Rescue Dawn

Name: Rescue Dawn
Genre: Action, Adventure, Biography, Drama, War
Released: July 4, 2007
Duration: 126 min
Rating: 77
Cast: Christian Bale

2007

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 36 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 121 Ratings

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7.4

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7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 121 Ratings

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Rescue Dawn

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Movie Details & Credits

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) | Release Date: July 4, 2007 | PG-13

Starring: Christian Bale

Summary: Based on the true story of an American pilot, Dieter Dengler is shot down during a top-secret mission. Taken hostage, he endures unimaginable conditions at the hands of cruel captors in a makeshift POW camp. Dengler's iron will to survive guides him and fellow prisoners in a meticulously planned, death-defying escape, only to discover theBased on the true story of an American pilot, Dieter Dengler is shot down during a top-secret mission. Taken hostage, he endures unimaginable conditions at the hands of cruel captors in a makeshift POW camp. Dengler's iron will to survive guides him and fellow prisoners in a meticulously planned, death-defying escape, only to discover the harsh realities of an unforgiving jungle beyond the camps walls. (MGM)… Expand

Director: Werner Herzog

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Biography, Drama, War

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 126 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Kyle Smith

What a sweet collision is Rescue Dawn: the American psycho meets the German kook. Read full review

Carina Chocano

Aside from a riveting adventure story that Herzog tells in all of its terrifying, stripped-down simplicity, Rescue Dawn is a fascinating study of human particularity. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Ken Fox

To better capture the extremity of Dengler's ordeal, Bale once again underwent the kind of dramatic weight loss that shocked audiences of "The Machinist," but he's downright plump next to the emaciated Davies, who looks like Charles Manson in the end stages of a hunger strike. Read full review

Leslie Felperin

As far as establishing a sense of period goes, Herzog cleaves to a refreshing less-is-more philosophy. This may be the first Vietnam-set film in history not to feature a bar of Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones or indeed any other rock music on its soundtrack. Read full review

Rene Rodriguez

There's never any question how Rescue Dawn will end, but as conventional and straightforward as the movie is, it's easy to understand why Herzog was driven to tell this story twice. Read full review

Scott Foundas

The canniness of Bale’s performance (which may be the best of his young but brilliant career) is that he plays Dengler as a fundamentally kind and simple yet rather ingenious man. Read full review

Marc Mohan

Herzog's drive to bring Dengler's story to a wide audience might have paradoxically caused him to do what he seems normally to abhor: compromise. Read full review

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User Reviews

UnholyGhost

Apr 30, 2017

this was one hell of a great movie I enjoy pretty much all christian bales movies I had this as a burnt copy not knowing what it was orvwhat I was getting myself into when I put it on but so glad I did its one of his more better films alongside of the Batman's and american phyco movie..

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

RobertM.

Aug 25, 2007

Thrilling and exhilarating. No going back for that refill on popcorn during this movie. If I was in this situation I want Dengler with me. Christian Bale earned himself better roles with his acting in Rescue Dawn.

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JPC

Apr 27, 2009

An amazing movy with no special effects or grandiosity. It looks real and intens, as if you were risquing your life every second in the shoe of Bale, whose performance is impressive. I can't help thinking he should have won an Oscar !!! I don't put a 10 only because the first 20 An amazing movy with no special effects or grandiosity. It looks real and intens, as if you were risquing your life every second in the shoe of Bale, whose performance is impressive. I can't help thinking he should have won an Oscar !!! I don't put a 10 only because the first 20 minutes have no interest.… Expand

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BibliotechaS.

Jul 28, 2007

Hmm visuals are ok. Acting pretty good. Believability hard but true story so what the hay. All I know is it'd be tough to survive in the jungle for 23 days after being malnourished for 5 months, the arctic snow, desert, mountains, even tougher. I've studied survival and know about Hmm visuals are ok. Acting pretty good. Believability hard but true story so what the hay. All I know is it'd be tough to survive in the jungle for 23 days after being malnourished for 5 months, the arctic snow, desert, mountains, even tougher. I've studied survival and know about the play the jungle will have on the mind if you're ever stuck in there alone or at night with the animals. This is a movie, but the guy got lucky. He didn't do it all by virtue of his mind or "wit." It also helped that there was a war going on and helicopters/planes flying around for him to be rescued. Try surviving out there without all that then you've REALLY accomplished something.… Expand

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Tokyochuchu

Dec 11, 2013

Rescue Dawn is an interesting POW escape movie. The performances are good and the film's beautiful Vietnam jungle location feels suitably alien and hostile. Bale scores extra kudos here for doing many extreme things like eating worms, suffering from leeches, getting dragged behind an oxRescue Dawn is an interesting POW escape movie. The performances are good and the film's beautiful Vietnam jungle location feels suitably alien and hostile. Bale scores extra kudos here for doing many extreme things like eating worms, suffering from leeches, getting dragged behind an ox through the mud... He really actually did those things. So too for his and Steve Zahn's weight loss.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Compi24

Jan 25, 2019

Herzog adapts elements of his own documentary -- "Little Dieter Needs To Fly" -- into a narrative feature with "Rescue Dawn," a harrowing, if overly meditative study of survival, hope, and the cruelty of the world that surrounds us. Christian Bale, as per usual, delivers a stunning andHerzog adapts elements of his own documentary -- "Little Dieter Needs To Fly" -- into a narrative feature with "Rescue Dawn," a harrowing, if overly meditative study of survival, hope, and the cruelty of the world that surrounds us. Christian Bale, as per usual, delivers a stunning and devoted performance that's worthy of Oscar gold, but don't overlook veteran performers Steve Zahn and Jeremy Davies either. All three actors pour an incredible amount of effort into their craft here, ultimately allowing an air of authenticity to really shine through. Again, it's a little bit slow for my tastes, but a really inspiring story overall. Would recommend, but not on an empty stomach.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

BobF.

Dec 9, 2007

This movie sucked and was a waste of my time. Why the XXl flight suit in the beginning, why the stage like appearance at the end not true and very unprofessional.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

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50	#50 Best Movie of 2007
98	#98 Most Discussed Movie of 2007
55	#55 Most Shared Movie of 2007