AboveDeepBuggy
Some things I liked some I did not.
StyleSk8r
At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.
Kodie Bird
True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.
Arianna Moses
Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.
drippee2000
I loved this movie! I am writing on my husbands site but saw this movie and as the mother of an 82 Airborne young man who was over there and was wounded in a battle at AS Samawa on 3-31-2003, I can relate better to just what my son went through. He too brought back a video with the battle and his whole year there from the beginning and I didn't quite understand the bad words used by him and his unit or the way they talked about Iraq in such a negative manner. My neighbors son was also there in the 101st with the Army and he was the same way. I guess the young men and women who went through this war or any war live and talk different while they are in the heat of the moment and regular people back here just do not understand that, given what they see from the media. My son is OK now and I hope that all the people we have over in the middle east and Afghanistan can get home safe and sound asap God love every one of them
jbenante-388-963917
Seriously - people can say what they want about Scotti, and to what extent he may be "full of himself." But this is an excellent documentary. It is not "flag-waving." It does not endorse the validity of the bogus claim for "weapons of mass destruction" in Iraq that got these marines sent over there. Those reviewers must not have watched the movie until the end. That's their right, of course, if they couldn't stand the movie for whatever reason. But don't state, as fact, false conclusions based on the fact that you didn't watch the entire movie.SPOILER right here:Scotti fully acknowledges at the end of this movie (I have not watched any of his interviews) that there were no weapons of mass destruction after all. He states that he would fight again, but not for the president or to liberate a country, but simply for the Marine Corps itself. You can like that statement, or hate it - but that's what he says. In no way was this documentary a defense of the invasion of Iraq.
in1984
Iraq from the front-lines. No setup, no objective, no talking heads, no "predetermined narrative", just an actual soldier filming actual war and recording actual news and politics as he goes into and fights the war.The director and editors do an impressive job keeping the film fast paced and connected without falling into a simple time line of video camera shots and comments from the troops' point of view. So it's a bit more interesting and developed than the average Wikileaks video. Important context is seamlessly added to provide perspective.All sorts of insights in this documentary, from the motivation of troops becoming soldiers, to their motivations going into the war, to their motivations as they fight it. It also captures much of the brutal and nasty nature of war. While it's sympathetic to the troops, it's hard to describe it as a sympathetic documentary.Watch, cringe, learn, laugh, understand.
brsc007
This is by far the best Iraq war film of the decade and definitely in the documentary category! However, do not consider this film your typical talking heads documentary. This is definitely a war film that really shows what it's like to be a soldier. You really get to understand what the mentality is as well as understand the brotherhood. I think all veterans, their families as well as current soldiers should see this but as well as the general public and politicians so that they can get a better appreciation of what war is and what soldiers go through as well as veterans coming home! If you like the brutal and tense battle scenes of Black Hawk down as well as the shear experience of blair witch or paranormal activity- meaning being absorbed in the film as well as shocked and scared et all, then go see this film. The score from Cliff Martinez will definitely keep you engaged as it is brilliant and the editing from the director Kristian Fraga is mesmerizing!