Product Description

Audio Commentary Eliot Ruiz Audio Commentary Nick Broomfield UK Trailer The Making Of Battle For Haditha A Soldier's Story: In Conversation With Eric Mehalacopoulos Casting Tapes: Andrew McClaren Casting Tapes: Elliot Ruiz In The Line Of Duty: An Interview with Elliot Ruiz The Fabulous Picture Show Battle for Haditha special

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3220 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-03-17
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 93 minutes

Synopsis
Nick Broomfield directs this recreation of an incident that occurred in Haditha, when 24 Iraqis were allegedly massacred by U.S. Marines following the death of a Marine in a bombing. BATTLE FOR HADITHA follows three stories: that of the U.S. troops, the insurgent who planted the bomb, and a civilian Iraqi family.

Customer Reviews

Not Hard to Believe
Some people may find it hard to believe the US forces do not behave in the way this film shows, I am not one of those people. This film shows the reality of what happens when proffesional judgement is clouded by emotion and the negativity of war itself. The film is a balanced account of an event in Haditha. People of the world took to the streets in protest against at the war led by the US and UK in Iraq and still they went in bombing a country back to the middle ages - shame on them. Not light entertainment.

Loser All Round!!
Firstly,how anyone can say this is a realistic movie showing the true horroRs of war is disturbing in itself!. Ok,so its from an american view of how their UNITED STATES MARINES (elite/proffesionals?) conduct themselves?. If this is true and these soldiers reflect the cream of the american forces..well..god help every one,it shows how gung hoo,no repect/animals they are. So i find this hard to believe. I cannot see any good or purpose to this movie and it does not show the true side to how soldiers(Proffesionals) have to deal with situations on tour.This is a sooped up drama to get shock and ratings. I FULLY RECOMMEND "HOME OF THE BRAVE",A BETTER VIEW OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS AND IRAQ,WHILST NOT PRO WAR EITHER. REGARDS TO ALL.

A difficult, but necessary watch
Based on true events, the Battle for Haditha brings to the screen the slaying of 24 Iraqi civilians (allegedly murdered) by US Marines in Iraq a few years ago.

The film shows the build-up to the main event from both sides, but for me has a predominantly Iraqi angle. The marines are shown to be generally pumped up on adrenaline and therefore predisposed to aggression, which is what you would expect in a combat zone, but it does appear to limit the control they have over their actions.

The terrorists are thinly sketched (al-Qaeda is behind it all, that's about all you get), but the civilians caught in the middle are given enough character that you care for them, making the impending tragedy all the worse.

Ultimately, an American vehicle is destroyed by a roadside bomb, and the marines go on the rampage. The lack of command and control is frightening as generally anybody in the area not wearing a US uniform is gunned down. It's an uncomfortable and frightening thing to watch as the terrorists escape unscathed whilst the Iraqis living in the area have a terrible American revenge exacted upon them.

This is a movie that offers little hope. In one telling scene the terrorists are spotted by the locals burying the bomb in the road. They remark that if they tell the Americans, al-Qaeda will kill them. If they don't tell the Americans, the bomb will go off and the Americans will blame and punish them. Either way, they lose.

Whilst this is going on in the city, the local US general is sat in his air-conditioned bunker ordering air and artillery strikes on insurgent targets. At one point a man is blown to pieces because he is carrying a shovel as he walks along the road. It may be a scene purely intended for dramatic effect, but it is all too believable.

The film is well made, shot in a documentary style which is very effective. Performances are generally excellent by unknown actors (or ex-soldiers) and the whole is good to watch, however uncomfortable the subject matter may be. Perhaps Broomfield goes a little too far with the portrayal of the marines - the officers appear to be far too isolated to command effectively and a number of the soldiers come across as little more than animals. But I haven't been to Iraq, maybe it's realistic. I hope not, but I guess it's up to the viewer to decide.

By the end of Battle for Haditha, I could not sympathise with the Americans or the terrorists. The innocent people caught in the middle are those paying the price day in day out for the invasion and it's aftermath. This movie is only based on events and has undoubtedly taken a broad licence with the truth, but what is here is convincing enough to be a believable take on the day-to-day life in Iraq since the coalition saved the country from Saddam.

It's hard to watch, but if you have any interest in the ongoing conflict in Iraq, this is a must-see.