The War Tapes

Deborah Scranton put digvid cameras in the hands of several members of a New Hampshire National Guard Unit deployed to Iraq early in 2004. She then guided their filming of experiences there, reviewing footage fed back via Internet, responding with tips on improving their photography and complementing the content. The Unit stayed in country for 16 months, and was involved in highly dangerous missions, i.e., the invasion of Fallujah in November, 2004, and escorting supply truck convoys here and there. Scranton distilled 900 hours of tapes to yield this 97 minute film that focuses on the experiences of three soldiers.

The footage succeeds in capturing the unpredictability, fear, chaos and ugliness of war. But the scenes that depict these matters make up just part of the film – the most revealing and unique part. Much of the remaining footage is just so-so, not up to the quality seen in professionally shot docs like Gunner Palace or Iraq in Fragments. Still, Scranton's bold experiment, moving beyond freelance or "embedded" photojournalism to the recruitment of soldier-journalists, is a worthwhile effort. My grades: 6.5/10 (low B) (Seen on 10/12/06)

Not being an American and not really knowing much about the politics surrounding the war, but also not feeling strongly one way or the other about the USA's deployment there, really helped me to understand the soldiers viewpoints, personal feelings and fears portrayed within this 'movie'.

I can express nothing but respect for these men for the things they saw and experiences they had.

On a personal level i'm still unsure if the war in Iraq is right or moral but i feel that isn't the issue, whats done is done and the only aim now should be bringing stability to those peoples in such a way they can make their own futures.

An excellent insightful documentary which is not biased or 'sugar coated' making it a very raw and sometimes shocking experience to watch and i hope it strikes each person who watches it in their own way really making them think - away from the political aims/games the media portrays for us.

The movie reopened some really deep wounds for me. I was in fact one of the guys in Iraq with the unit that filmed this. It is unfortunate that the Executives refused to recognize the unit as a whole. If it weren't for all 180 of us in Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 172 Infantry (Mountain), Scranton-Lacy would not have had the opportunity to get this documentary into the theaters. Let's give credit where credit is due. To my "Brothers-In-Arms" A job well done!!!! And yes, I did feel that the movie was great, all I can say is, DOWN WITH THE MEDIA!!!! They can't report the news, even when their lives depend on it. Here is to the TRUE heroes of the Military!

I think it was a mistake to put somebody like him on the movie. Producers probably wanted to invest a difference in opinions by letting him in, but if so they happened to be completely off the mark. Was it so hard to find a soldier who is really taking hard deaths of American soldiers (and\or Iraqi civilians) and, although performing his duty, opposes war and therefore Bush? Instead of that they found an unprincipled egoist, whom i cant recall expressing any hard feelings to fallen soldiers or suffering civilians throughout the movie. All he needs there is a combat (his words). He has a respect for insurgents (again nearly a quote). Why? He explains: because situation is no different as if Canada invaded US to overthrow Bush and Americans start defending their country. He missed here all which differ free society from despotism, where despot constantly committing genocide towards controlled population. He missed that considerable part of insurgents are not Iraqi nationals and has no "country-defending" goals. But more important than all he missed that insurgents generally are barbarians who has not a smallest respect for life (including their fellow countrymen), and constantly performing deliberate mass killings of innocent civilians. Could anyone who has a slightest moral feelings miss this last point and therefore feel respect to these maniacs? Not a chance.

All in all the only ones who can appreciate Zack Bazzi's part of movie i guess are those who made hatred to Bush (or to USA for foreigners)their religion, which far surpass any moral or sense of reality. However the major part of the film make it really worth watching.

I have seen a lot of the other documentaries that have come out, gunners palace was good, but this film really captured what soldiers roles were and what they were being forced to protect.

The story goes from pre deployment to post deployment which focuses on a few soldiers lives and families as well.

The film also spotlights where the money is being made in Iraq. Either way, if you care about the war in Iraq, I would strongly suggest watching this film.

Again, it is providing us with another point of view needed to understand whats going on. Great Film.