“The Hornet’s Nest” – A Mission, Not a Movie
This was published today on BreachBangClear.com. Guys, please go see this movie.
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At first glance, The Hornet’s Nest seems a straightforward documentary about American troops on a combat mission. Second glance, it’s the compelling human story of a war correspondent’s mission to reconnect with his semi-estranged adult son in, of all places, wartime Afghanistan. But when you look further, you realize what the movie actually is.
The Hornet’s Nest is not a movie about a mission. This movie is a mission.
I admit to being biased as hell toward this movie. I’m an Iraq and Afghanistan vet, and spent almost a year in Kapisa province before the troops from The Hornet’s Nest arrived. Whatever my feelings about the wisdom or conduct of the Afghanistan War, my pride in service is without reservation. But I like to think I’m objective enough to criticize what needs to be criticized. I’ve written with frustration about the deliberate fabrications in Lone Survivor, tried and failed to like the comic-bookish Act of Valor, and don’t even want to get started on The Hurt Locker because I’ll have a BS-induced heart attack.
So when I sat down to watch THN this past weekend, I wanted to like it. But I knew I might walk out of the movie disgusted. And I only knew the basics about it; 101st Air Assault soldiers, Kunar province, 2011-ish, combat footage filmed by a father-son team. What I didn’t know were the histories of 34-year war correspondent Mike Boettcher (pronounced “betcher”, as in “you betcher ass”) and his son Carlos. I didn’t know they repaired their relationship by risking their lives together as embedded journalists. I didn’t know the Marines of 2/8 in Helmand province figured prominently in the movie, or that it would give an almost all-female Blackhawk medevac crew well-deserved recognition. I didn’t know the movie is a non-profit project, or how passionately the men and women behind it, both military and civilian, believe in it.
Read the rest at http://www.breachbangclear.com/the-hornets-nest-not-a-movie-a-mission/
Filed under: Afghanistan | 6 Comments
Tags: afghan war, Afghanistan, hornet's nest, veteran writers
chrishernandezauthor 
Difficulty. “Hornet’s Nest”,on Amazon, produces too many results to figure out the correct result.
It’s not available on Amazon, the movie opens nationwide this weekend.
Just ordered my Blu-Ray copies of this and Korengal, the bookend to Restrepo.
I downloaded my copy of Korengal this weekend, hope to see it this week. Will pick up THN as soon as I see a physical copy near my house.
Watched TTHN last week and it was a movie guys need to watch by themselves…lotsa cats in the room, if you catch my drift. So many young men STILL volunteering for the military…KNOWING what can happen to them.
I really enjoyed that first segment when they were down in the K-G pass…that place is brutally beautiful. I cannot imagine how difficult it would be humping out there in full combat gear. I only ever got to see it from 1000-ish feet in a Blackhawk. It would be a great place to hike if the locals weren’t trying to kill everyone.
Good grief, Chris. Your REVIEW brought tears to my eyes. I can’t wait to see this movie. I even forgive you for trashing Act of Valor… heh.