Only the Dead

Filled with footage that can only be described as incredible, as a viewer I found myself absolutely glued to the screen from start to finish.

This documentary shows a very raw viewpoint of the Iraq War and gives an insight into the filmaker and his motivations who put himself in such grave danger to acquire footage that is nothing short of remarkable.

One of the more interesting shots near the start of the documentary is narrated by the filmaker who explains this is the first time he captured anything on video, and that over the course of the next few years he would capture hundreds of hours of footage on what he describes as a beat up handycam.

Another notable points is the filmakers decision to show his team on the documentary, crediting the team (most of whom are local people) for their efforts shows that not every citizen of the country is an enemy of the west, something I wish other media covering the war would stress.

There are scenes that are difficult to watch but I am glad they are included, I would say that is one of the strong points of this documentary, as this gives a very authentic feel to the footage.

This is the most confronting and in your face film I have ever seen. Documenting 7 years living in Iraq as a war correspondent for TIME and CNN, Michael (an Aussie) tells an amazing personal story of how he was nearly beheaded, worked to tell both sides of the Iraq war and his personal struggles. I watched a screening where Michael did a Q&A afterward, his insightful, concise and articulate depiction of what he went through, the PTSD, the stories he told and his analysis of Middle East, make this one of the best films. He does the American soldiers justice in this film, it is not a Hollywoodised depiction of the glory of war! This is real war.

Only the Dead is a Western take on the Iraq conflict.

In spite of attempts to bridge the gap between the US invaders and Iraqi defenders, for me, this remains a Westernised perspective on the Iraq war. Its an interesting one, nonetheless.

What is clear from this documentary is the simple brutality and folly of war. People simply die, there's no pretense or sentiment. Whats especially troubling, is how modern urban warfare leaves no discernible boundary between civilians and military combatants. Everyone is at risk and under suspicion, there is no safe harbour.

This documentary is capably narrated by the Australian journalist who films instances of the Iraq war. He offers personal insights into how war effects him and those around him, including the often youthful US soldiers.

Take a look but be warned some of this is disturbing. Seven out of ten from me.

Fascinating, confronting, gritty documentary.

A documentary on the Iraq War of 2003 and its aftermath made by Australian journalist Michael Ware. Ware, a journalist with Time magazine, spent seven years in Iraq, from the 2003 invasion onwards. Only The Dead is a video compilation of his experiences in Iraq and, in particular, the rise of Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, the radical terrorist leader. Through becoming acquainted with another insurgent group, Ware was provided with video material from that group as well as Al-Zarqawi's group.

Incredibly powerful footage, certainly not the kind of stuff you see on the news or in war films. Very real and confronting and some of the most accurate captures of war you'll ever see.

The history of Al-Zarqawi is quite interesting too, and Ware's rare, terrorist-provided, footage gives a searing insight into events involving him and life in Iraq at that time. On the negative side, Ware's fascination with Al-Zarqawi does border on reverence at times.

Another negative involves the last few scenes. Here Ware tries to make a philosophical point out of the war and its effects on people, soldiers especially, but misses the mark. His comments on the final scene are quite empty, idealistic and naive. Even more, they smack of him trying to create controversy out of US soldiers simply doing their jobs in a war zone.

That took the shine off what was otherwise an incredible movie.

Real life violence is more disturbing than movie violence, that's a fact, as this brave Aussie individual filmmaker/journalist, Ware, takes us, may'be, too close, sometimes, to the ongoing way in Iraq, while this was early times, for that number one, infamous and hunted terrorist. Here, they're after a smaller important party, with a price on his head. This is a stark and grim ride amidst bombs, be headings and some truly scary, and dangerously serious moments, one involving the welfare of our filmmaker, who's made something short of a masterpiece, and a beautifully written V.O doc too by Ware. The film has a nasty air to it, and that's how it should be seen. He's one of the bravest and ballsy filmmakers, I've seen, this side of war. At the end of it, my Dad commented, jokingly or not, "I hope he didn't go back". No joke, that very realization had me in a pith of worry and concern. Probably the best, up close and personal view of this endless nightmarish war you'll ever see. Be warned, some of the violent images, are stark and shocking, and will be heavy on some viewers, one in the second to the final frame of the still breathing enemy, you thought initially was a goner. There are a few stereotypical moments, that has us feeling we're just watching another in the field doco on this war, but I'm no saying that as a criticism. A non issue. For the most part, it's a frank and unsettling journey into the blackest realities of the war, the meaty part of the footage of Ware's trepidation and dangerous exploits, really starting mid way.