The Beast
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Movie Reviews of The Beast
Movie Review: Neither right nor wrong, it just is.
Summary: 5 Stars
First up, I have to give special mention to the convincing acting by the Russian tank crew. I was expecting to hear some dodgy Soviet accents, but the actors just stuck with their natural American accents. And I was still able to believe they were the crew of a Russian tank. Onto the review.
As well as seeing this movie title on a few lists for "what to watch/read if you're deploying to Afghanistan", I've also had it recommended by a few mates who've been deployed there.
I personally wouldn't recommend it anymore than any other war movie for deploying personel, as it doesn't offer any real insight into the current situation.
Having said that, please don't think that it's not a good formula movie in it's own right. In it's simplist form, the story follows the formula for one man's struggle with morality and how he compromises it to survive.
Even though the story gives us 4 different groups (the Russian tank crew; the men of the attacked village, led by Taj; the muhajidin led by Taj's cousin: and the women of the village), the story is Koverchenko's, so his character is the one that develops the most (within the limits of the action/war genre).
What I liked most about this movie is that no side is really made to be "the good guys". Each side's actions are decided on without considering an alternative to what the situation presents.
Koverchenko and his comrades do what they rationalise as the best course for their immediate survival. Taj's group and the women do what they do because it is the code their culture lives by. Taj's cousin fights as a muhajidin because it is an extension of his banditry. In the end Koverchenko finds there's no absolute answer for what is the right thing to do, only situations and actions.
Movie Review: Haunting film with excellent performances
Summary: 5 Stars
The Beast, which is based on the stage play "Nanawatai" by William Mastrosimone is a haunting movie with excellent performances from its cast. This film is hard to stomach sometimes due to the violence and bloodshed gore that are in some scenes. Nevertheless, is a very good movie that never had the success it deserved because of poor distrbution from the studio that released it Columbia Pictures.
The actors are all excellent with the exception of Jason Patric. I feel that maybe he could've done more with his character he seemed lost or out of place at times. It is strange because I do think that he is a very good actor in other movies he has done. Although he is not bad in this one he is believable most of the times I guess. George Dzunda is excellent as the evil and merciless tank commander. He is really fantastic but at the same time so brutal. It makes you want to hate his character because he is so terribly bad with no feelings or remorse.
Steven Bauer (Scarface, Thief Of Hearts) is fantastic as Taj, the Afghan leader who helps Jason Patric take control of the tank and the evil George Dzunda. He delivers all of his lines Pasto (an Afghan dialect) and did an excellent job at it. Bauer is an excellent actor who has never had a chance to play the really good roles. He has done a lot of B-movies that went straight to video but his performance in "The Beast" is one of his finest. In reality (my opinion) the reason why this movie is so well done is largely in part because Steven Bauer and George Dzunda are fantastic in their roles. See this movie if you can it is one not to be missed.
Movie Review: Great flick; despite the tactical inaccuracies
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is great! ... I have since watched it over and over. Some reviews I have read focus on the tactical mistakes and lack of a "real" Russian helicopter in the film. The interesting thing about this is, war is chaotic. Sometimes tactics go out the window when faced with flying bullets. Even if the Russians used Motorized Rifle units as escorts for their armor, there's no saying that armor NEVER ventured out on their own. Heck, maybe this armored unit was part of a larger force that was simply making a reconnaisance-in-force. Also, the helicopter used in the movie was NOT that much different than the Mi-8 which, as it turns out, looks exactly like the one in the movie. If you don't believe me, check it out. Anywho, being a veteran and knowing how the rules of war are almost always broken, the so-called tactical "mistakes" made in the movie are easily overlooked. The main point of this movie is to give the viewer a feeling of the brutality of war and how it changes ordinarily sane people, into first monsters, callous to their nature, then fearful refugees to the carnage they created. This movie is both entertaining and yet, emotionally invoking. You get the sense that the real "enemy" is not the Mujahadeen pursuers, but the maniacal tank commander, driving his men to the brink of destruction. The last thing I'd like to say about this movie is its WONDERFUL soundtrack. The music definitely sets the mood. Now, if only I could find the soundtack. Arista records doesn't seem to know where to find it. I wish I knew! Buy this movie, you won't be disappointed!
Movie Review: Underated desert war film - You can almost smell the dust!
Summary: 5 Stars
This a great film as those few who have seen it will testify - Really gritty stuff. They must have changed the name because I distinctly remember it used to be known as 'The Beast of War', a better title.It is pretty graphic in areas, I saw it as a kid and the scene with the guy getting driven over by a tank certainly didn't help me get to sleep. War is hell, to say the least.
As people have pointed out, they used actual soviet T-62 tanks in the film and it really added to the realism and overall effect. Suffice to say it's not going to make you want to become a tank commander any time soon. The T-62 is dark and dingy inside and definitely didn't come with any cupholders.
Performances are great across the board. It's interesting to see Jason Patric in such an early role, but George Dzunda as the tank commander spearheads the cast.
Yes, some people have noted the helicopter isn't an actual Mi-8, but I don't know how they could have gotten their hands on one back in 1988 anyway, it's a minor quibble and I'm just glad they didn't respray an M-1 to make it the T-62!;)
The desert landscape is cruel and unrelenting, yet strangely beautiful.
All up, five stars, this is tight, solid film, that will hold your interest throughout and is superbly shot. Perhaps somewhat topical at the moment, it's well worth a view.
Movie Review: amazing story pathetically portryed what american force might have to deal with in 21st century
Summary: 5 Stars
the tank in this movie symbolized the cruelty of the modern day war machine just look like a beast to the simple and poor people of the third world country. a beast is an evil force, the only way to deal with it is fighting back with persistent force, no matter how much sacrifice you have to make. i guess now there are two beasts in iraq, the insurgent force is a beast, the american force is another. so now the situation is beast against beast, both beasts are wounded, not fatally wounded yet but both are bleeding profusely. it depends on how much blood it got in each beast. it does not guarantee whether you got more fire power. what was proved several decades ago in vietnam, a poor beast beat the more powerful beast which finally decided that it couldn't stand the heat and just wanted to get out of the kitchen. now similar situation is replaying in iraq. the stronger beast already got 2nd thought and wanted to get out of the hot kitchen again, but still trying very hard to save some faces, refusing to set a timeline or deadline to let the world know when to drop out. beast or no beast, the best way to play tough is to stay put where you are, don't meddle with other beasts' business. ever heard the isau's fable: an elephant was scared to death simply by a tiny mouse? now you got it.