5 Days of War: Movie Review

 
Well, it's been a while, but I'm back with another brand new movie review.

I don't think I'll have a lot to say about this film because I really enjoyed it. So, I'll just rave about how immersed I became at the story that unfolded as I sat in a lit room and witnessed the horrors and sacrifices brought about by war.

To begin, I have always enjoyed well told/filmed war movies. The struggle to survive is evident in the need for soldiers to carry out a task, and while this is present in the film, the perspective is different. The film is based on the real life war that transpired between Russia and Georgia. Now, let me begin by saying that I'm not familiar with the history or ensuing conflicts between these two countries that led to the war that lasted 5 days.

The aspect of the film that caught my attention was the news reporting angle. 5 Days of War centers around a journalist by the name of Thomas Anders played by Rupert Friend and his struggle to stay alive long enough to escape the war zone and release the film footage he and his cameraman caught of the carnage as Russian mercenaries entered a village in Georgia and slaughtered civilians. So, the entire film is an action documentary of what took place, but without the need of having the film shot from a first person perspective.

Now, I've read that this film received mixed reviews with most of its criticisms pointing to the fact that the film portrays only the Georgian side of the conflict. All the while the Russians are portrayed as barbaric killing squads marching along the Georgian countryside eliminating everything. Some critics claimed the film was a dangerous form of propaganda used to promote sympathetic reactions from audiences. Again, I not familiar with the actual reasons that brought about the war, and while some of these criticisms against the film may be true, I'm not here to pass judgement. Although, during times of war, everything that we see or are allowed to be shown by the media is put up for criticism. We can never be sure if what we're being told is true or exaggerated.

The term 'propaganda' is correct in some ways; as journalists, you try to push your information because the world has a right to know. So here we have just that. Thomas Anders embarks on a mission to uncover the truth about a possible confrontation between Russia and Georgia and ends up with a front row ticket to a real first-hand experience of life and death. This brings me to a interesting point that I have always know to be true. War journalists and photographers are the most hardcore and fearless people in the world. To put yourself in harms way, deliberately now, is insane! Even with proper precautions, journalism rights/permissions and military escorts, they run very real risks that could have fatal consequences.

Anyway, these were the points of the film that kept me immersed and wanting to reach the end. Another interesting fact, there was very little news coverage of the war due to the fact the as this was happening much of the world, and the news media, was busy covering the Olympics. Add that to the pile building in front of you as a journalist!

It was interesting to see Andy Garcia play Mikheil Saakashvili, the President of Georgia. Other cast members included: Val Kilmer, Dean Cain, Emmanuel Chriqui and a brief cameo by Heather Graham. All in all, I really enjoyed the film. My interest in it first came when I saw the trailer a few months back, and I wasn't disappointed. It's an action film at heart and it provides several moments of intense confrontation and quick pace.




Well, I hope you enjoy and until next time!