Review of Restrepo (2010) by Miguel P — 13 Dec 2010

Restrepo is a captivating, engrossing war documentary of one of the most dangerous valleys in Afghanistan. It is hard to watch which makes it more important to see.

Sebastian Junger an American journalist and Tim Hetherington a British photographer, in 2007 to 2008 documented a 15 month deployment of the Second Platoon, B Company, 2nd Battalion, and 503rd Infantry Regiment (airborne) of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team. I wanted to give a proper title not a half assed one. They document their stay at Korangal Valley one of the most dangerous areas in Afghanistan. These soldiers get shot at almost every single day. They are always in constant firefights and skirmishes. The area is commanded by Capt. Dan Kearney who goal is to create an outpost in enemy territory where they can have an upper hand over them. They succeed in making one and they named it Restrepo after Pfc. Juan S. Restrepo an army medic who was their first KIA (killed in action).

This movie shows actual footage of them in combat and engaging the enemy. Reader it leaves your gut in a knot. Throughout the film you feel as these guys are not fighting for apple pie or patriotism. They are fighting for each other. They fight for their friends not to get killed or wounded. The main goal is to survive and come home with your buddies. You'll know more about Restrepo through the stories of the troops. How he was a great guitar player and taught mostly all them, or how he had a songbook with flamenco songs. There are face to face interviews of their experiences in the valley. These talks are scarier and way more effective then any war film I've seen ever. They talk with a lot of dread about Operation Rock Avalanche which was a tactical walk through the valley. They were in constant battle mostly every single day and totally broke them in spirit.

The movie is not political and it doesn't take any sides. It shows men who are willing to protect us, men who are not asking for anything in return to do this for us. I complain about how boring my job is sometimes after watching these guys I need to shut the hell up. It shows the physical and mental damage these guys go through. I respect and admire the men and woman who are over there. This war is useless and I understand that we needed to get in to the Middle East, but we did it the wrong way and young lives are being taken away. We need to get out of the Middle East point blank.

This is one of the best film and documentary of the year and must be seen. It's currently on Netflix.

MP ***** 5/5.

Note: The movie is not political but I did say my opinion at the end I'm all up for debate but if you respond negatively back to me by calling me a pussy for not believing in war or something I will tell you to fuck off and fuck yourself respond back educated not a idiot. Just letting my readers know.