Warriors (1999)

How sad is this?

Good concept, poorly executed.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Blistering performances.

Warriors is a drama, but every incident you see in it is factual. The makers interviewed Infantry soldiers from UNPROFOR1 (The Cheshire Regiment) and UNPROFOR2 (The Prince Of Wales Own Yorkshire Regiment).The MoD gave the makers permission to approach soldiers who had been involved in incidents so that they could replicate them for the screen, along with what the soldier's were actually thinking and feeling at the time.A lot of incidents were rejected on the grounds that they would not be believed by the viewing public or were just to 'bloody'.In addition, soldiers helped the actors wear their equipment properly, act properly etc.How do I know this? Two of the incidents depicted I was involved in. I was in the Cheshire Regiment. I have since testified in 2 war crimes trials at the Hague.No matter what you think, believe me it was far worse than what you see. You only see it, you don't smell it.To this day (2007) most of us that were their in that first year still have a feeling that somehow we failed those poor people and our politicians were weak.It is very, very well made and very, very realistic as to what it was like.

This two-part series which was shown on TV is a description of how a majority of British UN soldiers experienced the war in former Yougoslavia.Their task was mainly a humanitarian mission based on a policy of non-intervention.This policy may have worked in the minds of well-intentioned theoreticians but was impossible to execute in the real environment of war-torn Bosnia.These soldiers were subjected to constant stress resulting from their orders not to intervene, the hostility they experienced as foreign intruders,the language barriers and the bestiality they encountered without being able to offer any significant help.The traumas that these men experienced definitely had a devastating and lasting effect on their further lives "Warriors" draws the viewer into the ongoing drama in such a convincing way that one fully grasps the frustration these soldiers must have experienced. Excellent production: a top-class cinematographic document performed by outstanding actors.

This film, about a group of British soldiers helping out for the UN in Bosnia in the early 90s, is a disturbing, powerful and superb piece of film making. Despite its long length, this film depicts the frustration and personal pain British troops faced while in Bosnia, witnessing mass deaths of civilians and being unable to give proper assistance because of war 'restrictions'. The atmosphere is bleak and often tense, with the audience sympathising with the frustrated troops after 'clearing' up human body remains. The aftermath and the pain the soldiers continue to feel after they get back to Britian is unsympathetic and superbly acted, especially from 'Band Of Brothers' star Damian Lewis and Matthew MacFadyen, and the scene when a soldier befriends a Bosnian civilian wearing a Manchester United shirt and has to hand him over to officials to be shot is one of the most powerful humanitarian war scenes in any film I have ever witnessed, with the Liverpool born soldier sinking to breaking point and bursting into tears. It is easy to see why people may not like this. The pace is slow from time to time. Perhaps it is a touchy subject, but its a shame more people in America will not have the chance to see it. They should. It is compulsive viewing. Harrowing and brilliant, Warriors will stay with you.8.5 out of 10

I saw this movie yesterday and today, and i registered at IMDB to comment it. It's the first movie about the war in bosnia i have seen so far, and i don't think a movie can be much better. The movie shows us in a very impressive way, why war is bad. And i have to ask my self, how many lives could be saved, if we would have intervened earlier.