Tal der Wölfe - Irak

A commando of Turkish intelligence agents enter Irak to avenge a real life episode in the war where Turkish soldiers were arrested and blindfolded by American troops. A very good action film, condemned unseen by many in the west, it represents at least a change of pace by showing the Muslims as the good guys and the Americans as the bad guys. The movie is actually very strongly against terrorism (the Sheikh in the movie criticizes the terrorists who wants to behead an American journalist, and prevents this from happening) but is also against American ignorant meddling in the Middle East. Most of all, though, Valley of the Wolves is a terrific action movie. And Billy Zane - who has apologized to the American press for appearing in this film - has actually one of the best performances in his career as a real meanie.

I liked this movie.. I know it was a big deal back in Turkey, since it had a soap opera and all but I didn't have any knowledge about that when I watched the movie. If you think this movie is anti-semitic or brings up the issue of raising anti-American spirit, I'd like to remind you the midnight express movie. Americans shall be as well very familiar with the effect of a wrong assumption/judge-mental movie... You see it here in the United States every day, on TV, on movies and etc. I don't understand what is the big deal when another country does the same to the US? We should have the same criterion's for any movie not depending on their nationality but their qualifications. So overall, I suggest this movie not only because it is a perception of another culture also because it is a fun adventure type movie..

Turks are not Iranians, their Islamic cinematography has much to be desired. Yet even they, provided sufficient money, can reach Hollywood level entertainment quality, and this movie certainly proves that, so emulating Hollywood, which is typically even more shallow and stupid but shiny and bombastic, is really possible anywhere. What Turks bring to the table is realism, realism in portrayal of american war criminal mentality that plagues the world in the last decades. It is a satisfying antidote to Hollywood stupidity of patriotic shallow stupid pro-Amurican anti everyone else propaganda, and is both technically and morally superior to average CIA propaganda vomit like Black hawk down or Top gun. That being said, it is still a mediocre movie with only its objectivity to elevate it above it.

I loved the TV series and I liked this movie. It is provocative and very real also. We finally see the real side of the U.S. and their twisted politics. I love seeing Americans lose. I love Polat Alemdar and 24/7 serious face. I think I will watch the TV series after this movie. 7/10

As mentioned before here somewhere, there is a true hysteria on going in Europe about this movie, which i don't understand at all. Why is it, that people get up now and denunciate the content. What is wrong with them guys ? I mean Hollywood produced Bullsh.. for years, and told so called "true" stories one-sided and no one ever said a word about their manipulative policy. Russians have been showed bad and evil for years, then the Japanese, then the Arabian world and it always was OK. Who says, the good guys are always American ? Who says justice is being made by stars'n'stripes ? Once Oliver Stone dragged a whole country and its people in the mud and every consumer thought, ooohhh yeah, so this is what Turkey is about. And when the Turks complained about that movie, Hollywood's answer was: Hey, it's just a movie. Don't take serious. Exact the same thing word, is what I'm saying now: Hey, it's only Showbiz !!! But back to the movie.

Valley of Wolves sure has some lacks in professionalism but what has to be said: the movie is thrilling. Besides the American actors, which are chosen very well, the Turkish ones have some work to do to take place in the higher class. But of course, there are also very touching moments, like the Hospital visit from the main character. The special and action effects are not bad but are too limited in its volume to be really spectacle.

I think it is a solid action movie and for once told from the other side than the usual "hero saves the world" stuff.

cheers.