"Defiance" movie review

by Eric Melin on January 21, 2009

in Video Reviews


Rather than use a cheesy webcam and give you my single-person video review, I wrote and animated this clip of two cuddly teddy bears talking about Nazis and the Holocaust in Edward Zwick’s latest issue-driven movie, “Defiance,” starring Daniel Craig and Liev Schrieber. Enjoy!

Eric is the Editor-in-Chief of Scene-Stealers.com, a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, and contributor for The Pitch. He’s former President of the KCFCC, and drummer for The Dead Girls, Ultimate Fakebook, and Truck Stop Love . He is also the 2013 Air Guitar World Champion Mean Melin, ranked 4th best of all-time. Eric goes to 11. Follow him at:

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{ 18 comments }

1 Josh January 22, 2009 at 9:02 am

i fucking loved this review! to hear the movie sucked though. ouch.

2 Josh January 22, 2009 at 9:02 am

i fucking loved this review! to hear the movie sucked though. ouch.

3 Troy January 22, 2009 at 2:06 pm

Funny stuff!

4 Troy January 22, 2009 at 2:06 pm

Funny stuff!

5 John In KC January 23, 2009 at 12:36 am

Who’s that?

James Bond.

Where can I buy tickets?

Classic!

6 John In KC January 23, 2009 at 12:36 am

Who’s that?

James Bond.

Where can I buy tickets?

Classic!

7 AndThen February 4, 2009 at 7:01 pm

This movie WAS horrible…and is Daniel Craig not the perfect example of the Aryan race…i don’t like seeing actors stuffed into movies just to make it sell. i would much rather prefer a lead that makes sense….ya feel me

8 AndThen February 4, 2009 at 7:01 pm

This movie WAS horrible…and is Daniel Craig not the perfect example of the Aryan race…i don’t like seeing actors stuffed into movies just to make it sell. i would much rather prefer a lead that makes sense….ya feel me

9 Andrew April 30, 2009 at 8:36 pm

This film has some highly accomplished partisan v SS/Wermacht battle scenes .. which seem to put you right in the heart of the fight…ala Edward Zwick’s sublime combat work on Glory. Apart from that though .. a compelling title sequence and first 30 minutes-or-so .. Defiance drifts disappointingly into cliche and Holocaust film formula.The film becomes bogged down in the forest.Far too much cliche riddled speech making .. emphasis on the women characters and an utterly predictable brother to the rescue ending. Also do we really need ANOTHER sombre solo violin led Holocaust movie score?. We know what’s on screen is sad .. How about a surprise or two to freshen up the formula. Oh, and anyone else think Daniel Craig’s speech on that white steed to the forest community was just a little Braveheart?. Barely a 2-and-a-half stars out of five for me..It’s getting to the point of oh no, not another Holocaust movie!. Enough already.

10 Andrew April 30, 2009 at 8:36 pm

This film has some highly accomplished partisan v SS/Wermacht battle scenes .. which seem to put you right in the heart of the fight…ala Edward Zwick’s sublime combat work on Glory. Apart from that though .. a compelling title sequence and first 30 minutes-or-so .. Defiance drifts disappointingly into cliche and Holocaust film formula.The film becomes bogged down in the forest.Far too much cliche riddled speech making .. emphasis on the women characters and an utterly predictable brother to the rescue ending. Also do we really need ANOTHER sombre solo violin led Holocaust movie score?. We know what’s on screen is sad .. How about a surprise or two to freshen up the formula. Oh, and anyone else think Daniel Craig’s speech on that white steed to the forest community was just a little Braveheart?. Barely a 2-and-a-half stars out of five for me..It’s getting to the point of oh no, not another Holocaust movie!. Enough already.

11 Vic May 2, 2009 at 6:16 pm

Just have seen the movie…Well…May be it’s not the best one, may be some scenes were cheesie and predictable. But I dont mind to watch another Holocost movie.Of course it is very important in a movie to have a good script, acting and so,which wasn’t that bad. But for me personnally, the story is much more important.I have never heard of those brothers and what they did. And in my opinion what the production was trying to do is to tell us an amazing story that deserves to be told. People must know that there was many heroes in that war, and Jews took an active part too.
Honestly I was expecting more from the movie, but its very decent.

12 Vic May 2, 2009 at 6:16 pm

Just have seen the movie…Well…May be it’s not the best one, may be some scenes were cheesie and predictable. But I dont mind to watch another Holocost movie.Of course it is very important in a movie to have a good script, acting and so,which wasn’t that bad. But for me personnally, the story is much more important.I have never heard of those brothers and what they did. And in my opinion what the production was trying to do is to tell us an amazing story that deserves to be told. People must know that there was many heroes in that war, and Jews took an active part too.
Honestly I was expecting more from the movie, but its very decent.

13 Ryan June 2, 2009 at 9:23 pm

Wow.. this is why critics are morons. This movie was inspirational and really made you feel for the families affected by the holocaust. Who cares if it is predictable. I wish critics would go out and make movies instead of just talking about them. Get a real job.

14 Ryan June 2, 2009 at 9:23 pm

Wow.. this is why critics are morons. This movie was inspirational and really made you feel for the families affected by the holocaust. Who cares if it is predictable. I wish critics would go out and make movies instead of just talking about them. Get a real job.

15 Eric Melin June 3, 2009 at 7:19 am

Actually, my friend, the critic’s role is important to society. Movies aren’t just about the intention or the message. What I’m talking about is the way the message is presented. There was enough inherently dramatic material to make for an interesting movie. “Definace” isn’t that movie. A documentary about the real story would have probably been more engaging. Think about how the movies are being presented to you and not just the subject matter that’s being covered. Just because its about the Holocaust doesn’t mean its a successful film.

16 Eric Melin June 3, 2009 at 7:19 am

Actually, my friend, the critic’s role is important to society. Movies aren’t just about the intention or the message. What I’m talking about is the way the message is presented. There was enough inherently dramatic material to make for an interesting movie. “Definace” isn’t that movie. A documentary about the real story would have probably been more engaging. Think about how the movies are being presented to you and not just the subject matter that’s being covered. Just because its about the Holocaust doesn’t mean its a successful film.

17 gr May 8, 2010 at 2:32 am

I still don’t think that Daniel Craig is a good James Bond, as he just looks like a guy with a lot of muscles and nothing in the brain. James Bond is all brain and doesn’t have any muscles.

18 gr May 8, 2010 at 2:32 am

I still don’t think that Daniel Craig is a good James Bond, as he just looks like a guy with a lot of muscles and nothing in the brain. James Bond is all brain and doesn’t have any muscles.

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