"Valkyrie" - B+

Enough with the hero pics for director Bryan Singer, and I'm glad for it. This is a solid production with a reverential look back at some real heroes - men and women who put it all on the line to stop real-life evil.

"Valkyrie" is tight and tense viewing. You'll come away with a much better appreciation for the resistance movement and the sacrifices made by these honorable Germans.

Tom Cruise (as Oberst Graf Schenk von Stauffenberg) is deftly surrounded by an able supporting cast. Good performances abound overall, and the on-location use of buildings and locations integral to the story only add to the realism of the film.

It's no secret that the daring plot of July 20, 1944, was not as successful as hoped. But it was instrumental in emboldening others to stand up against tyranny, and Singer gives you sweeping insights into the whole operation.

Grade: B+ (a moving work and a fascinating story)