Rescue Dawn is a 2007 war drama film directed by Werner Herzog, based on an adapted screenplay written from his acclaimed 1997 documentary, Little Dieter Needs to Fly. The film stars Christian Bale, and is based on the true story of a German-American pilot named Dieter Dengler, who is shot down and captured by villagers sympathetic to the Pathet Lao during an American military campaign in the Vietnam War. Veteran actors Steve Zahn, Jeremy Davies, Pat Healy and Toby Huss also star in principal roles. The film project, which had initially come together during 2004, began shooting in Thailand in August 2005. Executive producers for the film comprised, Freddy Braidy, Jimmy De Brabant, Michael Dounaev and Gerald Green among others. Rescue Dawn explores subjects such as war, human torture and captivity.

A joint collective effort to commit to the film's production was made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Gibraltar Films and Thema Production. It was commercially distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer theatrically in the U.S., and by Pathé Distribution, Hopscotch Films and Central Film GmbH in foreign markets. In home media format, the film was distributed by MGM Home Entertainment. It was originally scheduled to be released by MGM in December 2006, but was held back for limited release in the United States at some point in 2007. The film had a nationwide release on July 27, 2007, after a limited release in New York City, Toronto, and Los Angeles on July 4. The film score was written by German composer Klaus Badelt, after previously working with Herzog in his 2001 film Invincible. The soundtrack was released on June 26, 2007, while the DVD and Blu-ray Disc versions of the film were released on November 20.

Following its premiere in theaters nationwide in the United States on July 27, the film grossed $5,490,423 in domestic ticket receipts. It earned an additional $1,686,720 in business through international release to top out at a combined $7,177,143 in gross revenue. The film was technically considered a financial failure due to its $10 million budget costs. Alternatively though, the film recouped its losses and saw some popularity in the video rental market grossing $24,747,717 in DVD sales. Preceding its theatrical run, the film was generally met with positive critical reviews before its initial screening in cinemas. Following its cinematic release, the film was nominated for multiple awards, including a Golden Satellite Award and an Independent Spirit Award. It also won an award from the San Diego Film Critics Society for actor Christian Bale in the category of Body of Work.

Unfortunately, the director fails to craft a perfect ending and nosedives in his borderline-pathetic attempt to elicit patriotic cheers during the climax. With the rote efficiency you would except from a far less passionate and unique director, Werner Herzog piles on the (Sweet 'N Low-caliber) sugar and you almost forget what preceeded this interminable, Pearl Harbor-style epilogue was an unbridled and well-constructed cinematic exploration of the P.O.W. experience and the power of hope and faith.

I'll recommend Rescue Dawn because most of it is so good, but let me tell you... I haven't been this disappointed and disheartened by a dénouement since The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King went on and for what felt an eternity.

The events of Gods and Generals happened too, but the movie's still an inert bore.

Factuality is good, but execution is supreme.

Because it's not playing anywhere.

A very well made film on a technical level, but it left me cold.

**1/2

Only 4 written reviews and 8 grades for this one - - why didn't WOKJer's go out to see a great movie like Rescue Dawn?