Restrepo
National Geographic Entertainment | Release Date: June 25, 2010
7.5
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 91 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
65
Mixed:
22
Negative:
4
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
9
khoinAug 20, 2010
I'm a huge war film and documentary fan and a high school history teacher so I had high expectations about this film and was certainly not disappointed. This was clearly one of the most powerful war movies I've ever seen. I never got aI'm a huge war film and documentary fan and a high school history teacher so I had high expectations about this film and was certainly not disappointed. This was clearly one of the most powerful war movies I've ever seen. I never got a sense that the soldiers or the filmmakers had a clear point of view about the war or their role but that, in and of itself, says much about the overall U.S./Afghanistan policy. I couldn't help but see frightening glimpses of Vietnam, Iraq, and Korea. History certainly repeats itself and we (the U.S.) seemingly never learn our lesson; however, this movie proves that sending young, innocent men into harm's way for cloudy objectives is too often the default and demented policy of a nation too quick with the trigger finger and an egomaniacal attitude. I highly recommend seeing this movie and I intend on showing it to my students when it comes out on DVD.… Expand
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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1
shaunmedJan 2, 2011
This movie is just boring. If you realize that war sucks because people die, you wont see or feel anything new. Movie critics walk on egg shells around the subject of dead soldiers, but it doesn't make it an interesting documentary.
2 of 9 users found this helpful27
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5
harrisonMay 16, 2011
Where is the fighting? Where is the war? #%# this is boring.

Get a good, long view of the most boring and tedious parts of deployment in Afghanistan. The most interesting shots - helicopters firing missiles, fighters and bombersWhere is the fighting? Where is the war? #%# this is boring.

Get a good, long view of the most boring and tedious parts of deployment in Afghanistan. The most interesting shots - helicopters firing missiles, fighters and bombers swooping in - are few and far between.

You want to see real war? Guess you'll be joining the military and dying or going to ****… Expand
0 of 2 users found this helpful02
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7
CitizenCharlieMar 23, 2011
It is good the general public is now able to see just how remote and prehistoric most of Afghanistan is. Restrepo is the name of a fallen soldier from the Korengal Valley in 2007 and it is also the name of the outpost the soldiers in BattleIt is good the general public is now able to see just how remote and prehistoric most of Afghanistan is. Restrepo is the name of a fallen soldier from the Korengal Valley in 2007 and it is also the name of the outpost the soldiers in Battle Company construct in the valley and name after him. The Korengal Valley is two provinces north of where I was stationed and it makes my base, which was remote and sparse, seem like Vegas compared to OP Restrepo. A long deployment to Afghanistan is extremely monotonous punctuated by brief periods of action. This is how the documentary is edited. It briefly shows some of the soldiers a week pre-deployment, as newbies on the ground, and then follows their highlights (and lowlights) throughout the next 15 months. Building the new outpost takes up most of their time as do the relentless patrols to the surrounding villages. They conduct shuras (meetings) with the locals who they know are in contact with the Taliban but dare not tell them their locations for fear of death. It would be extremely difficult to convey the bleak day in, day out routine of a deployment that long and in around 90 minutes, Restrepo does not really pull that off. There are a lot of firefights on film including one with a KIA and they effectively show just how confusing situations like that can be. This documentary felt too brief for the heavy subject matter; however, I'm glad it was made at all. The guys on the ground at the Company level and below rarely get any face time.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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8
j30Sep 22, 2011
Nearly no narritive, but a powerful film that is one of the best documentaries of 2010.
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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6
KundKNov 28, 2010
I had read Junger book "War" before I watched the movie and was looking forward to see the soldiers and the mountainous landscapes so well described there. I have to say that the movie left me underwhelmed. It was neither about the situationI had read Junger book "War" before I watched the movie and was looking forward to see the soldiers and the mountainous landscapes so well described there. I have to say that the movie left me underwhelmed. It was neither about the situation in Korangal Valley (which would demand some sort of a introduction, maps, narration, analysis of strategic and tactical importance) nor about the troops in one of the most dangerous outposts in the world (which would demand more background on the soldiers, going into the psychology of warfare, PTSD...). The whole thing feels somewhat directionless (maybe as a commentary on the Afghan war) and probably much more so for the viewers who did not read the book. On the positive side, (not counting the great dance number to the immortal tune "Touch Me" by Samantha Fox) you get immersed - the camera is almost always in the middle of action, you can see the bullets flying and feel the explosions. But if you really want to get to know the men of Restrepo, read the book. This does not help much.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
mandm1951Sep 22, 2010
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I was somewhat disappointed, given all the positive buzz around this film. To be honest, I wasn't as engrossed by this film as I hoped and expected to be. Perhaps that was in part because Restrepo wasn't highly developed before he died. (But, to be fair, maybe the film-makers simply didn't have much footage of him.) In any event, this is a good "war is hell" documentary, but I didn't find it as wonderful as many other did.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
egovirusFeb 12, 2011
I can see people not liking this movie, and I think their criticisms are legit. How do you make a war documentary in the middle of a war, and expect it to make sense? The people who die in this film are still dead, still murdered, and by theI can see people not liking this movie, and I think their criticisms are legit. How do you make a war documentary in the middle of a war, and expect it to make sense? The people who die in this film are still dead, still murdered, and by the end of it, when they explain what has happened since, their deaths feel empty, pointless, their lives wasted on ideas that don't count in places where ideas aren't allowed to exist freely. Places such as Afghanistan. As for the survivors, what is to become of their lives? How do they transition back into our universe? How can they communicate with us after what they have seen and done? How do we even begin to comprehend their needs when they have lost a piece of innocence that we in the West get to have our entire lives? They are changed. This documentary shows them changing, shows what they have done. It makes no judgments, pulls no punches, and I can't believe the crew survived when men trained to kill did not. You have to approach this film passively, and with an open mind.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
nutterjrJan 18, 2011
This might be rumoured to be the most dangerous place on earth, but I felt disconnected from the emotional rollercoaster the soldiers were going through, and it felt like watching scattered spots of a news channel.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
TonyJan 9, 2011
Very gritty and intimate look at the day-to-day life of a combat troop in Afghanistan. These filmmakers have some real balls for being right in the middle of combat like they were.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
OscarPicks2010Dec 1, 2010
Restrepo is real. It is not like the Hurt Locker (no offense), but this is actual camera work during the war. The cameramen must have been paid a lot to be in a warzone that is considered the most dangerous of all war zone. Nevertheless, theRestrepo is real. It is not like the Hurt Locker (no offense), but this is actual camera work during the war. The cameramen must have been paid a lot to be in a warzone that is considered the most dangerous of all war zone. Nevertheless, the movie based its story on the visceral power of the film. They want to get the audience feeling for the death soldiers by not showing but implying. Sometimes Restrespo fell short on its plot but most of the times it shows real emotions of soldiers that fought for our country. Restrespo is probably one of the better documentaries of the year, considering that there are a lot of good docs this year.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
DarkKnightVDec 18, 2010
What I appreciated most about this film is how much of it was just showing the soldiers doing their thing in the Korengal, a dangerous valley outpost in Afghanistan. The camera was either on the soldiers out in the field, or it was on aWhat I appreciated most about this film is how much of it was just showing the soldiers doing their thing in the Korengal, a dangerous valley outpost in Afghanistan. The camera was either on the soldiers out in the field, or it was on a solider in a one-on-one interview after the end of the deployment. There was no long discussion giving context or setting the stage, no footage of media coverage or interviews with third parties. I'm no expert on documentaries, but I thought this was the most valuable aspect of the film: you get to actually see what happened.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
allystewJan 1, 2011
If you like documentary films you'll like this and if you like war films you'll like this. A great combonation of the soldiers telling you about what happened and actually seeing what happened through the hand held cameras. Everything isIf you like documentary films you'll like this and if you like war films you'll like this. A great combonation of the soldiers telling you about what happened and actually seeing what happened through the hand held cameras. Everything is memorable from the story told to the people invloved. Documentary film making at its best. Again as a watched this I'm reminded that in war there are no winners.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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9
blokMar 3, 2011
Made up of intimate interviews and disturbing combat footage, the movie does what it sets out to do. It throws the grisly circumstances of war up on screen and lets us interpret them. And by not delving too far into these questions (and notMade up of intimate interviews and disturbing combat footage, the movie does what it sets out to do. It throws the grisly circumstances of war up on screen and lets us interpret them. And by not delving too far into these questions (and not taking any real stance), the filmmakers allow the material to reach a much wider audience than if they had (thus, it wonâ… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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7
MattyGJan 3, 2012
Restrepo is worth watching if you want a glimpse into the modern soldier and the warfare they are involved in. Being a documentary, it is necessarily low on closure and plot. What you see are real humans and their experiences, thoughts, andRestrepo is worth watching if you want a glimpse into the modern soldier and the warfare they are involved in. Being a documentary, it is necessarily low on closure and plot. What you see are real humans and their experiences, thoughts, and emotions during a 15 month deployment in a difficult place. It is not an exciting film, but it is an important one.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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9
GaryW123Nov 11, 2011
This is a documentary which uninhibitedly depicts its young protagonists in literally every spectrum of their lives during their 15 month deployment in the Korengal valley Afghanistan. whether pro or anti war it is never the less a harrowingThis is a documentary which uninhibitedly depicts its young protagonists in literally every spectrum of their lives during their 15 month deployment in the Korengal valley Afghanistan. whether pro or anti war it is never the less a harrowing experience watching these young souls face such extreme circumstances so far from home.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
TyranianApr 13, 2019
Fairly fascinating doco about the war in Afghanistan that demonstrates just how futile the whole thing is.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
xolveSep 24, 2014
There's something not right about this documentary.
It frames the soldiers as home-spun, good-natured boys with the bricks stacked against them in an almost-indefensible outpost in the middle of no-man's land. But no questions are everThere's something not right about this documentary.
It frames the soldiers as home-spun, good-natured boys with the bricks stacked against them in an almost-indefensible outpost in the middle of no-man's land. But no questions are ever answered.
What were they doing there in the first place, other than provoking the locals?
Was there any strategic reason to be there?
Why does the camera linger so much on scenes when they break down and cry for their fallen comrades, then offer little judgement or lingering on the counterpoint moments when they're joyfully gunning down the enemy, celebrating that they made their heads explode - in full knowledge that that soldier's parents are most likely just down the road from them?
How long can we hear about how demoralised, distraught and emotionally-scarred these soldiers are before we turn a single thought towards the people surrounding them?
In essence, this comes across, to me at least, as a politically-motivated propaganda piece in the guise of a non-authorial documentary.
For all that, it is interesting - but seldom compelling.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
JLuis_001Nov 20, 2017
Great documentary, what it shows is surprising but it is also fair to ask what is its purpose, if seeing this doesn't create a reaction for anything or anyone.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
JJ2FAS4UOct 25, 2022
----------------------------------8.3/10-----------------------------------
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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