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Rescue Dawn

Play trailer Poster for Rescue Dawn PG-13 2007 2h 5m War History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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90% Tomatometer 160 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
During the Vietnam War, Dieter Dengler (Christian Bale), a U.S. fighter pilot, is shot down over Laos and taken captive by enemy soldiers. Interned in a POW camp, Dengler and his fellow prisoners (Steve Zahn, Jeremy Davies) endure torture, hunger and illness while they await their chance to escape.
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Rescue Dawn

Rescue Dawn

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Critics Consensus

Director Werner Herzog has once again made a compelling tale of man versus nature, and Christian Bale completely immerses himself in the role of fighter pilot (and prisoner of war) Dieter Dengler.

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Critics Reviews

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Derek Malcolm London Evening Standard 11/23/2007
3/5
What we miss is the real Herzogian touch that can translate tales of derringdo into something more than mere adventure and stir the soul as well as the heart and mind. Go to Full Review Peter Bradshaw Guardian 11/23/2007
3/5
An effective, unassuming and old-fashioned action adventure which is - perhaps a little faute de mieux - probably the best film of the week. Go to Full Review James Christopher The Times (UK) 11/23/2007
3/5
The performances are worryingly Method. Bale eats bowls of maggots. I had to look away when he tucked into a live snake. Go to Full Review Ian Buruma The New York Review of Books 08/23/2018
Somehow his story, reenacted in the feature film, fails to catch fire in the way it does in the documentary. It looks oddly conventional, even flat. Go to Full Review Brandy McDonnell The Oklahoman 08/13/2018
2.5/4
While Zahn and Davies offer amazing performances, Bale's starring turn often falls flat. Herzog doesn't give him much to work with: The writer-director is reluctant to allow his hero any flaws, even fear and despair, on his harrowing journey. Go to Full Review Kevin Carr 7M Pictures 04/28/2014
3/5
Unlike a traditional Hollywood movie, Rescue Dawn follows the pacing and irony of real life. It is far from predictable and far from formulaic. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Brady W Jul 12 Really expected more from the film, never really felt much in the way of tension and the few special effects that were in used were of poor quality. See more Faiz D May 13 Christian Bale... 'nuff said. See more Jack S Mar 12 Amazing movie about overcoming the worst situation! See more Ricardo B Mar 4 O roteiro desse filme já é, por si só, baseado em uma incrível história verídica de sobreviência de um piloto estadunidense à captura por soldados inimigos, durante a Guerra do Vietnã, mas é a direção do visionário e experimental cineasta alemão Werner Herzog que transforma essa história em algo muito maior. A dedicada atuação de Christian Bale nos prende na história do homem, mas é a exímia direção de Herzog que nos transporta para a selva de Laos, onde a natureza é a o maior inimigo do homem, e nos leva em uma épica jornada de luta pela vida, homem versus natureza e a implacável vontade de viver. E é isso que eleva "O Sobrevivente" de simples drama de guerra a arte narrativa e visual. See more William M Jan 15 Long and boring. Not factually accurate. See more Jelisije J 09/17/2024 A fantastic true story of a fighter pilot being taken as a prisoner of war before the time of the Vietnam War. Its a greatly acted depressing one and done type of film. See more Read all reviews
Rescue Dawn

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Cast & Crew

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Werner Herzog

Director

Christian Bale

Dieter Dengler

Steve Zahn

Duane

Jeremy Davies

Gene

Galen Yuen

Y.C.

Apichart Chusakul

Phisit

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Rescue Dawn

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Movie Info

Synopsis During the Vietnam War, Dieter Dengler (Christian Bale), a U.S. fighter pilot, is shot down over Laos and taken captive by enemy soldiers. Interned in a POW camp, Dengler and his fellow prisoners (Steve Zahn, Jeremy Davies) endure torture, hunger and illness while they await their chance to escape.
Director
Werner Herzog
Producer
Elton Brand, Steve Marlton, Harry Knapp
Screenwriter
Werner Herzog
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
Gibraltar Entertainment and Production LLC
Rating
PG-13 (Torture|Intense War Violence)
Genre
War, History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 27, 2007, Limited
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Jul 4, 2007
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 3, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$5.5M
Runtime
2h 5m
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