Redacted

Brutally honest ,disturbing film, showing the moral weakness of those who do know better. It's educational rather than entertainment, shocking rather than sensational.

i was in the military some time ago. i can assure you, this is the language of barrack room men/boys. the negative reviews show lack of reading and understanding. any serious reading of war will show you that the images and encounters shown here do happen. this is not John Wayne with Dean Martin along for the ride. start by reading 'NONE OF US WERE LIKE THIS BEFORE.' by Joshua E. S Phillips. i think its one of De Palmas best films. he shows what we already know, but for some, its too much. if you want a happy ending watch Rio Bravo, again. if its a kind of fictionalized honesty/truth, as the opening credits show....,then hang on in, and get a grip. and do some reading of history. this is not entertainment. its frank and brutal. it shows the cost of war psychologically and physically on those involved whether or not you're the good guy or the bad guy. boundaries are blurred - thats the point. its difficult to understand.

This is a horrible film I couldn't watch it because it made me cry at the horrid acts. Although I am not in denial that it goes on I didn't like the film- will be sticking to chick flicks next time!

Oh where to begin with this?

Not usual de Palma with his cheap Hitchock pastiches, even though he gave us a more traditional war fil in Casualties of War which was also made some time after the events depicted

The world and technology have changed i nthe two decades since that film

Reviws here will be based on gut reaction, so idiotic rednecks, 'patriots' of the 'my country, right or wrong' are going to hate this, no matter what it says or tries to show us

The idea that because de Palma hasn't served, his observations should be ignored and ridiculed are just plain stupid

He has done his research and that includes on youtube where poeple have hung enough rop to hang themselves

There are flaws, andsome may not care for the fragmented nature or the cheap look of the film or particularly the faux documentary aspect

That can't detract from the overall power of the piece

War debases, and frequently solves nothing, so, Yanks, deal with the criticisms. Ther are many documented cases by now at the atrocities perpetuated by the military re: killing civilians, urinating on corpses etc etc etc. They're all there, and they're all true

Yes the characterisation can be simplistic, but it's easy to paint in war films a black an white aspect- think of the diverging characters in aforementioned Casualties, or Platoon

Here we have horrible rednecks. On- dimensional and horrible, yet does anyone dispute that is how many americans think and behave re: serving in the military

The plot and device of rape is used as a shorthand to cover an emotional spectrum of the brutality and dehumanising effect of war, and the cover-up again is a device used to convey so much more of the thinking in the ranks ( even extend that to politics and big business and how whistleblowers are treated)

This isn't a film to enjoy, it's far more though-provoking and visceral for that, but i think it's a brave film by de Palma, and important given the lack of scrutiny embedded reporters can get their teeth into at times of conflict, for obvious reasons

Challenging, visceral, powerful. A must see for most, except those who still think Iraq was behind 9/11and therefore deserved to be invaded, because, well, they're morons and too busy crying with glen beck cry on fox news at how all these all-american military heroes are being portrayed

A must-see whatever one's political affiliation, despite its flaws

Frankly, you cant rate this film from an entertainment point of view, as its style of direction makes that it clear from its docu-drama type narrative.

However the film itself is sheer brillance, taking a bold stand to expose what goes on behind the curtain. A film purely for the intelligent and open minded, all the negative comments seem to stem from people who are either ignorant, Nazi sympathizers or just plain racist.

It is no suprise that the direction and acting quality is pure class, as Brain de Palma proves that his skills go beyond that of even scarface.