5 Days of War (2011)

How sad is this?

Did you people see the same film I saw?

Beautiful, moving film.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

One of the most Russophobic films in recent years was called into being by just another coil of confrontation between the Russian under empire and the Western superpower lead largely by the US, which started just from the Russian-Georgian war and is at its peak right now, when the army of the vast Ukraine, rather than of tiny Georgia, is serving its purpose. One-sided portrayal of war crimes (laying the whole blame on Russia) is in the film; it is what it is, a Russophobic film (but Russophobia will cease prevailing only when the 'Russian empire' gets the upper hand). Mercenaries fighting for the interests of Russia are shown here. The main characters are American war correspondents trying to broadcast the hot news, arranging it in the Russophobic point of view. We Russians dislike such a film as 'war crimes' and 'mercenraries' are considered to be bad things and working for 'Russophobic propaganda', to be public enemy. But!The expression 'war crimes' is no less hypocritical silliness than 'too cruel hangman'. Doing the dirty work - killer's work - one has no time for getting mushy. The one who shouts about some 'codes of war honour', 'rules of war' and 'maxim of war law' from the rooftops must be an evil sly 'puppeteer'; the one who believes it must be an 'obedient puppet'! They say, the Axis warriors of Stalingrad campaign lamented bitterly for need to combat the Red Army according to the 'unfair', 'barbaric' rules imposed on them by the latter. Weren't they delirious, those encircled poor things?! War is neither boxing nor Greco-Roman wrestling to play the game! People just kill in war not to be killed themselves and ignore politeness and morality. And if it comes to that, Americans committed the most awful 'war crime' of all times using nuclear weapons, but the world community did not mind it. Moreover, the Japanese themselves treat those who defeated them with piety. Modern Japanese at least is almost Pidgin English, isn't it a telltale proof of accepting defeat?As for 'mercenaries', is there really a chasm between shabby 'dogs of war' who fight for warmongers' blood money and the holy warriors who combat their motherland's foes? THE RED ARMY STAFF GOT MONEY ALLOWANCE. This is, BTW, an elementary dethronement of the myth that the Red Army was nothing but a horde of slaves who fed German guns with their flesh out of fear of being shot by their own people. See, the only difference between a mercenary and a soldier is, who the employer is: a 'private trader' and 'state', respectively. Please, all claims - to war managers and economists: it is they who decide whether to use mercenaries or to involve state-owned soldiery...And as for ideology, pleasing one party and displeasing the other, let it be on conscience of those who order it and who rush the order; while the will of citizens is either to select any ideology or to be Nihilists. The latter, who are often real cosmopolitans, despise the former, find them 'mob' and put on them the blame for letting themselves push around by their governments, for following the short-term tastes of opportunistic authorities. Well, myself, I had a chance of immigration into Norway but eventually, I found myself back home in Russia, in my native under empire.I find this film rather topical. At the moment, it is available in Russian as well, although on release date, it was, due to ostracism, not dubbed in Russian. Probably, some people from lands formerly dependent upon Russia had dubbed the version I watched: there was a slight accent, and no surprise. Today, Russian is still native language for millions of people all over the former Soviet territory, but the further a representative of once dominating nation goes outside 'Muscovy', the more likely something discouraging about Russia is heard by it. And it is said by the former Russian subjects in more or less clear Russian, so that it would sound clearer and thus more offensive. But these are just illusions. It is not the language that weights but how one treats Russia.But Russia is only treated as an empire. If asked whether to prefer ideas, language, and lifestyle of own nation triumphant all over the world or those of the alien, opposing nation, - one would most likely choose the former. Thus, the majority of Russians would like to have Russian, rather than American and English, cinema, style and language dominant on Earth, isn't it reasonable?But this is an 'alternative reality'. Whilst in real life, even in this particular case of decisive Russian victory, the Americans found an outstanding Finnish director who had shot some films about Russia (i.e.'knows the enemy'), appointed some American, Jewish, Croatian and Finnish actors (all but Russians and Georgian, alas) and cashed up the money needed to film about glorious Georgia combating evil Russia. What have we here? Just a ridiculous grotesque. As if some drunk guy attacked a bouncer, was flung away, but crept out, mumbling (now insipid): 'catched it?! want more?'Such 'pug-films' flying at 'Russia the elephant' have always existed and will certainly be released in future. In case the Ukraine suppresses Russian-backed Donbass and finishes fracturing Lenin statues all over the country, films like this will be likely to expect to be shot even in the lands of uncultivated film industry (Moldova perhaps). And so it will last until Russia is largely looser. But should the new turn of the wheel of fortune lift Russia up, we will be right, as winner is always right.

Just like War there are two sides to it all. This is a one sided, many call it Propaganda, Film that has two thing going on. The first is the Myopic Political view told only from one side. The other is an excellent Action War Movie that is about Journalists embedded deep in the Horror.The Film is excellent, engaging, exciting and has its Heart in the right place. It is emotional and gripping, as it should be. The feel is that you are there dodging incoming and fending off Sadistic Mercenaries. It all works as a Study of the brutality inflicted upon and Personal suffering of the Refugees and Civilians. Engrossing and Realistic this is an Anti-War Movie for sure because the Politics and Machinations of the whole thing are left in the periphery and are barely touched upon and when it does it is a narrow View. Overall, its basic underlying Theme of "War is Hell" is amply displayed and it explodes off the Screen.However, there is one thing that cannot be Overlooked and must be condemned. The before End Credits of Real Victims in teary despair was definitely not needed because the Movie was already successful in defining their Grief. So this really is a Shame because it seems like exploitation. Their Pain and Suffering was already in the Viewer's Mind and although sincere, it just doesn't belong in this Drama and would be more suited for a Documentary.

This contains spoilers.A centerpiece of 5 DAYS OF WAR is that authentic video footage of a clear and brutal war crime is powerful evidence able to make change -- in and of itself.In 5 DAYS OF WAR, the conflict involves some Georgians and the Russians with roots in old Soviet politics. Whatever blatant and harsh oppression is at the center of the complaint, it is distant to American film audiences. Other people living in far away lands may, or may not, have a tradition to respect the rules of war.This is all to say that 5 DAYS OF WAR is deeply flawed because it is not grounded in reality. In real life, American film audiences are more closely familiar with American traditions. George Washington commanding a very humanitarian "rules of war" code placing virtue with the Americans, in sharp contrast with the poor ethics of the British military. The good guys (we Americans) act good. We act good. We are good. It gave Americans deep pride to be American.The flaw in 5 DAYS OF WAR is most obvious today as we all know of the Bradley Manning "brutal bloodlust video" released to the media and general public showing U.S. military gleeful war crimes on civilian targets. Authentic video footage that changed... nothing. It changed nothing because in the real world of today, the side that tortures and murders with robot drones is good, and the side that uses bare hands to farm green beans and onions is bad. Today, in the real world, we all share the ideas our leaders tell us.Life is easier now the happily cowed media and we regular people because none us ever need to think for ourselves; we have a leader who will do all of the thinking for us. This is real life. 5 DAYS OF WAR has too much fantasy.

We will start with the fact this film was released in 2011 and running 113 minutes,about about a War in 2008.That makes it a first film for that war. Second its about a war few even know happened as it lasted but 5 days and was up against the Olympics in China for media attention.Yes thats true,look it up. Third its from a smaller film company that spent its budget on location shooting it seems. Forth,the war involves my ancestral home country of Russia. Five,it also involved another country with boots on the ground AT OUR SIDE in Iraq,GEORGIA. Six ,some real interesting casting. Seven,the story is based on facts. Eight,its also a story of those forgotten press who live and die to get a story out,literally. Nine,its combat scenes are as intensely realistic as any I've seen. Ten,the other 9 reasons make it the kinda gem of a film we live for. Now to the war itself,this film contributes little to the understanding of why the war happened at all,but,isn't that true in many cases? Really people,BE HONEST !!!!! The casting,well,I turned in to see Heather Graham and Andy Garcia and Val Kilmer with other unknowns to see how it would mix and i wasn't to optimistic.Damned if Heather isn't killed in the opening scene and Val is little seen till he's killed late in the film,BUT Andy is good as the Georgian President but not really needed as I said earlier,it's really about the press,not politics. Now the press, thats Rupert Friend playing Thomas Anders, the reporter the story is built around, and he really does grow on you as the film moves along.AH,but Johnathon Schaech as Cpt. Rezo Avaliani ,a Georgian who saved Thomas in Iraq and then in Georgia has some acting career ahead !!!! As to the war itself,don't look to this movie as truth,as it said itself at the very beginning,the first casualty of war IS the truth.No,this story is as stated before,a tribute to the people who cover it.If your looking for a war gem of a film,SEE IT.