It's unfortunate that so many reviews reflect not the quality, artistry, or technical merits of a film, but rather a visceral reaction based upon preconceptions. The director did a good job re-creating the atmosphere in Iraq using a hand held documentary style of film making. While the dialogue and acting left a lot to be desired, I understand this was a low budget picture so he did admirably with the resources he had. It is an independent film, so you shouldn't expect "Black Hawk Down."
Many of the negative reviews simply reflect an aversion to anything perceived as Anti-American. I am a veteran of the Iraq war with two tours of combat duty. I have lost brothers in arms. I have witnessed the suffering of civilians (vast majority at the hands of insurgents). I was close to Al-Anbar Province when this happened. To claim it was all lies is simply lying to yourself. If you cannot distinguish between engaging the enemy and murdering unarmed men, women, and especially children, either your moral compass is way off or you are completely brainwashed, or both. One poster above referred to insurgents as "less than human." It's that kind of thinking that leads to these kind of atrocities. No army on earth is immune to barbarism if there is a breakdown in leadership, especially in an emotional situation like this.
It is all too common that civilians will be the victims of collateral damage. That's what makes war so terrible. The reality is that 99% of American servicemen and women conduct themselves honorably. It is to protect that honor, and give some justice to the victims, that these marines should have been dishonorably discharged and sentenced to Ft. Leavenworth.
Many of the negative reviews simply reflect an aversion to anything perceived as Anti-American. I am a veteran of the Iraq war with two tours of combat duty. I have lost brothers in arms. I have witnessed the suffering of civilians (vast majority at the hands of insurgents). I was close to Al-Anbar Province when this happened. To claim it was all lies is simply lying to yourself. If you cannot distinguish between engaging the enemy and murdering unarmed men, women, and especially children, either your moral compass is way off or you are completely brainwashed, or both. One poster above referred to insurgents as "less than human." It's that kind of thinking that leads to these kind of atrocities. No army on earth is immune to barbarism if there is a breakdown in leadership, especially in an emotional situation like this.
It is all too common that civilians will be the victims of collateral damage. That's what makes war so terrible. The reality is that 99% of American servicemen and women conduct themselves honorably. It is to protect that honor, and give some justice to the victims, that these marines should have been dishonorably discharged and sentenced to Ft. Leavenworth.