The Hornet's Nest (2014) User Reviews

Get through the contrived drama in the beginning, stay for the end.

[david427-20-508807 · 8/10 · 3 October 2014]

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.

Less of a war documentary, more of a journalist documentary

[tmiller163 · 6/10 · 27 May 2014]

Before starting, the movie was more-so a documentary on the journalist than it was the soldiers. It seemed the soldiers were sidelined the whole time and more of a side story for the journalists. Unlike Restrepo, the movie was pitched from the journalist's (Mike and Carlos Boetcher) point of view and mainly from Mike's point of view as the father. It isn't until the last 15 minutes of the movie that they seem to care at all about the soldiers, finally having interviews with them on their combat actions and their opinions, which even then seemed more like a 30 second piece than the reason for the movie.

The first major thing watching the movie to bug me, however, was that they felt the need to add a vast amount of sound effects. From added gun noises, to yelling, to bullet sounds, they would frequently place these added effects over the combat footage as if that combat (real combat) wasn't exciting enough. Being an Afghan War Veteran myself, I felt this was kind of a jab, to say that the soldier's actual stories and actual combat was not worthy of Hollywood. After also watching movies such as Restrepo, I feel this was completely unnecessary.

Those things aside, the movie wasn't awful. I do feel it should have been more about the actual soldiers and the war rather than Mike. I found it rather ironic as well that with him taking so much of the movie to direct to himself and his son, and take away from the soldiers, that he later goes on to say that he was trying to tell their stories.

Overall, for a civilian the movie will hopefully paint a slightly better picture on the war, and it was still done quite well. I just have my feelings on the side due to my past experiences.

GREAT if you want a taste of what war is really like!

[cdesanta · 8/10 · 11 July 2017]

First review of a movie and I plan to keep it short.

This "movie" is pretty dang good! I spend hours searching for good suggestions for movies on IMDb, but everyone has a different favorite genre. If you like this movie then here are another few you'll be sure to enjoy:

RESTREPO SEVERE CLEAR KORENGAL ARMADILLO BEASTS OF NO NATION

and some actual movies: Lone Survivor American SNIPER FULL METAL JACKET (crazy movie lol) BLACK HAWK DOWN etc.. I could go on forever but these are some good starters

ENJOY !

The worst parts of the doc are when either Boettcher is on camera.

[edthesheep · 6/10 · 24 September 2018]

The best parts are when neither Boettcher is on camera.

Most of the reviewers here are id10t's

[blazer0981 · 7/10 · 16 June 2021]

Can't believe the stupidity in these reviews. Giving a bad review because you don't understand or recognize the basic subject matter of the documentary? Smdh. You people are a disgrace to Americans. No wonder the world thinks we're idiots. You people do all you can to prove we are. Smfh.

Eyes Wide Open

[alexatahiraj · 10/10 · 3 February 2015]

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...

The Hornets Nest

[TomHarding04 · 7/10 · 16 September 2015]

2014 American documentary, filmed and narrated by wartime journalist's father and son, Mike Boettcher and Carlos Boettcher.

Summary: In real life there are no re-spawns, this is no call of duty. A fantastic real life account of the ever present war on terror being fought in Afghanistan. A film that takes you deep into 'The hornets nest', deep into situations you wouldn't even dream about, situations where all hope for humanity is lost, where words cannot describe the horrors that are present, where all faith is questioned. We follow father and son journalist's Mike and Carlos Boettcher as they spend a year with the real heroes the 101st airborne in Afghanistan. This is not based on a true story, this is a true story.

A sight we always see, a report we always hear in our every day lives, but do we ignore it? or is it seemingly not real that there is a war going on? That is just one of many questioned posed in this real life insight to the ever present war on terrorism.

Although stated as 'directed by' David Salzberg and Christian Tureaud "The Hornets nest" is filmed entirely by father and son Mike and Carlos Boettcher, and is an eye witnessed account of their experience living, breathing and doing everything these soldiers of the 101st airborne do day in and day out in Afghanistan. Mike Boettcher is a journalist who has spend the best part of 37 years reporting from some of the worst war zones in history, he has spend the majority of his reporting life in the deep end bringing people at home the truth of war. As well as being an account of the war in Afghan, we follow Mike's quest to build a lost relationship between him and his son Carlos, who in attempt to rebuild this relationship embarks on this journey with his father.

The journey is narrated by Mike throughout, as he gives a step by step as to what he and his son were witnessing and feeling. This however, proved to be a bit misleading, as the film suffers a lack of time line, because we forget that they were based in Afghan for over 12 months, and the jump between story is rather sporadic. However, this is understandable as there is clearly a , countless amount of footage, but clarity mixed with overtly dramatic music throughout proves to be a bit confusing. Although this does not detract from the fact that what we as an audience are viewing is real, and actually has actually happened. The reality of what is occurring in Afghanistan is emphasised early on, when we are with Carlos interviewing a couple of soldiers regarding a road block, it is at this point soldiers are fired upon.

The film is predominantly based in the notorious 'Korangal Valley' known by the locals as 'Death Valley', a fitting and obvious title. Mike and Carlos both follow a unit who are sent out to clear the pass of snipers as this pass is used to transport non lethal supplies to the soldiers. Almost instantly the soldiers are fired upon, and also both Mike and Carlos receive heavy fire and must continue to film whilst taking cover. It is at this point that Carlos must move to better cover up at the top of the hill as they cannot ascertain where fire is coming from, we follow him running up the hill, only to fall down whilst fire is still coming over head, and to our horror he stops moving. There are moments throughout this documentary that the relationship between father and son (Mike and Carlos) is really drilled home, and the notion of parent and child, which allows us as an audience to understand how these soldiers are someone's friend, father, husband/partner.

The climax of this story is when Carlos leaves Afghan ahead of his father, and Mike stays on to follow the 101st airborne into "The Hornets Nest", the Hornets nest is a term used to describe an ambush where you are surrounded, and the centre of an ambush. For 9 days the 101st stand and fight back against Muslim militia. Although as a film there are many cinematic mishaps, and areas where the continuity and narrative arch are complicated, it is the reality of war that makes this documentary award winning.

Finally, it is the end of the documentary which draws all glamour, fiction and Hollywood of war away from this documentary. And with one final bullet wound to the viewer, Mike Boettcher shows us the real loss of war, as we witness the funeral of the fallen men who died during this nine day battle of 'The Hornets Nest', a truly moving sequence.

Clint Eastwood : I want the troops from Great Britain and the U.S. to be successful, but by the same token, Afghanistan has always been a screw-up.

Half incredible half bad

[mvike · 8/10 · 26 October 2019]

As most pointed out...the first half of this was horrible...however if you can get to the final 30-40 minutes...it's increible. The final 2-5 minutes are absolutely heart shattering...

I can't bring myself to give it less than 8/10...only because the men highlighted here who gave their lives may never get another chance to be seen/known. We all need to take that into account, if this is the only time we get to see their story...it deserves to be seen, and if we crush the rating to less than 6.0...that's going to be extremely low for a documentary, and guess what?? People will skip it...

So 10/10 for those brave soldiers...and 0/10 for the man attempting to make their glory his and his sons!!! Shame on him. Those men deserved the FULL time to be known!!!! They could've spent that time early on telling us about these young men we lost...no one cares about you and your sons relationship, pal!!!

A going-nowhere meaningless war pathetically fought

[MovieIQTest · 6 October 2014]

~By Andrew Buncombe – 10 January 2011~

US forces have fired so many bullets in Iraq and Afghanistan - an estimated 250,000 for every insurgent killed - that American ammunition-makers cannot keep up with demand. As a result the US is having to import supplies from Israel.

A government report says that US forces are now using 1.8 billion rounds of small-arms ammunition a year. The total has more than doubled in five years, largely as a result of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as changes in military doctrine.

Based on this report, and further proved by this pathetic documentary, we have to think reversely from the insurgents' side: you have to guess how many bullets one insurgent used to kill one US combat soldier. Then you might know how poorly the US soldiers were trained. What we saw in this film can be summarized as follow:

1) Dodging bullets desperately and fired back blindly to the general direction where the bullets came from. 2) When pinned down by a single Taliban shooter, and wasted so many bullets in vain, they called the air strikes to save their butts.

This film also told us that before this old journalist retired, he wanted his son to get the high pay job in time before he was forced to get out of the combat zones. This was just a film showing how he got his son oriented before using his influence to recommend him to take over his job.

There's nothing that I could use to glorify our troops but shaking my head constantly and felt either embarrassed or pathetic. These poorly trained soldiers were wounded or died for nothing, and no wonder why these pathetic wars could never end and never won. We only need a few more well-trained snipers in these theaters instead of these pathetic "Inglorious Bastards" eating away our tax. I rest my case.

This felt like something my grandpa made in Windows Movie Maker

[johndwagnerii · 6/10 · 2 April 2022]

Putting songs you like over video footage doesn't make you a cinematographer. While a lot of the combat footage was good, the presentation was off. It felt very amateur and at times, overdramatic.

The film could have been much shorter too. The first half of the movie didn't really have much to do with the story, it was more about how the reporter's son tagged along this time because he wanted to know why his father had put his work before his family. It was a depressing concept that he kind of patted himself on the back for.

A lot of the reporter's commentary was outright annoying. I had very little respect for him.

Would have been better if the director had limited his exposure

[brendan-821-654855 · 5/10 · 13 September 2014]

This is actually two documentaries (i.e. two distinct subject matters) - the first being the story of the father and son journalists (and documentary makers) Mike and Carlos Boettcher, the second being the story of the fighting men on the ground in Afghanistan.

This could have been a truly great documentary if 3 things were done differently:

1. The first half of the movie, about Mike and Carlos Boettcher, was removed from the film, and that time was instead used to introduce us in more detail to the fighting men who would become the subjects of the second half of the documentary (which was definitely where the heart and soul of this film is found).

2. Mike Boettcher had not tried to use the film as a vehicle to justify, and in the process, completely over-hype the importance and role of journalists in war. Journalists play a vital role, but in this film the importance of that role was overblown.

As a father I also really struggled to accept all the 'this is how I redeem my lack of fatherly attention to my family over the years' rhetoric - not only did it lack authenticity, but taking your son to work with you for a couple of weeks is not really how one genuinely makes up for a self-professed and deliberate absence in the life of your wife and child.

3. Mike Boettcher had not inserted himself into this movie so much.

The real story of this documentary is found in the second half of the movie, but Mike Boettcher keeps inserting himself into the powerful narrative the footage is telling in really inappropriate ways - like the continual talking head shots of himself explaining how the fighting was effecting him, and often in a tone that felt really forced and possibly even contrived.

All we really needed from Mike Boettcher was for him to shoot the footage, weave it together into a coherent narrative, and then narrate the story of the fighting men - rather than to keep telling us about himself over and over again.

It's a real shame, because he definitely shot some really amazing footage here, and there is a powerful and very moving story to be told about the courage of these fighting men, and the truly ugly awfulness of futile wars.

If you can hang around for the second half, and you can get past the weaknesses, there is a really powerful story found in the second half of this movie - which would have been made great if Mike Boettcher had removed his own story from this documentary and instead devoted that time to telling more of the story of the fighting men we journey with in the second half of this movie.

Edgy...but so is the real thing.

[dbleagles · 10/10 · 27 October 2014]

The wars our soldiers have endured in Iraq and Afghanistan deserve the best possible understanding by an informed citizenry. This documentary is about as close to being shot in combat as you will get to see. Take off your political hat and just watch and listen to the bullets fly past. Men are killed in this documentary (though you don't get to see the incident). Men die because they can't be rescued in time. You get to see heart break their friends, sergeants and officers feel at the loss. I also recommend you read/listen to "The Good Soldiers" by David Filkens about our troops in Iraq. If you do all that--then you can really say the words: "Thank you for your service!"

Interesting, but also contrived

[jmcfrancis · 4/10 · 3 October 2014]

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.

Get ready

[tburgess001 · 10/10 · 14 April 2013]

The Hornet's Nest will make you laugh, gasp, sigh, and sob. This is real footage of real soldiers in a battle as real as it can possibly get. Follow two teams with renown war journalist Mike Boettcher and his son Carlos as they engage an enemy known even to the locals as "Ghosts." Rejoice in the victories with the Marines and share grief with the men of No Slack as the battle reaches its climax. Filled with startling statistics that never reach American newspapers, The Hornet's Nest will have you griping your armrests as you follow Mike and Carlo's cameras into the heat of the day and the heat of the battle. This is not Hollywood. This is Afghanistan. It is the longest war in American History to date and it is still going on.

This is a great movie that everyone should see!

[mvaldene · 10/10 · 8 January 2015]

The Hornets Nest This was the best war documentary I have ever seen. It made you feel as if I was actually in the battles.

Mike B is a true hero for letting the world see what war is really like.

Risking his life and his sons takes real courage. My sons watched this film on DVD and they are now much more appreciative of all they have and what our Military goes through.

I watched other war docs after but they lacked some of the intensity found in this film. There is a lot of swearing but that is war. Get the DVD as it will be a movie you want to pass on to everyone.

Disconnected by the use of fake sound effects and cheap thrills

[asiller0308 · 4/10 · 28 November 2014]

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.

This is not a movie; it is an experience.

[ftbear · 10/10 · 15 September 2014]

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.

too bad....

[Wango-65681 · 2/10 · 14 July 2019]

Is self glorification a job requirements for journalists?

Excellent "Front-lines" coverage that makes you respect soldiers.

[jason-95641 · 9/10 · 31 May 2018]

I have always had the highest respect for people serving in our military, but this film really does bring home and highlight what happens on the battlefield. Regardless of your political views or your opinion of whether the US should be engaged in a specific war, this documentary puts you in the battle and shows you the true brotherhood and love that soldiers share among each other.

It also really shows how close soldiers get with one another and how they use jokes and other tactics to handle the extreme stress they face on the battlefield. When a soldier gets hit, you can tell that every one of them will do whatever it takes not to leave their brothers behind in battle.

The ending of this movie really stung. Having lost some of their buddies during a battle, you are drawn into the intense emotion that is felt by each soldier. There is so much love and respect among them all and it really drives home just how selfless many of these soldiers are and what they have to deal with during an intense engagement.

These women and men put everything on the line so we can enjoy a better way of life and a better society -- they are all true heroes and this documentary is a powerful reminder of that fact.

FB Posts:

[davids-46 · 10/10 · 24 January 2014]

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

Great story, sickening self promotion.

[tomjgarn · 3/10 · 17 May 2020]

A great story about the bravery, commitment and compassion of those serving. Unfortunately it seemed at the end, the journalist chose to make it more about himself than those that truly deserved it. Very selfish.

See This and Then Rent "Restrapo"

[ddam0767 · 10/10 · 16 May 2014]

Both are excellent, seat of your pants, documentaries. All men and women under 30 should see this movie and then go complain about how bad they have it. These are real men and women, America's best, and they are over there kicking butts and taking names. They don't fight for some "pie-in-the-sky" idea of America but they fight for each other. They are in a bad situation and trying to make it out all in one piece. So sad that our political leaders never learn from past mistakes and tie our military's hands behinds its back. I'm not real keen on Hollywood and what comes out of it. This is not part of that pathetic industry -- great movie, worth your time AND your money.

Would be much better if the cameraman hadn't been so focused on himself

[docdaddy-66370 · 4/10 · 22 July 2022]

The action captured makes this worth watching. However, unlike documentaries like Restrapo, the cameraman/journalist makes himself the focus of the film He also has a much more melodramatic style than the journalists in other documentaries of this type.

It's still worth watching due to the action captured, but the cameraman irritated the crap out of me.

Stay Through the End

[imchiquita · 9/10 · 22 May 2014]

For those of us who are civilians, this is as close as we're going to get combat. Considering what you'll see, that's still almost too close.

This is a war documentary, not a war movie. I sincerely appreciate that it's on the big screen and not Discovery Channel or the former Military Channel. It has that "Iraq Diaries: Alpha Company" vibe to it...with a bit more danger. I'm also reminded of Sean Parnell's "Outlaw Platoon" memoir.

I'm glad I saw it, but it weighs heavy.

As an Army daughter, Navy wife, and Marine mother, I have the utmost respect for our Armed Forces. This documentary also shares my respect.

Best Movie I Have Ever Seen!

[murphyluke4 · 10/10 · 10 September 2014]

To all those who are reviewing without seeing it and also rating the movie low who HAVEN NOT EVEN SEEN IT IS SILLY, this movie I thought would be okay, but when I watched it I was very fascinated and cried near the end :-) because of how the ending played out. (NO SPOILERS) best movie ever.

I hope someone else felt the same other than me, if you are interested in wars you will love this, please try it, it's a shirt film but it's very good. I was on the edge of my seat. It was great.

I was very interested in this and it was way better then I expected.

This also shows how our troops go out and do their job under so much pressure but do such a good job.