Full Battle Rattle

I'm used to documentaries about the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the political machinations here in the US that are behind them, having a lot more political elements to them. FBR is amazingly neutral in its approach, yet it is quite moving when you listen to the Iraqi immigrants/refugees who work with the US troops training there.

Before I saw this film, an acquaintance warned me that it would be "unblievable." I asked him in what sense. He seemed sure that I would be shocked that US troops do this type of training. I had to disappoint him...of course some US troops have the opportunity to train this way. I wouldn't want it any other way. You can argue about the wisdom of being involved in these conflicts, but I would never begrudge US troops the best equipment, weapons, and training possible. Further, I firmly believe (after watching FBR) that this is one of the best ways to minimize casualties on both sides. (As a sidelight, I will also admit that I have never understood why some people are so fascinated with Area 51. Why wouldn't the military have a location to develop new aircraft designs in secret? And wouldn't they guard access to it? And wouldn't you EXPECT it to be secretive?)

As a parting shot in my review, I do want to address people (including a reviewer or two on the Web) who seem to believe that US troops should be exercising their political influence on the US position re Iraq and Afghanistan. This scares me a bit. Certainly, as voters and politically-involved citizens/permanent residents, members of the military should be involved in US politics. But the military itself should be under civilian control. It's OUR job to employ them wisely.

Definitely recommended for those who are interested in military training and how we try to prepare our troops for the indescribable.

This documentary exposes a little-known reality in a California desert. A real-life simulation of Iraq is constructed to train soldiers before they head off to the war. This documentary unveils the facts and conditions of the training facility, and the audience is left to judge and decide for themselves the meaning and significance of the training facility.

The very fact that this documentary exposes the existence of this place already makes it worth seeing. The documentary intricately sews together the fabrics of the many lives involved in this training facility, taking the audience through the subtleties of this multi-faceted environment.

This documentary is stimulating and entertaining, giving the audience access to a place usually unnoticed. Their website is just as interesting: http://www.fullbattlerattlemovie.com/

In an artificial Iraqi village, built by the US Army in California's Mojave Desert, soldiers are training before being sent to Iraq. They are playing war games intended to simulate situations that may happen to them in real life in the war-ridden country. In scenarios prepared by trainers villagers are played by real Iraqi immigrants. It turns out that scripted role-playing in an artificial environment can trigger some real emotions.

At least these are the expectations that the makers of this movie try to induce in audience to encourage them to watch it. Yet the story unfolds very slowly and does not reveal any surprising concealed meanings. Don't get me wrong - this story is interesting, it is filmed professionally and it is fun to watch. But if one counts on discovering something that was hidden before the eyes, thinks he will be deeply moved by the unraveled behind-the-scenes mysteries or be left pondering over the shown inconvenient or previously unsaid facts - he will probably be disappointed. Unless he can be satisfied by the "touching", typically American ending, in which we wave good-bye to these brave young boys leaving country to die on the foreign soil.

Despite these complaints, I recommend watching this film, because this is quite an interesting picture, showing unknown to the public and unconventional way of training of the contemporary US Army. The movie succeeds in keeping ones attention and some scenes, often very funny, stay in memory for long. Just don't expect to see what the filmmakers are promising - "a full of sarcasm allegory of the war in Iraq". This documentary is straightforward to the bone.

My rating: 7/10