Product description

Redacted [2007]

Price: £10.98
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Average customer rating: 3.0

Binding : DVD
EAN : 5055201803313
Label : Optimum Home Entertainment
Manufacturer : Optimum Home Entertainment
Publisher : Optimum Home Entertainment
Release date : 2008-07-21
Title : Redacted [2007]
Audience rating : Suitable for 15 years and over
Format : PAL
Number of items : 1
Original release date : 2007-01-01
Region code : 2
Running time : 87
Studio : Optimum Home Entertainment
Theatrical releaseDate : 2007

Customer reviews

review by: dbousfield date: 2008-09-16 rating:

A great chance, unfortunately squandered.
I'm sorry to say that this film was an utter disappointment. I'm saying this calmly, as I really want you (the potential viewer) to read and consider what I'm saying before thinking "He's being negative, I'll click the 'not helpful' button."
I bought Redacted when it was full price £15.99 - I teach at university level and, having read the reviews (and knowing Brian De Palma's usually high level of ability) I thought this would be a perfect example to show my class and ask them about the *way* in which the Media (in this case a film-dramatisation inspired by actual events) represents American forces in Iraq. I'm sorry to say I was appalled - not at what happens in the film (though I was appalled by that) - but by the incredibly low level of acting ability and, hence, very poor direction given by one of my favorite directors. I'm stunned! Truly. Don't get me wrong, the way in which De Palma chooses to represent the story is interesting with an clever mix of Cloverfield-esqe handycam shots, traditional film and, at times, different angles (representing different spatial and ideological points of view) of the same scenes using different filming media, Webcam conversations, security camera/CCTV footage, You Tube clips, etc... It's a style which is innovative, attractive and, itself, a real metaphor for the way in which information on events is only ever going to be partially presented and individually spun and understood (Hence the title: "Redacted"). However the acting is just so stunningly appalling it's cringeworthy. I cannot show this to my students or anyone else, the appalling acting would get in the way of any appreciation of the film's style or an analysis of the representations made. This was, I feel, a great chance for De Palma to make a (meta-)movie about Soldiers' lives in Iraq AND make a solid and valuable critique about the way in which the media represents them. This he tried to do but the acting and direction of the actors (not the scenes) is terrible. And it's not even so terrible as to be 'cult'. It's just bad....stunningly bad. I'm sorry, I really like De Palma but this is inexcusable. Please hire or borrow a copy before deciding, for yourself, whether to buy. If (and I really mean *IF*) you can sit through the end scenes (where the "Whistleblower" is in a bar with his friends back in the US and he 'cracks' and spills all that he saw) without cringing in embarrasment for wasting 90 minutes of your, and your friends' / partner's lives for inviting them to watch it with you, then this film is for you (email me and you can have my copy, cheap). If not, don't waste your money. Please.

review by: Big D date: 2008-08-25 rating:

90 minutes of my life i'll never get back
So sorry to start by saying, for Brian DE Palma this is very very poor!!!

I saw the trailer, and thought wow! looks like a great film to add to my vast war film dvds.

How sadly mistaken i was.

Poor acting from start to finish, from actors you will never of heard of.

If you are to buy this dvd, borrow it from a friend who has no sense like me, and then and only then, consider buying it.

review by: date: 2008-07-30 rating:

Redacted
This was an aamazing movie, but not in the normal sense. It shows the human costs of battle and the effects the Iraq war has on them. There are scenes were you think the news has just come on and others with a documentary type feel. Sterling performances from pretty much unknown actors. It really opens your eyes to what really goes on over there. I would reocmmend watching it but prepare yourself for some chilling footage.

review by: The Sage of Dubai date: 2008-07-27 rating:

A real life view of what actually happens...dramatized
I think that more such movies will stop people thinking how wonderful wars are and that the US or any other country for that matter are morally right to kill others. It is about time that people saw what a grimmy and horrible thing wars are and that even the best moral people would have their morality challenged when faced with such a dire situations. Even when you wanted to feel sorry for the serviceman who was against this, you could see that self preservation was more of a driver than doing the right thing. The sadder part was even when he did come forward as a brave man, he was shunned for not falling into line. Wars are sad but to be able to see what they can do to the psyche of trained killers is even sadder.

review by: date: 2008-06-06 rating:

tough
This is definitely a must see movie. I have never felt so utterly moved, horrified and helpless by watching a war movie before.

Brian De Palma does a fantastic job in filming this and there were times when I felt I was actually watching a real life broadcast from Iraq. He uses different mediums brilliantly to tell the story in a manner I've never come across before. You get the 'home made' video footage of one of the soldiers in Iraq who's documenting his time there. Other bits of the story come via insurgent videos, security tapes of the soldiers conversations on base, youtube posts etc. It sounds very bitty but it comes together perfectly.

One of the many things I liked about the movie was the realism. It demonstrates the mundane car and body searches at checkpoints and the hours soldiers have to kill on base. However, it isn't all easy going as we know and that aspect is also covered.

At the end of the day though the movie focuses on one thing - the loss of innocent lives in Iraq at the hands of the (US) military. It gives you facts and figures with images which make you question 'why?' A movie that moves you to that point can't possibly be bad. (although I doubt any pro-war people will support it....esp those with friends/family in the armed forces. All I can ask is you keep an open mind)

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