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Reviews
The Prisoner or: How I Planned to Kill Tony Blair (2006)
Guilty of Being Iraqi
This film is a sequel of sorts to "Gunner Palace" the Iraq film that came out in 2005. Much like that film, The Prisoner is not overtly political, rather, it lets the characters tell the story. In Gunner Palace, the perspective is the American soldier. In The Prisoner, the perspective is largely Iraqi. The films should be watched together to fully appreciate.
I don't want to give away too much, but I can say that you walk away from this film feeling like you know an Iraqi and have a new sense of just how much the Iraqi people suffered--both under Saddam and during this conflict. The film is also surprisingly funny and it should come with a disclaimer that gives the audience permission to laugh. It would be funny if it wasn't true!
As we enter the 5th year of the war, more people need to see films like this. I would also suggest reading the director's back-story in Vanity Fair at http://www.theprisoner.us.
The War Tapes (2006)
Weekend Warriors Gone Wild
I don't even know what to say about this film.
Every unit has a different experience in Iraq, but I'm not sure I can say that unit's experience or bearing well represents the Army experience in Iraq. More, I'm not sure I'd want to be rolling with a bunch of guys consumed with filming themselves.
There's also an undercurrent of self-pity in the film--my favorite example is the Sgt with carpal tunnel syndrome. Well, at least he still has a carpal tunnel (or two) to bitch about.
Just one man's opinion.
13 Fox