The Beast
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Movie Reviews of The Beast
Movie Review: Things have changed a lot since 1988.
Summary: 5 Stars
The political climate at the time of this film's release in 1988 made it impossible for it to obtain the distribution it deserved; the movie itself, taking place during the first full year of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, centers around a Soviet tank crew who are commanded by a miserable officer who is a veteran of the Old School...and the Old War (his details of his exploits as a child in Stalingrad against the Nazis are both chilling and exceptionally revealing). He has no regard for the lives of the people in whose country his armies are "guests" (the government in Kabul at the time was well- supported by Moscow), and he has neither regard for anything he perceives as weakness among his own troops, nor time to listen to anyone who would interfere with his command of them. This leads to the action that ultimately adds the twist of "Badal" (Islamic term for "revenge") as the tankers become lost in a box canyon and attempt to elude Mujahideen (Islamic freedom fighters) as they return to their column.>
I know it's an insignificant and meaningless consequence to the actions of September 11, 2001 here in the United States...but I believe this movie should be reassessed and far more appreciated. The decision to allow the Soviets to speak not in the traditional thickly-accented English that can be expected from most intrigue movies, but instead with American dialects (any of these guys could have been extras in "A Bronx Tale") was inspired at the time, and it very effectively humanized an enemy that we in America had been indoctrinated to believe were "an Evil Empire". And in truth, the first scene of the armored attack of an Afghan village pretty much supports this categorization...but as the movie runs its course, you start to wonder.
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The Afghans, in contract, speak their native tongue (with subtitles). This is an incredible feat, particularly pulled off by Steven Bauer ("Manolo", from "Scarface") as the young Khan who inherits his position after his elders are killed during Soviet interrogation. The Afghans religiously see their obligation to destroy the Soviets as divine will, and are thoroughly merciless in their attempts to do so. A group that begin the movie as oppressed but gallant freedom fighters slowly reveal themselves to be little short of brigands, literally (at least in the case of their women) thirsty for the blood of their invaders.
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Of course, today things are different. Today we as Americans are only beginning to understand the horror that the conflict in Afghanistan was (and continues to be). Today we as a country ask ourselves what we were thinking when we pledged our support to the Mujahideen that eventually begat the Taliban in an attempt to thwart an "Evil Empire" who, for some reason, wanted to control the most worthless patch of land on this planet.
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Therefore, I say with great conviction: Watch this movie...and when you find yourself wondering if it's right to feel one way or the other for one side or the other, then you find yourself understanding a little more about what war really is.
Movie Review: A War Film Ahead of Its Time
Summary: 5 Stars
From beginning to end the thing I could just not shake was, THIS WAS MADE IN 1988? The photography and production quality were very modern and ahead of its time.
So was the story. 5 western solders invading in Afghanistan become disillusioned with the war after battling with peasants. But this isn't 2008. It's the 1981 Soviet invasion.
The scene opens with simple peasants in mud huts being massacred by Soviet T-62 tanks. As the monsters remove their gas masks we are shocked to see they are the stars of the film, Jason Patric, George Dzundza, and Stephen Baldwin.
After the massacre Dzundza's T-62 becomes separated from their column and lost in the desert low on fuel and supplies. Worse yet they are being hunted by Afghan rebels armed with an RPG.
As the situation intensifies Patric begins to sympathize with the Afghans more and more while the vicious Dzundza preaches about fighting at Stalingrad and begins executing his crew as traitors to communism.
I can't ruin much more of the plot but at every single moment right up till closing credits anything is possible. Any character can turn evil, any character can die. `The Beast' is not afraid of anything.
In addition to the superb production quality and gripping story, the choice of cast is also interesting. The Afghans are lead by Cuban Steven Bauer even though most of the others are played by Arabs. The cultural conflict is not apparent as all the characters speak Afghan thus their true ethnicity does not show. I never understood all those WWII films which cast Germans as Germans speaking English with a thick German accents right next to Brits with fake German accents. Pick a language and stick with it otherwise it seems cheesy.
Likewise all the Russians are played by Americans speaking English with American accents. Having them speak English with Russian accents would be cheesy. George Dzundza was rather an odd choice for a villain as he is always known as the fat sidekick friend. But `The Beast' also proves Dzundza was once thin. Dzundza claimed he was at Stalingrad when he was 8, about ten years off for Dzundza, and placing his character's age at 46 or 47. Pretty old for a Russian solder. Is his story intentionally false to show how crazy he is? This is never made clear. Dzundza the actor was actually born in 1945 Germany. I'd never have guessed from his Brooklyn accent.
The `Beast' AKA `The Beast of War' not to be confused with Peter Benchley's `The Beast' is truly an amazing film.
Call me a war junkie but I really liked the way all of the T-62's many features were utilized.
Movie Review: A powerful glimpse into a misunderstood war
Summary: 5 Stars
It's not surprising that this controversial movie isn't that well-known, but after the tragedy of September 11, 2001, watching this movie is even more important. The movie begins with a devastating Soviet tank attack on a quiet village in Afghanistan, during which a rebel prisoner is shown being run over by one of the T-62 tanks (one of the most grusome scenes in the history of cinema!). After "mopping up" the pitiful resistance, one of the Soviet T-62 tanks becomes separated from the rest and in no time at all is lost in the brutal desert, where Afghani rebels led by Taj (Steven Bauer, in an incredible performance) stalk the tank with the goal of destroying "the beast".
The commander of the lost T-62 is Daskal (George Dzundza), a tyrant who's so psychotic he has one of his own tank crewman machine gunned for being "a traitor" (which he wasn't of course).
The tank driver, Koverchenko (Jason Patric) can't stand Daskal's madness any longer, and when his insubordination to Daskal goes too far he is tied up and left to die alone in the desert. The Afghani rebels find Koverchenko and prepare to kill him, but he begs for mercy and his life is spared by Taj. Taj gives him the option of joining the rebels in their determined hunt of "the beast", and Koverchenko readily accepts. Taj and Koverchenko learn to trust one another as they close in on the tank (which is quickly running out of fuel) for the kill, leading to an explosive confrontation.
Despite the fact that Americans play Soviet tank crewmen and speak English, I found this movie very thought-provoking and gripping from beginning to end. The casting couldn't have been better and the performances are outstanding, as is the chilling atmospheric music by Mark Isham. The cinematography is simply stunning, and the battle scenes are very graphic and intense. It's too bad that the dvd is full-screen only and contains hardly any special features, because a great film like this certainly deserves a special edition dvd. Still, it's at least very inexpensive, and this is a movie that no war movie fan should be without!
"When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains,
and the women come out to cut up your remains,
just roll to your rifle and blow out your brains,
and go to your God like a soldier." -Rudyard Kipling
Movie Review: Something to learn every time
Summary: 5 Stars
I disagree with the reviewer who thinks one viewing of this film is enough. I learn something new every time I see it.
It wasn't until 9/11 and the decision to attack the Taliban in Afghanistan that most Americans were actually aware of what had happened in the war covered by this film It serves the same purpose that :Behind Enemy Lines" did for the Serbo Croatian War. Its too bad because we would have been much more aware of the dangers inherent in the Middle East if more of us had seen this film when it was firm realized. What we did know was that President Carter had withdrawn the United States from the Olympics because of this war and, after ten(?) years of bloodshed, it had become "the Russians' Vietnam". This was not a Civil War; it was a war between the Afghan Independence Movement (Moshe Hadeen? sorry) and the Russian backed puppet government. If the Russians hadn't been there, there wouldn't have been much of a war. When it was over, there was a vacuum which was filled by the Taliban who gave Al Quaida a home, etc. etc, etc. This film shows a small piece of that war in the story of the tank commander, maddened by the war, who treats his tank as an extension of himself and forces his crew to follow him. One by one, he kills the crew as they displease him. He doesn't like what the Muslim crew member tells him about the route they must take, and he doesn't like the fact that the man insists on doing his required prayers so he shoots him. He doesn't like the resistance given by the college educated tank driver so he leaves him tied to a rock with a grenade under him. The commander is a look into the psyche of a man exhausted and crazed by wars with only the desire to hurt as much as possible anyone who opposes him. It also gives a look at what not to do when fighting those such as the Afghanistanis and perhaps the Iraqis. The deaths and abuses which the freedom fighters brought down on the heads of the Russians and the resulting body count and body bags which were returned to Russia are said to have contributed to the downfall of the Soviet Union. This film didn't get much distribution in 1988. However, perhaps it is time for it to be rereleased so that we can learn its lessons. Now I have to go and find out how to spell Moshe Hadeen.
Movie Review: A HELL of a lot better than Rambo III!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
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!