This movie is the proof that the world is becoming a sick and dumb place

Please don't spend money on this.

How sad is this?

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Right from the get-go the main focus of this movie was to make the US-supported Georgia look like angels while the Russians and Ossetians were basically "blood-thirsty beasts". We obviously know Georgia was the one who blasted BM-21 rockets into South Ossetia and killed thousands of people, and then launched them into Russian Peacekeeper areas in North-South Ossetia and killed a few Russian Peacekeepers which triggered Russia to respond against Georgia. BUT NO!!! Since this is a Western propaganda film, let's switch the truth into bullcrap propaganda to "make our ally looked like they were pounced on by the evil Russkies for no apparent reason to make everyone think, 'Damn those Russians just never get their head out of the Cold War era!!!'" when really it is America that should be doing that.Pros - This movie does have good CGI to best display the cruelty of war.Cons - As I stated above, this movie points the finger from Georgia to Russia as the aggressors. From "on purpose airstrikes on weddings" to random scenes about the Russian Army, or should I say Russian militia gang as they appear to be in the movie, killing innocent civilians for no apparent reason. For example, in one scene these Russian "soldiers" gather a whole village up while our main characters watch these Russians demand for the mayor and someone else of the village and in the process shooting an elder. In the end of this scene, the mayor and the other person get executed and then all-of-a-sudden the Russian "soldiers" let all the villagers go run wild like animals so the Russians can call in Mi-24s to start shooting at the village and the villagers themselves. Also, when a main character is talking with a Russian officer the officer tells him that the army is going to blow up all the Georgian churches; this basically tries to re-validate the old Soviet practice of being godless and suppressing religion; I kept thinking "are these supposed to be Russian forces, or Soviet?" but then again I remembered it was all a propaganda film to show Russia was somehow still having a Soviet Union-era mentality and being evil. In the end when the conflict just "ends" Saakashvili attends to a crowd waving Georgian and NATO-member flags all cheering and being happy, and showing Georgia as if it were all-innocent (sure the Georgian people were but politically we know Georgia started the conflict).If you want a summary: This movie shows Georgia as the US-like defenders of Democracy and freedom, and Russia as the blood-thirsty beasts from the Cold War era out to stop democracy and freedom.

Prior to the review, I ask readers to forgive my meager knowledge of English. I write to you from Russia. I was amused and annoyed by the concept, with which your writers (writers of film - I do not know how to write English is right) presented the Russian reality. Represent Russian murderers, thieves, maniacs, mentally handicapped is fundamentally not correct. It's the same thing as to present Germans as Nazis, Americans as fat, the French as a frog-eaters, the Italians as mobsters. We call it cranberry - a not real picture of Russia. I hope it is clear why I decided to name as your resume - Hello, Mr. Popcorn? Such a film can be viewed only by eating popcorn! Your government is out of ordinary Americans make zombies - and the film is likely to custom, to incite ethnic hatred between the Americans and Russian. You can easily see that I'm right - вы to visit Russia. You will not find the thugs, murderers, thieves, rapists, the snow (at least 7-9 months of the year there is no snow in Moscow!), Bears, accordion and balalaika, bears, hats ushanok, soldiers' uniforms to the ground, the red stars on the head and red flag. In 2008, Russia stood up for Ossetia, which does not want to be part of Georgia, along the lines of Quebec in Canada. The only difference is that Canada did not send troops to Quebec, to suppress the natural rights of nations to self- determination and sovereignty. Because Canada is a civilized country, in Georgia ruled by a dictator. This is pure politics, the United States maintains some dictators, Russia others. In this win-wrong and the U.S. and Russia, but we do not make movies about Gaddafi, do not make heroes of the tyrants. Wealthy Americans to visit in Ossetia is very easy, for 2-3 days. Ask themselves Ossetians - who is to blame for the war. Do not believe the lies. And think logically - Russian in the film is being shot from helicopters captured the village, but it is not logical! This is just one of hundreds of examples to prove the falsity of this film. PS: I ask, who knows English to correct written. I hope that one day the truth will prevail!

I found this movie well worth a watch. There are some faults but I think they aren't that major. The good points: Good on location feel. The battles and atrocities are quite well filmed. It's exciting and you feel part of the action. Shows the hard job faced by war correspondents. This is a war many don't know about or vaguely remember. So it's interesting to see a movie about a conflict that took place so recently in 2008. Interesting casting with most cast members playing nationalities they are not. Two Americans as Georgians: Andy Garcia as the Georgian President and Jonathan Schaech as a soldier. Rupert Friend, a British actor as an American journalist. Val Kilmer as a Dutch journalist. Emanuelle Chriqrui, a Canadian Morrocan as a Georgian lady the reporters befriend and who is trying to rescue her family. At least she looks her part.The faults: Some criticise that it was one sided showing the Russians as the sole perpetrators of atrocities. I guess it's up to the viewer to look more into what happened themselves. But don't most WWII movies focus on one side's point of view as well? So I think that criticism is a bit unfair.Another fault is there are some parts of the story that have a Rambo like action quality and unbelievability. It was a bit ridiculous at times during the rescue and scenes with the villains. This hurts the film but they had to make a story to entertain so I don't think it's that bad a fault.The movie wasn't successful financially and had bad reviews. Despite that I think it was entertaining and still worth a watch. It highlights a conflict not many people know about. For those who want action in a film might as well learn something about a little known war at the same time instead of just mindless action.

I could spend an hour writing a detailed play by play of the movie, but it's easier to say that yes... This is in fact a propaganda movie, so much so it uses the actual Georgian Army as "actors" for this film and using only Georgians as sources for the script.But with that aside, can it be considered a good movie regardless of it's fictional re-writing of history? Sadly this is also no, it has direct to DVD written all over it, If it hadn't been filmed in Georgia, using Georgian soldiers giving it a authentic look it would have nothing standing this movie up.I'll end this on a quote from Anna Neistat who works for "amnesty international" "This film portrays Russians and Ossetians as barbaric beasts and Georgians as peace angels." I couldn't sum it up any better Anna.