The Beast (of War)

[likwidsh0k]

A brilliant war movie that's greatness is equaled by its anonymity, apparently only made $55k at the Box-Office.

Tells the tale of a Russian tank in Afghanistan during the war and their battle with a local small group of Mujahadeen. American actors play the russian's but luckily no fake accents, with subtitles for the Afghans. Excellent acting all round, fantastic cinematography aided by the barren landscape, a gripping story that also depicts the rigours of operating a tank, and a fantastic score.

I love finding hidden gems like this, highly recommended.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094716/

[Guest dingo]

I agree, this is one of my favourite combat films. The Mark Isham score, as you note is a knockout. I managed to get it on vinyl years ago, and it still gets frequent spins. The sound effects on this one are excellent, and will show off a good a/v system.

As you note , great narrative, believable characters, and a very low-key and restrained feel right thru.

It was released at exactly the wrong time to gain any sort of a following, but has got some legs due to word of mouth.

dingo.

[Makka]

Thanks. Will check that out.

Anyone remember Sven Hassel's books?

I loved them as a kid.

[Bunyip]

Oh yes, I certainly remember this film. Stumbled onto it late one night on TV, many years ago.

And definitely Sven's books. I had totally forgotten about them. My mate was really into his books

And had a tonic them. Great reading war stories from the German point of view.

Which makes me think if the epic film, Das Boot. Seen it?

Edited April 14, 2012 by Bunyip

[Guest dingo]

A few others that deserve a name-check;

Cross of Iron

The Train

Catch 22

Night of The Shooting Stars

And a Russian film called 'Come and See'. This one is told from the viewpoint of a peasant boy, and features huge tracts without dialogue, and even one segment of silence, letting the viewer experience what the boy experiences after an explosion detonates nearby. it is incredibly moving, but also quite gruelling. Nothing is gratuitus, and the cumulative effect elevates this film to something higher than mere cinema.

Dingo.

[likwidsh0k]

Oh yes, I certainly remember this film. Stumbled onto it late one night on TV, many years ago.

And definitely Sven's books. I had totally forgotten about them. My mate was really into his books

And had a tonic them. Great reading war stories from the German point of view.

Which makes me think if the epic film, Das Boot. Seen it?

I haven't, not yet. Das Boot and Paths of Glory are the next 2 on my list.

A few others that deserve a name-check;

Cross of Iron

The Train

Catch 22

Night of The Shooting Stars

And a Russian film called 'Come and See'. This one is told from the viewpoint of a peasant boy, and features huge tracts without dialogue, and even one segment of silence, letting the viewer experience what the boy experiences after an explosion detonates nearby. it is incredibly moving, but also quite gruelling. Nothing is gratuitus, and the cumulative effect elevates this film to something higher than mere cinema.

Dingo.

Thanks very much for the great list. 'Come and See' sounds brilliant.

Might see if I can track down The Beast soundtrack, though if the movie failed so miserably might be even tougher to find.

Edited April 15, 2012 by likwidsh0k

[Makka]

Seen Das Boot in a couple of versions I think.

What a great thread (for me that is)

Gonna have to check out all those films.

"Come and See" sounds like a great film.

[likwidsh0k]

I watched Come and See the other night.. all I can say is you MUST see this movie!

Quite simply a phenomenal film!

dingo not sure if you are still around but many thanks for the recommendation. I would never have found this film otherwise. Agoniya his film about Rasputin is next and then very much looking forward to tracking down your other suggestions. Thanks again.

[ZEN MISTER]

+1 for 'COME AND SEE'- extraordinary cinema by any standard.

[likwidsh0k]

Yeah I kinda regretting watching it first as all other war movies and any movie for that matter will not measure up.

When it started thought what is this cheap euro-trash and then it kept building and building, and not ashamed to say at the end I was mess. Needed a couple of hours of happy tunes in the headphones and pictures of sunsets and puppies before I could shake the images and get some sleep.

[ZEN MISTER]

I think the scene with the boy just staring into the camera, barely able to control his breathing , does me in every time. Seldom in cinema, is so much conveyed by , apparently, so little. It is emotionally true, and devastating to witness.

ZM.

Edited August 1, 2012 by Zen Mister

[maryusdemetry]

Thanks, looks interesting

[Makka]

Forgot about this.

Just picked up The Beast and Come and See.

[likwidsh0k]

Forgot about this.

Just picked up The Beast and Come and See.

 

What did you think?

 

Since seen Das Boot and it was brilliant, gave the HT a serious workout

 

ZM the scene where he is dragging through the mud and the reason for it did me in. You said every time, how many times have you seen it? I might struggle or really have to prepare to get in the mindset to watch it again, an amazing film!

[ZEN MISTER]

I first saw it at the Astor in year of release. Unsurprisingly, it did not make it to video at the time, but I kept hunting for it, and eventually it turned up on DVD via a specialty label in the States. I would have seen it 6 times so far, and like you, it tends to leave me bothered for a few weeks afterwards, and I have to have a certain mindset to even consider viewing it. It has an emotional punch seldom seen in film.

Most other cinema looks facile by contrast.

ZM.

[avalon27]

come and see was a great war movie.  petty the yanks dont make movies like this

[likwidsh0k]

Indeed, instead of all explosions and gloss.

 

6 times ZM.. bloody hell, that is a feat in itself! This almost seems pointless, but any other films you recommend that may have.. well at least some way towards.. as powerful an impact as this one?

[ZEN MISTER]

"Night of the Shooting Stars" by the Taviani Brothers, gets a vote fro me. Very quiet and unrushed, almost poetic in it's scope. The climactic confontation in the field is underplayed, and burst into a fantastic magic realism moment as seen thru a little girls eyes.

One of the early Vietnam based films comes from 1978, directed by Ted Post, and starring Burt Lancaster in one of his best roles,

" Go Tell The Spartans".

It is completely bare of any jingoism, and is almost relentlessly downbeat, but peppered with a dark humor. It was also one of the earliest films to dare to show a bleak ending. Very memorable, but hard to track down.

"Paths To Glory" was Stanley Kubricks 1957 tale of military madness, based around an expedient court marshall. This is a devastating film, made all the more for powerful for being filmed in monochrome. Highly recommended.

A couple of more recent vintage films, perhaps closer to the "Beast of War" in style and perspective, are Nick Broomfields' 2009 film recounting one day in IRAQ , filmed and edited to evoke the sense of occurring in real time. " Battle For Haditha" went straight to video, and was missed by just about everyone. It is excellent, and feels very real.

The other one worth mentioning is " 9th Company" from 2011. Again, straight to video, meant few have seen it. It is based around the Soviet invasion of Afganistan, and has a strong sense of verisimilitude. Very visceral, and very powerful.

I am presuming you have already seen Samuel Fullers' " The Big Red One" from 1980. Mostly biographical, and based on Fullers wartime service, this moves from moments of raw fear, to dream like, dissociative imagery. Look for the reconstructed version, around 160 minutes, which presents his tour of duty as a moving tableau of violence, confusion, loss, and madness.

ZM.

[likwidsh0k]

Brilliant post ZM, just plain bloody brilliant! Thanks very much!

 

I haven't seen any of those yet, Paths of Glory is probably first on the list as I have heard of that one. From dingo's list I've seen Cross of Iron which was nice and brutal and think my first Peckinpah, and Catch-22 which might have been better if I knew the kind of film it was going in.. but I try and have no preconceived ideas.

 

Yeah I haven't seen the Big Red One, and will look out for the extended version, sounds awesome. You have given me a superb list to track down and enjoy, and will keep very busy and dare I say it emotionally drained too, thanks again. Wish I could post something as awesome in reply, but from my limited experience and be it very tame by comparison but a couple of great TV shows are and loved Band of Brothers (especially the episode when they are getting shelled to hell) and Generation Kill is worth a look too. Sorry that is pretty lame selection in reply..

[ZEN MISTER]

Two last recommendation, both documentaries.

First is Sebastian Jungers " RESTREPO ", filmed by embedding the film crew with a platoon on patrol. This is the real thing.

Second is the Danish offering from director Januz Metz, " ARMADILLO". It follows a platoon from pre- embarkation to active service. It caused a storm of controversy when released, and you could google this and read about it before you see it.

Thank you for the feedback.

ZM.

[likwidsh0k]

Documentaries.. now we're talking Seen them both and must say though gritty and interesting RESTREPO didn't real grab me as much as I hoped it would? Definitely the real thing with a lot of grunts running around but no dunno if big picture but felt like something was lacking maybe more of a narrative? ARMADILLO I remember was fantastic, I think it was even more real with someone stuffing up badly and the fallout and how they dealt with it, very much inside and seeing what really goes on.

 

If you haven't seen it already I highly recommend Taxi to the Dark Side, best not to know anything going in but a harrowing tale indeed.

 

Edit: Sorry ZM, two excellent recs for the topic both dealing with operational soldiers on the ground in combat, whereas mine not so much, seen a lot of doco's and sometimes a bit difficult to keep track, and apologise if I offended and have fixed up my reply a bit.

Edited April 16, 2013 by likwidsh0k

[Soundscape]

You guys are into some dark rarefied stuff.

 

I am beginning to wonder if Zen Mister was Dingo in a past life?....

 

How do you guys rate Terence Malick's, The Thin Red Line? Prolly too much Hollywood slickness to stack alongside the films listed above.

[likwidsh0k]

That's a movie I have been meaning to watch again for a long long while, as is always in the all time great war movie lists. See the thing was I watched it on a crappy small TV, with adds, and did get the feel, evidently the opposite to its actual message, of a USA USA USA movie with all Americans in the roles etc.. So my opinion is worthless. After I have watched it again in HD on my 50" plasma with 4.0 (not centre or sub) advertisement free and thoroughly engrossed in the story, and this time get to properly appreciate the amazing visuals.. I'll be in a far better position to comment

[avalon27]

have been watching some of the movies that are mentioned here.  keep them coming

[avalon27]

another good film is  THE KILLING FIELDS which i enjoyed watching.  must get it again as its been awhile since ive seen it