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List Price: $19.98 | | Label: Warner Home Video
Salesrank: 21490
Released: December 18, 2001 |
| Our Price: $4.42 |
| Used Price: $4.38 |
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MPAA Rating: Unrated
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
After Germany invades Poland in 1939, the Nazis decree that 350,000 Warsaw Jews be forcibly moved into a cordoned area known as the Warsaw Ghetto. Idealistic teacher Mordechai Anielewicz (Hank Azaria) decides the Jews must rise up against the Nazis and creates the Jewish Fighting Organization (JFO). He tries to secure the support of Adam Czerniakow (Donald Sutherland), the morally conflicted head of the Warsaw Ghetto's Jewish Council, but Adam declines because he knows that any act of resistance will provoke the Germans to retaliate by killing innocent Jews. Determined to mobilize a resistance alone if he has to, Mordechai recruits his friends and covert couriers whose ability to pass as Aryan helps them smuggle in arms and explosives from the Aryan side of the city, building up an arsenal to fight the Nazis.
When the Germans begin deporting 300,000 Jews to the Treblinka death camp, the JFO begins acts of resistance that culminate with ghetto fighters firing their first gunshots against the Nazis. When it becomes clear that the JFO is a force to be reckoned with, the German High Command sends in General Stroop (Jon Voight), who is determined to end the uprising in two or three days.
Capturing the horror that unfolds is Fritz Hippler (Cary Elwes), a filmmaker assigned by Hitler's chief propagandist to promote anti-Semitism with a film about Jewish life in the ghetto.
When the Nazis continue to suffer more casualties in their battle with the ghetto fighters, General Stroop decides to raze the ghetto. But even that can't stop the JFO. Forced to go underground into bunkers but energized by their success, the resisters fight on, ultimately holding off the Nazi army longer than the entire country of Poland. They're determined to live with honor--and if need be, die with honor--while lighting the torch for resistance in the occupied territories.
Description of Uprising:
Originally broadcast in November 2001, this exceptional made-for-television film recalls Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan while forging its own distinct identity. It was the first American film to dramatize the Warsaw Ghetto uprising of 1943, during which an underground collective of Polish Jews dared to defy the Nazis. Hank Azaria leads an all-star cast as resistance leader Mordecai Anielewicz, and the film follows his close-knit collaborators (including David Schwimmer and Leelee Sobieski) and their battle against the Nazi general (Jon Voight) assigned to clear all Jews from Warsaw. The uprising was eventually crushed (some heartbreaking outcomes are listed in the closing credits), but director Jon Avnet expertly maintains a sense of courage and hope amidst the palpable horror of the Warsaw Ghetto. Combining physical and historical accuracy with intimate character details, Uprising is suspenseful without being sensational, thus honoring one of the greatest symbolic victories in all of Jewish history. --Jeff Shannon
Uprising Reviews:
The Uprising 
2008-08-13 - Excellent film/documentary on the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. A must see for history buffs and anyone wanting to know more about WWII and the Holocaust. Very moving and leaves the viewer with a deep admiration for the brave men and women that, while knowing they could not defeat the Nazis, still preferred to fight until death.
One of the More Violent Accounts.
2008-06-02 - The Ghetto uprising was a violent event. This is not for young viewers. I believe it to be very accurate but it is horrifing to watch.
I think it is important to watch so we never forget but for this one you will be haunted for the rest of your life as well you should be at the horriable things done to innocent people.
Uprising is worth the time
2007-12-08 - Uprising is a great movie to watch if you have or have not read any of the books on the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. It seems to follow the Kazik book and is a little long but worth the time. I started watching it and eventually my whole family ended up in the living room watching it with me. My daughter has been studying the Ghetto Uprising so she knew as much as I did but my husband and son got alot of information from the film that they knew nothing about. It has a great cast. Big name stars and filmed really well. I would recommend this film to anyone.
Rivetting Epic
2007-04-15 - I have not read or seen much about the Warsaw uprising against the Nazis, so "Uprising" was a bit of an unknown factor to me. With some big names, and some surprising casting choices, I have to admit that I was very impressed with the movie overall.
The story follows some young Jews who decide to resist the Germans in the face of numerous obstacles. Firstly, the lack of materials was acute, but interestingly they had trouble mobilising their own people and the Jewish community's leadership, who still saw hope of compromise. The impact of their scout finding out the final destination of the trains transferring Jews from Warsaw was significant, to say the least.
I have to admit being surprised and initially sceptical about David Schwimmer, (having not seen him in Band of Brothers, where he was also very good). Schwimmer acted very well, and held his own with actors of great skills, such as Hank Azaria, John Voight, and David Sutherland. Overall, the acting was superb, in your face and without pretention.
For a movie that is nearly 3 hours long, it sure did not feel like it. I was very surprised to see it end "so soon". It is a rivetting movie, that moves with the tragedy of it all. It tells the story of heroes who were basically ripped off by the local resistance, and still managed to give the Nazis something to worry about. It is hard to do that type of heroism and bravery justice, but "Uprising" gives it a decent shot.
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, and have watched it a few times. It is still as rivetting as it was when I first put it on. A first-rate movie. Oh yeah, and Schwimmer shows no hint whatsoever of Ross. Don't worry!
WW II Poland as it was.
2007-03-22 - A very realistic, non-hyped version of the phenominal courage of a people who fought to their death against all odds. Inspiring, informative, exausting. I will watch it many times.
