User Reviews

...and for that alone it's probably worth a watch. As a former veteran (and the ONLY reason I mention that is to point out I know what it's like to be under Uncle Sam's thumb) it's both novel and slightly shocking to see this raw view of combat Marines in "global war on terror". The sight of seeing young Marines in a combat zone partaking in weed (presumably there was just no access to the more traditional alcohol) is just one of several candid revelations in this otherwise conventional documentary. I'd be very interested to know the reactions of the Marine brass on seeing "Obscura"... but fortunately, all the UCMJ evil-doer Marines are all safely discharged into civilian life and beyond the reach of the military legal system.

For showing Marines in a true, unvarnished and uncensored way, along with showing some of the unpleasant truths that the American press has been ordered to conceal from the American public, "Combat Obscura" manages to set itself apart from all of the many Nat Geo style, DOD-approved-and-censored documentaries made about the "Forever Wars", so far.

It shows true segments of wartime experience and also what young people who we send to war sometime act like. However, the negative is what naysayers key on. Fact is, what sometimes is said and done in that situation doesn't translate well to the civilian world out of context. The language, horseplay, and interaction with civilians and the enemy are all by products of war. It is harsh, ugly and dark. Our Marines are just trying to survive in an impossible situation not of their own making. It is what it is.

I know for certain that this is not the realities of war, but a cinematic Hollywood adaptation to the world, but nonetheless the film provides an insight. I'm very grateful for the reality in which the film provides As for my comments on how the USA military is... I'll keep that to myself.

This movie is really interesting and well made. It shows the conflicting intellectual and spiritual toll war takes on individuals. On the other hand, it does a good job at depicting soldiers for what they really are: uneducated, narrow-minded, monoethnic, monolingual, violent, murderers, without any pride, honor, or courage, whilst convincing themselves they have all three. They clearly lack the wisdom and the intelligence to take or save a life. It conveys the true necessity to jail all soldiers for life, or give them the capital punishement. This movie provides a raw insight into the minds of individuals who are responsible for the destabilization of the Middle East, and for listening to even less educated politicians.

This film has received a lot of criticism for its lack of narrative story telling, and I can understand why that might frustrate some viewers. However, the title of the film promises exactly what it delivers: a view of combat from the periphery. Obscured from direct line of sight.

In my opinion, this is the most candid and realistic account of combat to be portrayed in documentary form. And it effectively conveys the absurdity and intensity of modern war.

This film is not supposed to answer questions. It is simply here to illuminate a side of war that is rarely seen.

I find this film incredibly refreshing in its honesty. The concept is fully realized and perfectly executed. I think it will serve as a staple for future generations that wish to understand America's war on terror and the men who fought it.

With its scattered and non-narrative storytelling, it is definitely not for those viewers who aren't typically drawn to documentaries.

BUT if you're a doc lover, this one is amazing. It is insightful, honest, brutal, and-at times-truly difficult to watch due to the graphic content. I had a visceral reaction to this film; I was angry and saddened by the behavior of these young men, while at the same time experiencing their fear and loneliness.

Not to get too literary about a movie, but it reminded me of Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried. Similarly to the idea of the novel, this doc shows the stretches of boredom and also the bursts of excitement; the pride of protecting people and also the lack of humanity from over-exposure to violence; the need to fight for a larger cause and also the misunderstanding of other cultures.

I highly recommend!!!

This documentary was absolutely Horrible!!!!!!!!! Don't waste your time or money

By far this is the most explicit graphic war documentary I have ever seen. Only The Dead, and Vietnam Television History come close. Here we see the US Marines trapped in a hopeless situation without the support of the local population. Their comrades die around them.

Totally uncensored and raw. No flashy Hollywood narrative or editing. The filmmaker keeps recording at all times to tell his intended view of the reality of war.

They let their anger and stress out in a number of ways from daily hash and marijuana in the field, to out right anger. There's very intense gory footage of combat casualties and deaths right in front of the camera in high-quality. For those going to point the finger at these US Marines none of them were drafted they all volunteer for their country. And what's happening in Afghanistan right now one could argue was a lot worse than what the US Marines ever did. And if no one's ever lived under the Taliban control then they really shouldn't comment.

This film just throws you right into a war to get a glimpse of what it's like. If one is looking for more of a artsy documentary with a plot maybe stick to the National Geographic Afghanistan documentaries but of course they're censored.

Patchwork footage of fighting the Taliban and trying to win villagers' hearts and minds. Principally unfocused.

Screenplay...................................... 3 / 10 Interviews........................................ 3 Visuals................................................ 6 Sound................................................... 7 Editing................................................ 4 Timeless Utility................................. 5 Total.................................................... 28 / 60 ~= 4.7 (rounded to 6) Verdict................................................. Passable for a general audience.

WOW!! This was bad. There was more video of the ground than anything else. The movie is incoherent with no particular point. For Mike's next movie I willstart a go fund me to hire him a sound engineer. The sound goes from 0 to 10 and up and down the entire 70 minutes. I had to constantly adjust he volume as I watched. It really is a bad movie. It the point is o show snapshots of war there are better movies of random soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan on YouTube. Generally movies have a story to tell. This movie is very disjointed with no flow, nothing to follow. Mike doesn't even engage us with his unit. I give this a hard pass.