Ghosts of Beirut

Ghosts of Beirut is very well written and depicts its time periods accurately. The acting is solid most of the time and I like the documentary pieces that were added.

The series should be 3 episodes longer, however. What I really missed, was the 90s and how Imad managed to be the so called ghost. In my opinion this is an essential part of his reputation.

I also would have liked the Arabic actors to be Lebanese, as most of them have a an Israeli Arabic background. This does not entirely capture the Lebanese vibe, although Dina Shahibi has lived in Beirut.

But this is well worth your time and attention.

So I just started watching this and finished episode 1. I will continue watching the story and will update my comment when I finish.

So far I am impressed with the story telling, the acting and production.

The story interests me and I recall watching this unfold in the news and having discussions with friends and others in my community. It was quite scary to learn about even though we didn't have the information speedway that is available now...but I like to think that there was a little more integrity in journalism. I'm interested to see how this story unfolds and compare it to what we were told at the time.

But I just had to comment now because one thing that has stood out for me so far is the relationship and dialogue between young Imad and his wife Saada. It resembles and reminds me so much of Michael and Kay (the Godfather). I can't help but think...same crap, same lies, broken promises, insincere reassurances and terms of endearment, same hell bent vendettas, hatreds that go on for thousands of years, "this Sicilian thing", everyone at the helm is guilty and responsible, different people, different place, different time. Nothing changes. Wives, mothers and innocent children pay the price and bear the pain.

The only review on the page so far is titled "Maybe it gets better, maybe"... Believe me when I say, it does NOT "get better". This is NOT a made-up drama - this is REAL LIFE and real life often does NOT "get better".

I have lived in Israel for most of the past 42 years (29 as a citizen) and was in Israel in 1981 & 1982 when what you saw in Episode 1 actually happened. While I was in Canada when the US Embassy was bombed and Robert Ames was killed and in the USA when the US Marine Barracks in Beirut was bombed, I remember it all like it was yesterday, since so much of "it" continues.

The production is an interesting concept - with actors playing the parts of what are, for me, well-known, recognizable people, such as Imad Mughniyeh and Robert Ames - but also with real experts who were either there or involved in some way describing the situation and the people involved.

I am looking forward to the other three episodes to see if they match my memories... And by the way, with all the hatred directed towards Israel and the almost constant attacks on our population (I have lived in Jerusalem through the First and Second "Intifadas" and still today), I still feel safer here than anywhere else I have lived, including several locations in the United States!

As "Ghosts of Beirut" (2023 release; 4 Episodes of about 50-55 min each) opens, we are reminded that this mini-series is a "Fictional Account of Deeply Researched Events". We are in "Southern Iraq, January 20, 2007" and four SUV's brazenly enter a US base and kidnap several US military. We switch to the "CIA Tactical Headquarters" when a CIA agent claims that the kidnapping has all of the hallmarks of being orchestrated by Imad, the long sought after terrorist. We then switch to "Beirut 1982" where we get to know the young Imad. At this point we are less than 15 minutes into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: I can't recall ever having seen a movie or TV series with the disclaimer of being a "fictional account of deeply researched events". Do you? Of course, plenty of "based on" or "inspired by" or some such, but this particular wording? No. I have no idea how closely to the actual facts this mini-series sticks, As Episode 1 played out, it took me quite a while to figure out exactly what was going on. Many, many characters to sort out. Also what role exactly the US was playing in Lebanon in the early/mid 80s. By the end of Episode 1, though, things were much clearer, at least as far as figuring out the plot. Looking forward to seeing how it plays out from here.

"Ghosts of Beirut" started streaming on the Showtime app yesterday (Friday), and Episode 1 will actually be shown on SHO TV tomorrow (Sunday). The remaining 3 episodes will be released over the next 3 weekends. If you have any interest on geopolitical events in general, or in the Middle East in particular, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

I have tons of respect for Lior and Avi, and I get that they wanted to show the whole picture of Imad. But let's face it - the man was a monster. His forces were responsible for murdering so many innocent people and later united with Assad who murdered so many Syrians. We can show that he has a private life but the story wasn't balanced. They didn't show how his actions affected civilians but showed him as a civilian all the time.

As a show, the acting (apart from the actor who played Imad) was horrendous. It was like me reading this review out loud in a monotone voice. This is the network that brought us Dexter and the people who brought us Fauda. I blame Barker for this, obviously.

So, interesting historically but you can just read a wiki page.