Please don?t be put-off by the fact this is another movie about the Nazis in World War II. It?s essentially based on certain true episodes about the 4 Bielski brothers who escaped into a forest in Belarus to try to save more than 1000 people from Hitler?s troops and their collaborators. There is a great deal of tension between the two oldest brothers, Tuvia (DANIEL CRAIG) -- whose main goal is to save the ever-growing number of people looking for food and shelter --, and Zus (LIEV SCHREIBER), who is more interested in attacking the Germans and exacting revenge for their killings. Brother Asael (JAMIE BELL) is caught in the middle between the opposing ideas. Throw in the Red Army (also fighting the Nazis in the area), loads of well-performed roles, and lots of stress, action, romance, ethical differences and difficult living conditions, and you have an enjoyable and uplifting story of courage in the face of thorny odds. The film may not be great, but it?s unusually well done.

I thought the movie was great. Definitely, worth seeing. Action, inspirational and a fully developed story.

I thought Defiance was a brilliant film, expertly crafted by Edward Zwick (who also directed the elgant film Glory), and with fine acting all around, particularly by Daniel Craig. Craig's performance was layered and encompassed the whole range of human emotions, and solidifies him as a serious, charismatic leading man. He can obviously do more than play the best James Bond ever. Other excellent performances from Liev Schrieber and Alexandra Davalos, plus many lesser characters. The settings - almost entirely in forests - pulled me into the film and held me there, where I suffered the cold and deprivations of the characters (I actually felt guilty eating popcorn while watching them starve). I rate this film as a compelling drama and a welcome addition to the genres of Holocaust and WWII films. It covers a lesser-known true story of courage and yes, defiance, that deserves to be better known. It made me feel proud both as a Jew and as a human being. -- Mark Cotter

Defiance shall remain a tribute to the relatively small but mighty resistance that took place in a world turned upside down, with 6 million Jews murdered, "ethnically cleansed" from Europe by Hitler and his willing co-conspirators. Daniel Craig delivers the performance of a lifetime, with much depth and emotion, but insistant focus on his mission to not only stay alive, but defy the edict of Jew-hatred that was unleashed throughout Europe. Other cast members are equally committed to this goal, and the movie is aptly named. The brothers themselves, are torn between joining the Partisans, helping just themselves, or helping thousands who were imprisoned in ghettoes by the Nazis, waiting for a matter of time to go to concentration camps. The director of the film shows brilliantly the personal and group choices that each character had to make. The subplots are riveting, the action moves forward with characters overcoming obstacles, unbelievable small triumphs. An epic film.

THIS STORY HAD NOT BEEN TOLD IN FILM UNTIL NOW, AS MANY HOLOCAUST EXPERIENCES HAVE NOT BEEN, NOR NEVER WILL BE COMMITTED TO FILM OR BOOK. ANYTIME WE CAN SEE WILL AND DETERMINATION OVERCOME EVIL, IT IS A GOOD THING. SCHINDLER'S LIST WAS ANOTHER. MY FIANCE'S POLISH FATHER'S EXPERIENCE WAS ONE JUST AS COMPELLING, BUT WILL NEVER BE TOLD EXCEPT IN THE MOST PERSONAL FAMILY DIALOGS. HE HAS BEEN ASKED, BUT DECLINED TO "HAVE HIS STORY TOLD". DEFIANCE IS A WELL ACTED, WELL SHOT MOVIE. IS IT THE BEST MOVIE I'VE EVER SEEN? NO. IS IT THE BEST MOVIE OF '08? NO. IS IT WORTH SEEING? DEFINITELY.