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Review : Saving Jessica Lynch
I just saw Saving Jessica Lynch. It was a big budget TV movie based on the account of Mohammed Odeh al Rehaief the Iraqi civilian who informed the American forces of her position at his own risk.
The movie is void of any of the politics and controversy surrounding the war. The movie opens up with a statement that while it is based on a true story creative license has been taken in dialog and events. This is glanced over by a majority of the viewers and the events presented in this movie will be accepted as the default version until her book comes out.
The production value is quite high and it actually comes across like a decent war movie instead of a cheap after school special. Most of the dialog with Jessica Lynch was done through flash back sequences and there was several big American flags waving in the background. There was some political dialog between al Rehaief and his wife and I am sure that the Saddam loyalist forces were even bigger bastards than they were presented in this flick. I do not know enough to comment on the military accuracy of this movie.
What is most shocking and notable in this production is what is left out. There is no mention of the civilian dead, weapons of mass destruction, shock and awe, decapitation strike, oil assets, Paul Wolfowitz, Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney. There is no mention of the protest and consequences surrounding the war. This story exists in a bubble separate from other issues in the war and occupation.
It a very tacky move on the parts of the TV network to make a show about the Iraq war when technically it is not over. Our mission is not accomplished and we still have over a hundred thousand troops on the ground in Iraq being shot at on a daily basis. Instead of waiting a good time before the history books could be written some sleazy Hollywood executive pitched this story to network executive as soon as the rescue of Jessica Lynch was reported. This is not Apocalypse Now or Full Metal Jacket. I am writing this on November sixth 2003 and this movie is about events on April first 2003. At least Apocalypse Now was made four years after the end of the war.
Hopefully in a decade or so there will be some quality films made about this time if Iraq is a peaceful place again. And on that note I am going to fire up my Nintendo Gamecube and try not to think about what Marshall McLuhan would think.
Jake at November 9, 2003 
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Comments
I couldn't bring myself to watch this drivel. It was realized and produced too quickly to offer anything relevant or substantial, outside of what "they" want you to see. At least it would have been worth something if the producers had actually used their testicles (or ovaries) and made any kind of statement with this vehicle. Sadly, from your review, it does not sound like that happened. It's just a 20/20 movie about the "freak of the week." The rate at which these movies are being developed is very disheartening. In fact, just this weekend, I saw commercials start airing for the movie based on Elizabeth Smart's abduction. These producer leeches will suck the life out of anything they can for a nickel, and the speed at which they do it is uncanny. I could go on for hours bitching about this crap. Ugh...
Posted by: Jeff at November 10, 2003 11:37 AM
Well you know "They Live"
Posted by: Jake at November 10, 2003 1:15 PM
Apparently, they got the story wrong though.
Posted by: benita at November 10, 2003 7:40 PM
