This is in response to your question about Valkyrie. I hope it answers your question. Have you and your family seen it? If so, what did you think?

I would watch it for its historical content, because it is cast so closely to what actually happened! It is a VERY violent movie due to the story line (assination attempt on Hitlers life, which fails and thus the conspiritors are executed).

Of course, you would have to decide for yourself whether it would be a movie worth watching. The producer said he wanted to make this film because hardly anyone in the US knew about this particular attempt on Hitlers life (Operation Valkyrie) and the men behind it (one of which was Claus von Stauffenberg), and he wanted to shed light on these courageous men who carried out a failed Coup on July 20, 1944.

I have only watched parts of it, and from what I’ve read in various places it received mixed reviews (some praising it and some criticizing it). One review written in a political magazine which my brothers take, criticized how “poorly von Stauffenberg’s true character was portrayed.” I guess they are meaning how stoic Tom Cruise is through most of the film, even though he is playing a man who even after losing his left eye, left hand and 2 fingers on his right hand said something like “I never did understand why I needed all those fingers.” In other words, he accepted his “handicap” and happily too. His children described him as being a joyful and happy man who freely showed his affection to them and was devoted to his wife (Nina).

I hope that was a balanced answer, even if it was a long one.