9º Pelotão

The movie has somewhat similar message as of other War movies. But there are some differences. While movies of modern war like Hurt locker depicting the situation of soldiers in Iraq War have gained huge attention. Most people are not interested in knowing that there has been a much worse War in the Afghanistan decades earlier. The War had somewhat similar circumstances but it was fought on much bigger scale. Sadly, no one is interested to know about the Russian troops in that Afghan War and no movie (depicting the Russia side) has ever been made except this one which therefore makes it unique.

The enemy America facing in Afghanistan right now is nothing compared to what Russian Army faced decades ago in Afghan War. The difference is that in Afhgan War, America sowed the seeds of today's War (for what?) This is a must see movie for everyone.

I am big fan of war films, specially from Vietnam and WWII. Afghanistan was taboo in Russia for long time, therefore I was very impatient to see 9th company and because of Bondarchuk, that is the name.

I was really surprised about this film. Perfect acting, spectacular special effects, costumes and different point of view on war. All of these made this film superlative. And something more. I felt something strange after the end of this film. It was mix of feelings like anger, sympathy and sorrow.

9th company is impressive successor of famous Russian war films and Fyodor is brilliant follower of his father Sergey. Is nice to see excellent masterpiece from different, like American production.

God bless Bondarchuk !

In all post Soviet republics you can find bunch of veterans of the Soviet war affairs in Afghanistan. It is good that finally such movie was made. The previous movies about Soviet war in Afghanistan never managed to be so successful and therefore they didn't reached the masses. Bandarchuk's movie helps the youth as well as other people in the post Soviet republics to understand, what the veterans of the Afghanistan war have gone through. It is actually pity that I living in Latvia now more about what Americans have gone through in Vietnam then my neighbor in the upstairs apartment in Afghanistan. I believe that such thoughts could share with me many, who live in the post Soviet area.

The actors were well picked and they plaid well. The sound effects were cool and the music was fine. But still the movie was not perfect. There were some little things that didn't fit together. For example the plain that got shot – with four engines on smoke and flaying at such a low altitude it would never be able to get back to the runway, besides if it even had, it would never crash in to gasoline cans, since on a battle airfield there are no open air storage for fuel. If they had then those Afghans would simply shoot at those cans instead of the plane. The last fight episode was not clear either. If Dzhakonda was sitting on the edge of a mountain, then how those Afghans could get to him without waking up anyone else? So the overall impression is that the movie was very good but not perfect.

...are indeed bound to repeat them. This cracking Soviet/Afghan war drama from director and actor Fyodor Bondarchuk has echoes of US war stories like Hamburger Hill, Platoon and Full Metal Jacket, but with none of the predictable American schmaltz, propaganda and dubiously good teeth. It grips the viewer entirely with impressive repertory performances from a great young cast of faces unknown to western audiences; deserving all of its accolades and every cent of the post-Soviet era record-breaking $20m the film has raked in. Worth a look for those who think current Western military ambitions in Afghanistan are anything but futile.

The poster of this movie is not the most attractive, unfortunately, but everything else that's beyond that, exceeds the expectations to a Russian movie.

"9th company is a film about war cruelty, inhuman cross crippling the heroes' lives, about honour and duty, sufferings and friendship, about life that is one for all and death that is different for everyone."

9th company truly shows the beauty, the reality and the uselessness of such wars against locals. Now, 20 years after, the equipment has developed, all in all, it still gives an impression of the actions against the Iraq.

The characters were colorful and well picked, although some of them still looked too similar to me for messing them up.

The movie is high quality, with well mastered sound and Russian spirit in it, but vastly dramatic and definitely not a typical American movie with a happy end. It is a great example of human values and motivates to think about "What matters most".