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The Hornet's Nest

DocumentaryActionHistory

Armed only with their cameras, Peabody and Emmy Award-winning conflict Journalist Mike Boettcher, and his son, Carlos, provide unprecedented access into the longest war in U.S. history.

Year

2014

Duration

1h 33m

IMDb

6.7

Hero Poster

Cast

FA

Frank Adamski

Self

OA

Ofren Arrechaga

Self

EB

Ed Bankston

Self

Cast

FA

Frank Adamski

Self

OA

Ofren Arrechaga

Self

EB

Ed Bankston

Self

CB

Carlos Boettcher

Self

Mike Boettcher

Self

BB

Bryan Burgess

Self

CC

Christian Cabaniss

Self

JF

Jeremy Faulkner

Self

DF

Dustin Feldhaus

Self

CF

Chris Fields

Self

BJ

Brit Jacobs

Self - Soldier

JL

Jameson Lindskog

Self

SL

Steve Lutsky

Self

KM

Kevin Mott

Self

TR

Tye Reedy

Self

KR

Kellis Richardson

Self - Soldier

Diane Sawyer

Self - ABC News Anchor in Afghanistan)

SS

Shane Shelton

Self - Soldier

Trailer

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Comments

10 Comments

QueenbHoliTijan😍🦋🧿Nov 22, 2022

I have the utmost respect for the women and men sacrificing themselves for us in this war that the documentary was made from. I have no respect for the maker of this fluff piece. These soldiers deserve better than fake danger footage he claimed to be in. It's ridiculous that this actually glorifies their plight, with the utmost grievance. David and Christian, don't make any more documentaries that glorify our brothers deaths

Kéane MbaNov 22, 2022

I have just finished watching this documentary. While some people are giving negative comments about the documentary and the journalists part in it. People are under the impression this was only to be about America's Military in Afghanistan. However, near the beginning Mike stated that he had sacrificed his family because he neglected them and choose to be a war correspondent. He felt he had this last chance to connect with his son and if he blew it he would lose his son. Mike is an award winning journalist. He is a war correspondent. He has covered world conflict for 30 years, and was kidnapped and threatened with execution as well as been a survivor of suicide bombing. Carlos and Mike embedded themselves with U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division to bring their perspective of the war in Afghanistan. His coverage dates back to Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Without journalists like him we would never be able to understand some of the things that happens in war. To see someone injured or who has died makes it so real for us. Every day men and women at war go to work everyday not knowing if they will die today. They hunt down the really bad men in this world and although I do not believe in the death penalty, I wont lose sleep if these kinds of men die. Carlos and Mike were 2 different people in the end of the documentary then they were at the beginning of it. They finally had their connection, their bond as father and son. I feel they have made sacrifices for us as well...

Itz Kelly CrownNov 22, 2022

If you have ever seen the woods surrounding Bastogne, Belgium? I watched this film I wondered if war truly ever ends, or does the scenery just change. I enjoyed the movie and about the father and son bonding in the middle of a war zone. It just hit me that, like Restrepo, the tactics here resembled the Thunder Run down Highway One in Vietnam. No solid Intel, just Gator Bait with bullets and bombs. That troubled me, because using Gator Bait tactics, the result is almost always the same. The Officers didn't appear to prepare the NCOs for an Op in the Devil's front yard. But then again, how do you prepare to fight an enemy, in their back yard, that fought the Roman Legions and the British Empire? I do not think you can find the answer in FM 25-100 and FM 25-101. I agree that we just planted seeds, really expensive seeds.

Sheriff🤴🏾Nov 22, 2022

These men and women did it, and they're still doing it today. That is, put their lives on the line so that others may live in freedom; even those that disagree with them. It has been said that the more things change, the more they remain the same. During the American revolution there were those that were opposed to fighting for freedom and independence from England. Before and during the Civil War that same "no war is good - don't fight" attitude was espoused by many people who would have refused freedom to men and women living in chains in the south. Have we learned from our mistakes of the past? No; it's not any different now. That same attitude is given voice by some people today. Seemingly, they never stop to think that the freedom to openly share their opinion (without fear of being dragged from their home and shot in the street by death squads) was bought and paid for by the same men and women that they are disrespecting today. I can't imagine what it must be like for the family members of the men and women who died in Afghanistan to come here and read some of the totally insensitive comments that others have posted. God has already had mercy on those that gave their lives; they're safely home with Him. He will need to give even more mercy to those that have no respect for the priceless gift they have received. Greater love has no man, or woman, than to lay down their life for their friends. Yes, the word is friends. The bottom line is that there is no we and they; there is only us. It's time we started getting it right. I wish every theater, school, church and meeting place in America would show this film. It deserves to been seen. This is war up close, in your face and personal. These are real men and women, real lives and the real reasons why they are there - honestly and sensitively portrayed. I consider it to be nothing short of a masterpiece. Be aware that my next comment may be a spoiler, but I would like to share something about a part in the film when the soldiers are talking to a group of children. The children are telling them where the enemy has been, and perhaps where they stashed some weapons. While watching this I was aware that the wisdom of children often exceeds that of we so-called adults. These children KNEW who the enemy was, and it was not the Americans. The children were not afraid of the Americans, they were afraid of the Taliban - and they were doing what they could to help the soldiers. For me, that was a moment of absolute clarity. Is our being there serving a purpose? Just ask those children.

Coeurth'ia NSONSANov 22, 2022

I would have to wholeheartedly agree with the most popular reviews here such as "tmiller163" and "jmcfrancis." The entire story feels very contrived and almost like I am watching those ubiquitous reality TV shows most Americans can't get enough of. Being an avid combat-footage junkie, I would say I have a pretty good idea of what to expect when it comes to watching an authentic firefight. I know what a whizzing bullet would sound like, and ESPECIALLY what one wouldn't sound like. In this film, I was completely disconnected from any verisimilitude by the use of cheap bullet sound effects. The whole thing seemed forcefully done for the purpose of sensationalism. It even felt as if Mike was in on the hype by using cheap editing tricks to make certain shots seem WAY more dramatic than they actually were. Again, I felt like I was watching "World's Wildest Firefights Caught on Camera" instead of genuine raw combat footage. Which is a shame because the real story here should've focused on the soldiers and the high price they pay fighting America's wars. I didn't dislike the film entirely, the last 20 minutes made up for what the film was lacking in. But if you guys really want to see what The War in Afghanistan looks like, I would stick to films such as "Restrepo" or "Armadillo." No cheap sound-effects used there, just pure-unadulterated storytelling.

lorelaiNov 22, 2022

If you have ever wanted to know what it's like to hike through Afghanistan with our brave troops, here's your chance. The Hornet's Nest takes you on several dangerous missions deep in Taliban territory. Unlike other typical war documentaries, what makes this adventure such a memorable experience is that it's a father and son journalist that are leading the way. Their cameras take you right shoulder to shoulder with the soldiers as bullets whiz over their heads. You hear the lead smack into brick walls, rocks and body armor. There are even glimpses of captured Taliban video that show you the face of the enemy. To provide respect for the families that lose loved ones in the service that appear in this movie, the directors withhold showing the blood of our soldiers. However, the movie has a very emotional ending that must not be missed! If you like Military Channel and war footage you will LOVE this movie. You will see amazing American fire power and technology. It's a movie about heroes, a father and son and how America's bravest sacrifice all for those that can not defend themselves!

MiauuuuuuuuuNov 22, 2022

Could have done without the contrived father/son drama at the start of the film, it was so bad I almost stopped watching it. Luckily I kept on watching it, it really picked up steam in the second half when the film was devoted to the 101st in operation strong eagle III. It really highlighted the sacrifice of the soldiers and their willingness to give all. I was a civilian contractor in Iraq and Afghanistan, the losses and ceremonies commemorating them were always sad. The professionalism of the US troops, despite the politics and questionable nature of the Iraq War always made me proud.

محمد النعمي 😎Nov 22, 2022

At its core I love what this doccie does: it presents some front line perspectives of American soldiers fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan. That in itself is impressive and at times harrowing. But then the movie wraps itself in a jacket of awful ideas. The soundtrack feels ripped from every reality show made in the past few years. I almost started to expect a host from something like Fear Factor to show up. The storytelling is also very convoluted. It skims details and personalities, briefly introducing them before running to the next plot point. While it goes out of its way to highlight the sacrifices made by the soldiers, The Hornet's Nest gives little clarity on what is going on half of the time. Other than bring across the intensity of firefights, much more isn't revealed. But my biggest problems are the cheap narrative tricks. At times moments are made more dramatic than they are, especially if it involves one of the journalists potentially getting shot. This is done twice and both times it's more a trick of editing than what actually happened. I'd liken this to Ross Kemp's Afghanistan doccies: intense, but vapid and a little bit exploitative. You don't come out of The Hornet's Nest learning much, other than Americans are great soldiers. If that is the point, this succeeds. But it could have done so much more with its material instead of feeling like a made-for-reality-TV special.

user7156405251297Nov 22, 2022

Ted Fujimoto Very rarely does a movie (especially a documentary) stop us in our tracks and cause us to look at the world and life differently. Leigh Rachel Faith and I went to a movie screening tonight that a friend David Salzberg Jr co-directed and co-produced. Whether you agree or disagree with our government's policies to go to war, this movie shakes you to your core and puts you on the front line of what our country's military women and men do in service of our country. This film has qualified to be voted on for consideration by the The Academy for an Oscar. We hope they will win. It would be well-deserved and be in honor of our men and women in the military who serve our country. This is an important movie to watch--so please do so and tell 10 other friends to watch it too. "Everyone, especially non-military, should see this movie. Unless you've fought in a war, you have no idea what our service men and women go through, how close they become, or the incredible lengths to which they will go for one another," remarked Donna Walker, Gold Star Mother. Col. J.B. Vowell, a career ARMY infantry officer and commanding officer of the Task Force No Slack in the 101st Airborne Division commented, "This film is and will be a phenomenal picture for a wide audience across the country. It is dramatic, unscripted, visceral and real. Nothing I have ever seen comes close. People in the general public who have so far been deprived of knowing and understanding what is happening in Afghanistan will be awed. It achieves what no screenplay can: it places you in the most harrowing combat scenes against a hostile enemy in the most complex terrain imaginable where buddies fight for each other's survival and mission accomplishment." Rhonda Moore If you live anywhere near these places, go see this Film- Excellent work - you will not leave with dry eyes!!!! Chuck Notter It was both amazing and humbling to see what the soldiers went thru on this deployment. Everyone should see this film great job Mike and Carlos Thank you Audrey Shaw-Helmer(Gold Star Widow) I've seen the Hornet's Nest twice now and I'm still at a loss for words with what to say. Thank you so much for making this film and for telling the story of our soldiers

Michael SekongoNov 22, 2022