Review of Eye in the Sky (2015) by Marian C — 20 Nov 2016

Annoying from beginning to end. The plot revolves around whether to allow the death of a child one can see through a lens or allow suicide bombers to kill at least 80 men, women and children one cannot see.

This is the whole plot of the film. It seems that the point is to make viewers question whether the fight against Islamist terrorists should be prosecuted with military force. The terrorists place their own people at risk, purposely carrying out their deadly work in civilian neighborhoods.

The terrorist suicide bombers are not leaving the country to set off their bombs. Their targets will be their own people who are gathered in shopping malls. We are told that several times in the film.

The soldier who has the duty of launching the drone missile has never done so before. This soldier becomes shaky and tearful. Through a technicality, he cancels his commanding officer's orders and greatly delays the mission.

Why is he so emotional? Because he formed an emotional bond with the little girl, when he briefly saw her playing hula hoop. It is impossible to believe that a trained soldier would respond in this manner.

This film shows what it would be like (and unfortunately *is* like) when civilians run a war. The military are hamstrung. The film asks an emotional question that is incompatible with military action.

The reasoned question is: What is the toll when we do not allow the military to win wars as quickly and efficiently as they can? The answer: many more deaths over many, many more years, as we've seen in Iraq and Afghanistan.