonizing choice: to flee or give sanctuary to the terrified population within the gates of his factory. When the Imperial Japanese Army discovers Rabe's selfless operation, they see it as an act of high treason. As a wave of brutality is unleashed on Nanking, Rabe and his comrades find themselves in a race against time to fight for a safety zone to protect the hundreds of thousands of innocent victims of this ultimate act of war. But as the bombings desist, a perilous siege begins.
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33 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I have to say I enjoyed this film, its no Schindler's list but it will inevitably be compared to it. The film is a biopic of John Rabe, a member of the National Socialist Party, working as an engineer for Siemens in China. John has a confused view of the reality of events in Germany having lived in China for 27 years. As the Japanese invade, the film depicts his need to help his fellow human beings and his gradual disillusionment with the political party he belongs to.
I was aware of some of the brutal treatment dished out by the Japanese as they invaded China in 1937 but I didn't know anything about John Rabe or have a real familiarity with actual incidents in Nanking. John is part of the international community in Nanking and is cornered into setting up a free zone to protect Chinese civilians. He along with a number of other brave people do what they can to feed, shelter and protect the civilians from the brutality of Japanese soldiers.
I think the film makers did take some liberties with some of the set pieces and incidents as another reviewer pointed out, however don't let this get in the way of what is a good film.
The film is well made and the special effects top notch, and the director and actors do a good job of making you appreciate some of the attrocities that went on at this time.
Ultimately what the film achieved for me is to spark an interest in finding more out about this time period in China as well as John and the other brave people who helped him. Recommended!
I was aware of some of the brutal treatment dished out by the Japanese as they invaded China in 1937 but I didn't know anything about John Rabe or have a real familiarity with actual incidents in Nanking. John is part of the international community in Nanking and is cornered into setting up a free zone to protect Chinese civilians. He along with a number of other brave people do what they can to feed, shelter and protect the civilians from the brutality of Japanese soldiers.
I think the film makers did take some liberties with some of the set pieces and incidents as another reviewer pointed out, however don't let this get in the way of what is a good film.
The film is well made and the special effects top notch, and the director and actors do a good job of making you appreciate some of the attrocities that went on at this time.
Ultimately what the film achieved for me is to spark an interest in finding more out about this time period in China as well as John and the other brave people who helped him. Recommended!
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
to disagree with the author of the other reviewer I think the fact that they let the film play out and not turn it into a horror fest was a better idea. I think the fact that they show the japanease using bodies to fill holes in the roads, the bodies stacked up all over the place and the murder of civilians going on through out the film was enough to get the message across. they even show actual footage of people being buried alive. I ask, what did he want to see exactly?
the film is well acted through out, and to be honest I don't care about what language it was in. I found it informative and engaging. the story was delivered well and with feeling. like all films about history you take into account that they will change certain aspects for dramatic effect, make up a character here and there, that's film making, they are in it to make money. however the story comes shining through in the 2 hours you have and if your interested in further examination you can go pick up a book on the subject like I do. having read on the subject of nanjing I found I learned something, was reminded of others, and came away feeling that it is a good thing that films like this are made because at least they give people an insight into history,, especially as this is where the second world war really began.
the film is well acted through out, and to be honest I don't care about what language it was in. I found it informative and engaging. the story was delivered well and with feeling. like all films about history you take into account that they will change certain aspects for dramatic effect, make up a character here and there, that's film making, they are in it to make money. however the story comes shining through in the 2 hours you have and if your interested in further examination you can go pick up a book on the subject like I do. having read on the subject of nanjing I found I learned something, was reminded of others, and came away feeling that it is a good thing that films like this are made because at least they give people an insight into history,, especially as this is where the second world war really began.
34 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This film never really takes off unlike the many, many CGI planes in this which are flown by the best pilots who ever existed, able to swoop into courtyards and then take off into the ether. But it does look sensational and that is what this film is all about sensation over truth.
I for one think John Rabe deserves better, the acting does not let this film down as there are some excellent performances ostensibly by Daniel Bruhl and Buscemi makes a good fist of a poor script too. It is so waterd down that I actually felt that they were making a big fuss over nothing, yet this was suppose to be depicting the rape of Nanking. Rabes own diaries give enough of an accountto be able to direct the film as to what story they should have told. There is a passing reference to the 'beheading competitions'but it all seems to be happening off screen, the rapes are alluded to however,the only one they attempt to show has the victim being rescued by a child who knows how to use Japanese firearms. They raped women in front of thier families and shot anyone who interferd. This makes it look like a one off incident yet in Rabes own diary he says over 1000 girls were raoed in one night with over 100 from the Girls College Ginling alone.
There was a farcical scene where volunteer civilians make a stand against the Imperial Japanese troops and are saved in the nick of time by the threat of international journalists. This is Hollywood at its most obvious and mediocre, trying to be 'Saving Private Ryan' meets 'Schindlers List' and failing to do justice to either concept. The Japanese used civilians for bayonet practice shot, looted raped and burned at will, John Rabe kept asking for order amongst the troops and or protection, this is never presented in the film. It is just a glossed up non war, war film.
And language is another criticism, thay all start by speaking in thier own languages but then all slip into English which strips away even more of the see through veneer of authenticity, the 'German Jew' has a better English accent than his German one- oh very dear.
The only reason I gave it 3 stars is because it at least may get John Rabe some attention for the selfless and inspiring work that he did and it is not the actors fault, as they very nearly pulled it off.
I for one think John Rabe deserves better, the acting does not let this film down as there are some excellent performances ostensibly by Daniel Bruhl and Buscemi makes a good fist of a poor script too. It is so waterd down that I actually felt that they were making a big fuss over nothing, yet this was suppose to be depicting the rape of Nanking. Rabes own diaries give enough of an accountto be able to direct the film as to what story they should have told. There is a passing reference to the 'beheading competitions'but it all seems to be happening off screen, the rapes are alluded to however,the only one they attempt to show has the victim being rescued by a child who knows how to use Japanese firearms. They raped women in front of thier families and shot anyone who interferd. This makes it look like a one off incident yet in Rabes own diary he says over 1000 girls were raoed in one night with over 100 from the Girls College Ginling alone.
There was a farcical scene where volunteer civilians make a stand against the Imperial Japanese troops and are saved in the nick of time by the threat of international journalists. This is Hollywood at its most obvious and mediocre, trying to be 'Saving Private Ryan' meets 'Schindlers List' and failing to do justice to either concept. The Japanese used civilians for bayonet practice shot, looted raped and burned at will, John Rabe kept asking for order amongst the troops and or protection, this is never presented in the film. It is just a glossed up non war, war film.
And language is another criticism, thay all start by speaking in thier own languages but then all slip into English which strips away even more of the see through veneer of authenticity, the 'German Jew' has a better English accent than his German one- oh very dear.
The only reason I gave it 3 stars is because it at least may get John Rabe some attention for the selfless and inspiring work that he did and it is not the actors fault, as they very nearly pulled it off.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
City of War
I wish people would generally stop referring to this as being "like Schindler's List". City of War and Schindler's List are indeed both about a war and about two men who tried to... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Kim
Place of safety
A German-Chinese-French co-production, City of War: The John Rabe Story aka John Rabe suffered the misfortune of coming out internationally at the same time as the much more stark... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Trevor Willsmer
px24
good to see a film about a man we knew nothing about. This is also about an aspect of WW11 that we had not encountered before. Read more
Published 7 months ago by px24
should come with magnifying glasses!!
I was looking forward to a good film and it probably is, due to the fact that I am short sighted and was unable to read the SUBTITLES why was this not printed on the sales... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Mrs. R. Fairweather
Better than Schindler's list
I just finished watching this 10 minutes ago and I had to write a review immediately recommending this excellent film. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Stephen Mcguigan
City of War
A very good re-telling of a very little known story. Most history buffs know of the Rape of Nanking in China during the Japanese attempt to dominate that then hapless country. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Peter Harris
Excellent movie, top quality blu-ray release
A surprisingly captivating movie with high production values, which looks absolutley fabulous in blu-ray. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Blu_ray_yes_way
The Good German of Nanking
A dramatized (though thankfully not hollywoodized) version of John Rabe's diaries. Inevitably compresses and simplifies the story a bit but then this is a movie, and where it... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Simon Levack
very worthwhile, worth seeing
very good in acting and set design
writing structure is silly amateurish with cliched setups that one can see a mile away, like a war film made i the'40's but the acting and... Read more
writing structure is silly amateurish with cliched setups that one can see a mile away, like a war film made i the'40's but the acting and... Read more
Published 14 months ago by macfriendlyphones
City of War
This is a very well made film about a little known individual. It does, however, fade in comparison to the Chinese "City of Life and Death" which is a masterpiece of cinema.
Published 15 months ago by Mr. Martin C. Wakley
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