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Kristian Fraga directs this feature-length documentary following US Marine Mike Scotti as he fights on the frontline of the Iraq war. In July 2002 First Lieutenant Scotti volunteered to extend his service with the American Marine Corps. Six months later he was sent to the frontline of one of the most controversial military campaigns of our time: Operation Iraqi Freedom. This film gives an unflinching first-hand account of his experiences.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
War documentaries simply don't get much more realistic or gritty. This is the real deal. US Marine Lt Mike Scotti used his personal mini DV-camera to film his experiences during Operation Iraqui freedom in 2002. The camera does not spare us close up shots of bloody and mutilated corpses. We even watch one man run from a burning bus only to seek shelter in a shed where he is killed by heavy Marine fire. There is no hiding place from Scotti's invasive camera. Be warned this is very disturbing for those of a sensitive disposition. Perhaps most disturbing of all was the 'collateral damage' to the civilian population, a tragic feature of all wars. The death of a young girl in all its gory detail graphically illustrates this. Scotti also captures the cameraderie of Marine life, and the colourful language so beloved by young soldiers of every nation.
Perhaps saddest of all was some of the soldiers attitudes at that time. Scotti makes no secret of the fact that revenge for 9/11 is a motivating factor for many of the men. One particular scene still haunts me when the soldiers witness artillery raising an Iraqui city to the ground, they say "F**k em, let em burn. This is payback". It is soon clear that Saddam's ragtag army is incapable of putting up any meaningful resistence against such military might. It is also interesting to see how attitudes have changed in light of the fact that no weapons of mass destruction were ever found. This knowledge would certainly have made a difference to the soldiers attitude. At the end of the film Scotti talks about this briefly, to set the record straight. The film simply shows us war through the soldiers eye, in the same way that the documentary "Restrepo" also did recently, but in this case in a more visceral manner. It is like a film, but with real blood. As one of the soldiers says "It's like training, but with real targets". If this is the future of war films then I begin to fear for the future. What will we be getting in twenty years? On returning from Iraq Scotti gave 60 hours of film to director Kristian Fraga, who has tidied it up and trimmed it down to the hour and a half. The film achieves its stated aim and shows us what we may have known all along. War is indeed, uncertainty, chaos and disorder. There is no doubting that this is compelling film making, but it is also darkly disturbing. If I have used the word disturbing too often, I make no apologies!
Perhaps saddest of all was some of the soldiers attitudes at that time. Scotti makes no secret of the fact that revenge for 9/11 is a motivating factor for many of the men. One particular scene still haunts me when the soldiers witness artillery raising an Iraqui city to the ground, they say "F**k em, let em burn. This is payback". It is soon clear that Saddam's ragtag army is incapable of putting up any meaningful resistence against such military might. It is also interesting to see how attitudes have changed in light of the fact that no weapons of mass destruction were ever found. This knowledge would certainly have made a difference to the soldiers attitude. At the end of the film Scotti talks about this briefly, to set the record straight. The film simply shows us war through the soldiers eye, in the same way that the documentary "Restrepo" also did recently, but in this case in a more visceral manner. It is like a film, but with real blood. As one of the soldiers says "It's like training, but with real targets". If this is the future of war films then I begin to fear for the future. What will we be getting in twenty years? On returning from Iraq Scotti gave 60 hours of film to director Kristian Fraga, who has tidied it up and trimmed it down to the hour and a half. The film achieves its stated aim and shows us what we may have known all along. War is indeed, uncertainty, chaos and disorder. There is no doubting that this is compelling film making, but it is also darkly disturbing. If I have used the word disturbing too often, I make no apologies!
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
I Brought this film on the off chance, as it looked ok and had never heard of it before.
The film/documentary is a great piece of work. It gives you a real insight to what these soliders go through every single day and the horrors they have to endure, both mentally and pyhisical.
One of the best war films/documentarys I have seen for a long time!
The film/documentary is a great piece of work. It gives you a real insight to what these soliders go through every single day and the horrors they have to endure, both mentally and pyhisical.
One of the best war films/documentarys I have seen for a long time!
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
There seems to be a lot of 'venting of spleen' films out at the moment or maybe good war films are thin on the ground.
To be honest it's probably wrong of me to call this a war film. It's kind of a pseudo documentary. There is a running thread throughout the whole film which follows a FOO (Forward Observation Officer) and his cam-corder throughout 'Operation Iraqi Freedom' however, weaved into the film are news footage and also other personal camera footage from other individuals.
It was okay but almost falls between the cracks of a film and a documentary missing out the best bits of both genres.
To be honest it's probably wrong of me to call this a war film. It's kind of a pseudo documentary. There is a running thread throughout the whole film which follows a FOO (Forward Observation Officer) and his cam-corder throughout 'Operation Iraqi Freedom' however, weaved into the film are news footage and also other personal camera footage from other individuals.
It was okay but almost falls between the cracks of a film and a documentary missing out the best bits of both genres.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
This Is War
Exceptional footage and fly on the wall documentary done by a front line soldier shows the conditions of the fighting men and the civilians
Published 3 months ago by Jimbob
Well worth a watch
I have seen the war films Green Zone, Hurtlocker, Mark of Cain and Jarhead (first Iraq war)very recently and they are all solid films, but this is the real McCoy. Read more
Published 6 months ago by JWV, 1979
THIS IS RAW
Raw, shaky and out of focus. Blurred images and little in the way of audible dialogue. This isn't so much a pseudo documentary as it is a pseudo home movie. Read more
Published 15 months ago by J. Blakemore
I think we have been spoilt
If you are looking for an all out blow-by-blow account of active battles in the iraq conflict, this is not going to be the dvd for you. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Charlie Downes
RUBBISH
DO NOT BUY THIS IF YOU WANT TO SEE ACTION!!! it was the most boring doc about the war i av seen. dnt waste ur money. i payed over a tenner wen this came out. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Mr. A. Hawkins
This is good
This film is brilliant if into watching docu films. Defo worth seeing. Also watch Restrepo also available from Amazon.co.uk as well.
Published 17 months ago by Pitboy2009
Pretty Poor
Short and snappy review! Pretty bad film if your looking for a full action war film! Its not great in the slightest. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Brady Chalk
Just OK
There are some interesting parts to this documentary. For example, the build up to war and the tension that the soldiers experience. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Colm
Brave soldiers, stupid politicians.
This is a very different view point to the Iraq war, told and filmed by one of the US soldiers. It's a great illustration of how these young men and women are put in stupid... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Mr. M. AYRES
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