Why We Fight
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Movie Reviews of Why We Fight
Movie Review: Incisive and Balanced, A Must See Documentary.
Summary: 5 Stars
My uncle and I were discussing this documentary and a few others (like "Crude Awakening" and "Enron: The Smartest Guys in The Room") the other day over barbecue & beers, and we came to the conclusion that if we were could dictate one law, it would be that all American voters would be required to watch this masterpiece, along with say three or four others (like the two aforementioned) and participate in a discussion group prior to registering.
I realize that is a ridiculous impossibility, an absurdity, given that no one in power (Democrat or Republican) or those who shill for them would ever allow that sort of thing, but it's still a pretty idea.
This is hard hitting stuff, rife with shocking revelations (shocking, I mean, if you haven't been paying attention the last fifteen to fifty years, like apparently most of our fellow citizens..) And unlike partisan stuff like Micheal Moore's work, it is mostly a series of interviews from people actually involved in government or the intelligence establishment, interspaced with lots of archival video documenting the evolution of the "military-congressional-industrial" complex.
It's mostly straight from the horse's mouth, in other words. You get incredible stuff, starting with clips & interviews with Presidents Truman, Johnson, Reagan, both Bush H.W. & W., Clinton, and of course Eisenhower - whose famous farewell address, which echoes that of George Washington (who warned us of maintaining standing armies and foreign entanglements), and provides the conceptual hook that draws the entire piece together.
Other voices here include Eisenhower's son & granddaughter (John E. Brig Gen. Ret. USA & Susan E.), professor and former CIA analyst Chalmers Johnson, neocon pundit William Kristol, activist Charles Lewis, the historian Gwynne Dyer, Dick Cheney, Senator John McCain, Senator Robert Byrd, former Air Force intelligence officer Karen Kwiatkowski, author Gore Vidal, Bush adviser Ricard Pearle, Secretary of the Air Force James G. Roche, retired NYPD officer Wilton Sekzer, the US Airforce officers who flew the Stealth Bombers who dropped the first bombs on Baghdad in 2003, and many others.
No matter what your political orientation, no matter what you think about what is happening in Iraq, this movie is worth your time. It is not mere propaganda, not agitprop. It is a true documentary, even (I say) a work of art. It will enlighten, and give you a lot to ponder.
I've bought it to share with people, I think it's that essential.
I can't recommend it highly enough. Watch it.
Movie Review: the best political documentary in years
Summary: 5 Stars
WHY WE FIGHT (2005)
directed by EUGENE JARECKI
approx. 99 minutes
Director Eugene Jarecki dealt already dealt with a specific chapter in foreign policy in the excellent movie 'THE TRIALS OF HENRY KISSINGER'. This movie attempts to delve into the driving forces of American interventionism in general. As with the Kissinger documentary, this movie is beautifully made and very informative.
Politics is often seen as a game played by the elite and movies on the subject tend to lionize the characters and ideas involved. Part of what sets Eugene Jarecki apart is that you feel the "human effects" of politics through his choice of interviewees, music and stock footage. For example, this movie follows an NYPD Sgt. who lost his son in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The Sgt. is a Vietnam veteran who felt betrayed when it was revealed that the Tonkin Gulf incident was at best embellished and at worst a total fabrication. Nevertheless he trusted the current President to find out who was responsible for the terrorist attacks. He supported the recent Iraq War, going so far as to get a US Marine to inscribe his son's name on a bomb that was dropped in the early days of the conflict. Imagine the betrayal he must've felt when he heard G.W. Bush state that Iraq had no connection to the terrorist attacks on September 11. We also meet two soldiers who dropped the very first bombs of "Operation Iraqi Freedom", a woman from Vietnam who works on developing expolosives for American weapons, and a young Army recruit who has lost his mother.
That's not to say that there aren't any "experts" or politicians in the movie. Gore Vidal, Chalmers Johnson, Senator John McCain, Richard Perle, and William Kristol all make statements on the current state of the political scene. There is a brief history of recent global military action by the US and an overview of how defense contractors work with the federal government. Dick Cheney's career is also covered, showing his oscillation between the political and private sectors and how these careers have made him a wealthy man.
President Dwight Eisenhower is a central figure in the movie. He was a unique man in that he was able to speak about the particulars of the post-WWII military in such an articulate way because he was so close to it. Eisenhower finally gets the credit he deserves for his evaluation of the influence of the military-industrial complex in foreign policy and even everyday life. It is a shame we didn't take it upon ourselves to benefit from his foresight.
Highly recommended.
Movie Review: A "must see" for everyone in America
Summary: 5 Stars
"Why We War" is like "american policy and history for those that didnt pay attention" (didnt want to say "for dummies")
for those that wonder what happened to the America that used to be the "leader of the modern day world", wonder no more. buy the dvd of Why We Fight.
For the younger adults and teens, I think this is a good primer of what the heck went on, and getting you up to speed, so that perhaps you can live in the America or even a portion of what we experienced before the "military industrial complex" ruined this country by allowing the richest and greediest among us, to steal our gov't right out from under us, and we for the most part, dont still understand that.
For the older people like myself, its brought so much to mind, that I used to see on the news, or read about. Only now its all in one interesting film, that goes year by year and you'll fully understand what has happened to us and hopefully young and old alike, can take a stand and try to get our country back. It will definitely cause you to wonder, why we didnt see this coming? Well some of the people did, but the press didnt even scream it out loud and clear. I wonder if they knew?
its not expensive, buy it, watch it and make up your own mind, but it changed my politics completely and I will never be the same person after viewing this movie several years ago. Its an easy film to watch, not hard to understand, and its not just for "history buff". It was made for everyone, I believe. Those that like history and politics and those that could care less. Its as interesting as some fiction govt movies we watch these days, but the truth usually is quite interesting, if someone communicates it with integrity and without a slanted agenda of their own.
I hope my simple words, explain the importance of this film, to all Americans. Please see it, I've been saying this to everyone I come across since the day I saw it. It will touch your emotions, in a deep way, and any blinders you've been seeing through, will most likely be gone. Truth is what the agenda is in this film.
Its not liberal or conservative. Every thing that is shown, happened, and anyone alive at that time, knows it. Amazon gives it a bad rating, but practically everyone that rated it gave it 5 stars. (170 people) a few with 4...but its a Must See, if you plan to live in America for the rest of your life, voting and being a good citizen etc. If you do, see this and then at least you will know what goes on, behind who and what you are voting for.
Movie Review: A Very Inciteful Documentary
Summary: 5 Stars
I have just read the reviews for this documentary, and after watching it three times over a period of 3 months, I am quite appalled at the one man John "what's his name", who obviously is a fascist to claim that this is all propaganda.
President Eisenhower described it so well in his farewell address in 1961, as to what to be aware of, and like his son said in the film, to quote the late President "Heaven help us when those in charge do not understand the Military like I do", how prophetic, look where we are today, after Presidents like LBJ, Nixon, Reagan, Bush Major, and
Bush Minor.
My only comment about President Clinton was that he was a Rhodes Scholar and was semi intelligent about World Politics, and for the most part stayed out of the fray, although he is not blameless.
What we have now is a complete moron for a President, portrayed so well in "Why We Fight" who unfortunately, has no education plus no idea of World Politics, how could he, being raised in Texas with a mediocre education and being advised by all of his Father's cronies.
No wonder we are at this point in our History, this Documentary should be must viewing to all the electorate, just to see how we were hoodwinked into believing that War in Iraq would be short and sweet, just listen to the Vice Presidents comments on NBC's Meet The Press, in this film.
This Documentary is very scary but very much to the point, great work to the team who produced it, and please make a sequel to show how this war has progressed to show the mood of the Country, how it has split us apart, in this day and age.
Mr John "Fascist" with the elevated I.Q. think again!!!!!!!, because it is people like you and your dogmatic beliefs who will drag the USA down.
We are not an Imperialistic Power as you would want us to be, we are a nation of mainly peaceful fun loving people who do not wish to push our beliefs on people who do not want it.
A wonderful movie, please make more, and shame our President, Cabinet, and Federal Government into following a different Foreign Policy, because if we don't we will be like all the other Empires in History we will fall, be ridiculed, and hated around the World for so many years to come, and that is not what the USA is all about.
We are a force for good around the World, but we are not IMPERIALISTS.
Wonderful movie !!!!!!, it will takes its' rightful place in my DVD Library, for further viewing by me and my friends.
Thankyou
Movie Review: AKA: A simple Unweaving of America's McWorld vs. Jhiad
Summary: 5 Stars
The Amazon Critique takes the assumption "...there's nothing particularly revelatory or compelling about it. Only when he takes a personal approach does he go beyond the obvious;..."
This is taking an assumption that we all understand the complexities, or even more, have taken the time to focus and study American policies. MOST DO NOT, and therefore this film serves as a great and often disturbing piece to get a snapshot of the intertwining Military Industrial Complex (AKA: War Dept., Military Of Defense or Homeland Security.
What ever the light that US Government shines or calls our Defense or Foreign Policy, it's difficult for an Average American AKA: The Consumer, The Shopper, The Liberator) to follow the complexities of how our government engages other courtiers- whether it's for war, to consume their natural resources or exploit their peoples for our Corporations, whom seem to loose their domestic sovereignty ethics and morals when they hit foreign lands.
This film does more than show you the system, it reflects through stories from the people whom have or had direct integration within the system of fighting for America's values. Because it includes a even handed group of individuals, politicians, corporate leaders and the average Americans whom are affected by our leaders actions, or in many cases inactions. I did not feel this was tainted as a 'Leftist' or 'Right' perspective.
I am a film lover and this film motivated me to write a review for the very first time, because it is important, relevant and also because it deserves to be watched, shared and discussed among families and friends.
This film did not receive nearly enough press or buzz, like other so called pseudo docs like F*911 and it should have. From the very least of not having a Biased Voice Over from any of its filmmakers shoving their viewpoint, satire, immaturity or defensive remarks within its elegant format. This film belongs in the category of DOCUMENTARY, where other recent films on the very same subject whom have nearly destroyed the DOC format for younger viewers, should be recatagorized as SATIRE.
"Why We Fight" should be your film to serve at least as an awareness of what is already happening, when 'We Don't Fight' for our own true rights as citizens.