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The War Tapes dvd movie. Home » DVD Movies » Documentary » Series » Docurama The War Tapes buy bestselling dvd movies, videos find reviews, ratings, prices List Price: $26.95 Our Price: $23.99 You Save: $2.96 Features • Color • DVD-Video • NTSC In Theaters : 2006 DVD Release : 15 May, 2007 [ + Zoom ]   [ Buy Now ] DVD : Usually ships in 24 hours The War Tapes description Reduced from some 800 hours of raw footage to one compelling, 96-minute film, The War Tapes, while not the first documentary about U.S. soldiers deployed in Iraq (cf. 2006's Off to War, which covers similar ground), is unusual insofar as it was shot entirely by men on active duty in Iraq--specifically three National Guardsmen (or "citizen soldiers," as they call themselves) from New Hampshire who served in that benighted country in 2004. The three are by no means alike. Spc. Mike Moriarty is a patriot who, much to the dismay of his family, re-enlisted after 9/11 and frankly hopes to be "someone's hero." Sgt. Steve Pink is motor-mouthed wiseacre who grows increasingly cynical as his tour plays out. Sgt. Zack Bazzi, a Lebanese-American who speaks fluent Arabic, reads The Nation and doesn't much care for George W. Bush, but is nonetheless ready to fight. Yet despite their differences, their experiences are similarly grim. After some training at home, we see them arrive in the Mideast, where the first words they hear are, "Welcome to Iraq. Only one year to go," followed shortly by a mortar explosion near Camp Anaconda, their base. Thereafter, we see them in a variety of settings: in Baghdad and Fallujah, on the road (their duties include escorting truck convoys), fighting insurgents (several of the battle scenes are very intense and fairly graphic), in the camp cafeteria (where one of them excoriates Halliburton, who seems to have a hand in every aspect of the war effort, for charging the government $28 for a single styrofoam plate), in their quarters (their idea of recreation is staging a death match between a scorpion and a spider), and so on; we also visit their families back in New Hampshire. What emerges from all of this is a striking portrait of bitterness, resignation, and outright hostility, especially towards Iraqis on both sides. Moriarty perhaps sums it up most succinctly when they return to the States: "I'm so glad I went. I hated it with a god-awful passion, and I will not go back... I've done my part... It's someone else's turn." Nearly two hours of bonus material includes extended outtakes and extra footage, follow-up interviews with the three soldiers, and more. --Sam Graham The War Tapes Customer Reviews   1     2     3   ♥♥♥♥♥ Reality check I just saw this on the military channel and am buying the DVD. Brilliant telling of a very human story. Great Americans, by which I mean honest decent men, with strong convictions, performing a nasty mission on behalf of their country and more importantly their fellow soldiers. You can't go through their experience without being changed in fundamental ways, and you see the immediate and long term costs of what some people debate on a policy level, but which ultimately manifests in the lives and families of these brave, scared, lonely, decent men. They are in my prayers as they go forward, trying to make meaning of it all, and carrying on with their lives. As a retired career soldier myself, I found myself reliving my own memories of hell and boredom, frustration and fear, and the odd moments of joy and humor. They have done an awesome job of expressing the unexpressable. I admire their courage in letting us see themselves in the moment. The story is told with integrity and honesty, and without apology, and for that I am grateful. Anyone who thinks war is honorable is nuts, although there are elements of honor in it. Anyone who thinks it's glory and policy are wrong, although there are elements of glory and policy in it. It's also heartwrenching accidents and indelible events and human prices that keep getting paid. It's tied to the dark side of human nature and will be with us as long as we are the half animal/half noble spirit that is humankind. I pray that our consciousness survives. it's only through these shared stories and truths that consciousness may win. Without understanding there can be no compassion and empathy, and ultimately that's what it takes for love and peace to thrive. i wish these brave soldiers well, and want them to know how many people DO understand their sacrifice and courage and conviction. we need more voices like this to inform the public debate on monumental decisions that commit our people to war Sincerely, ken long LTC, US Army (ret) (CIB) Leavenworth, Kansas   1     2     3   Non User