The best and only movie about the Afghan/Russian war
Added 11/5/2009
Excellent acting and an engaging story. Provides an interesting insight into just how and why warfare in Afghanistan is so difficult. You don't need to be a history or military buff to enjoy this movies. A very poignant drama.
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A forgotten war
Added 10/21/2009
I bought this film because the subject material interested me. Although it is an American-made film spoken in English, it is pretty good IMO. There are several technical inaccuracies and questionable military tactics, but the characters and conflict between them serve to blur the lines between right and wrong. There is a sense of futility in the Russian tanker's actions, and their fanatical commander is a stereotype of a good Comrade I found amusing. The Afghans are depicted as honorable and respectful tribal warriors, which I cannot judge from firsthand experience...
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i taped it on late night T.V many years ago , when I then wanted a D.V.D of THE PROFESSIONAL I was advised to try Amazon , from then on if a particular D.V.D I wanted I try Amazon .
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read the play from which it is derived - NANAWATAI
Added 7/9/2009
This is a very fine film, as has been attested to by many of the reviewers here already. At first glance, it may appear to be a "war film" or an "action film", but it is really a dramatic film. Excellent performances and excellent dialogue/script. If you like the film, you might actually want to check out the playscript from which it was derived - NANAWATAI. William Mastrosimone is a superlative playwright, known for his characters and language/dialogue. And if you've only seen the movie once, you may want to review it a second time to further appreciate just how well-written it is - the story draws you in so effectively, you might miss the craft that is behind the story-telling.
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A HELL of a lot better than Rambo III!!!
Added 7/3/2009
I remember seeing this when it first came out. ...It's amazing how fast people have forgotten about the Cold War...
The story reflects accurately how the Soviet army conducted itself in Afghanistan. The fact, forgotten by some of us who were around while this was happening, is that the spread of communism is synonymous with genocide. The Soviet solution to a troublesome population - Kill them all. Instant easy solution.
If you have ever scratched your head and wondered why we were invloved in this fight against the USSR, this movie will answer that question.
It also provides terrific insight to Afghan culture and terrain. Accuracy throughout the movie as a whole is awesome. All the way down to the T62 tank. Uniforms, weapons, tactics, all pretty good!
Don't watch this movie with the hope of taking any concepts and translating them to our current presence in the nation of Afghanistan. Keep in mind, the date this is taking place is 1981! If you were to try and say Americans fight in the same manner as Russians - tell that to my face and I'll promptly punch you in yours! Our role in the fight against terror is VASTLY different than that of the USSR in the late '70s and 80's.
People may interpret this as anti-war propoganda. Not so. It's an accurate reflection of the conflict between the Soviets and Afghans. Bottom line. Not good, not bad - just the way it was. Here's a concept that ANYONE who has really been involved in battle understands -> War is enough of an Anti-War motivator. The last thing REAL veterans need is a bunch of clowns who have never "seen the elephant" preaching crap they've never experienced. I only bring this up because a couple other reviews are trying to push that crap.
I'm glad The Beast is as good as I remembered it!
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