Rating: 
Summary: More than just a thinking man's war movie...
Review:
A very poignant and different war drama (the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan that started in 1979), that is actually based upon a stage play. The film succeeds in working om two levels, partly for the 'intellectual film lover' who tends to read more philosophical aspects about right and wrong into it and what it is to be a man in war, and partly for the 'impatient thriller-addict' who just wants an adrenalin-kick out of the movie...The film is exciting from start to end and comes through as very realistic, and the acting is great -- by avoiding big name actors (no offense to the cast!), the focus is always on the characters rather than the actors (which is so often the case in many big Hollywood movies). The desert enviroment comes across as both brutal and beautiful, and Mark Ishams suggestive film music fits perfectly. I don't think you'll be disappointed!
Rating: 
Summary: Out of fuel, become a pillbox. Out of ammo, become a bunker.
Review: Out of time, become heroes. That was one of my favorite lines in the movie near the end when obviously the line was the truth as to the status of their T-55 tank. Anyway, I remember taping "The Beast" off of HBO sometime around 1990 or 1991, after of course the Soviet Union had fallen and the Russians were starting to become our friends. So I was confused at the time if I should feel sorry for them (in the movie) or not. This movie takes place during the Russian Invasion of Afghanistan back in 1981. It's a story where a platoon of Russian T-55 tanks attack a village and then upon withdrawing, one tank lags behind and therefore loses visual contact with the rest of its platoon. They then make one wrong turn at a fork in the road and it leads to a dead end all the while being persued by Afghan Mujahadeen. However there is somewhat of a crew mutanty where the gunner likes to drink the transmission and brake fluid and the loader is an Afghan who is a sympathizer for the Russians while the driver [Jason Patric] is sympathizing with the Afghans. It all ends up where the driver fights alongside the Afghans and ultimately redeems himself by helping the Afghans take out the tank as it reaches the point where it made the wrong turn. And now it is so ironic that this movie along with Rambo III has greater relevance with current events. I kind of found it ironic that I was actually rooting for the guys with the T-55 tanks this time. (Northern Alliance)
Rating:
Summary: afgan compassion and resolve
Review: The movie depicts the tenacity and (never say die) attitude of the afghan psyche(both Male and female).
The Russians underestimate the resolve of the Nation of the Afghans when they try the same tactics as those from the time of the Tsar to ever creep towards the warm-waters of the arabian gulf---a goal that has been theirs from time immemorial.
After the horrific-bonecrushing view of the Oldman being squashed by the ruthless tank commander---a drama unfolds which is only possible in a country like afghanistan.
The ultra-disciplined Soviet army starts to unravel and the animal like ruthlessness of their tank commander turns on himself as scene after scene shows the steely practical resolve of the fighting spirit in the Afghan bosom.
After infighting--one of the Russians is left to ROT and pleads for NANAWATAI(clemency and forgiveness from the pack of afghani's pursuing him--which they offer--(bound by custom)
The Russian turns against his own and starts to track them down armed with only one anti-tank weapon.
The chase is (Beautiful)--the arms of the 20th century against human resolve--in the end--human resolve wins--how??--you've got to see it.
The human spirit wins out against the most formidable weapons.
respectfuly submitted
Rating: 
Summary: Das Boot with a tank!
Review: A timely, yet flawed movie about the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. You can experience the claustrophobia of being in a tank during the harsh Afghan climate changes, but I still can't get over the fact that the Russian soldiers spoke American English, actually with a bit of Bronx accents thrown in here and there! But definintly worth a rental, or cheap purchase.
Rating:
Summary: How is it we're the Nazis now?
Review: A stupendously well acted and well performed film. In all my military experience, I can say that few films capture the essence of the "man in the trench." What was perhaps most disturbing to governments of the time was the universal nature of its message, that all men, despite nationality or creed, abhor the senselessness of war. No doubt at the time, it was more expedient to continue depicting the Soviet military as jackbooted thugs. The film is a stunning indictment of needless violence and a resounding plea for peace.
Rating:
Summary: excellent movie
Review: this movie is one of high reealism and of the few ones set in Afghanistan. It will please people looking for a good action movie but also people looking at a movie giving a look into the Afghan War and also into men's deep violence and hatred and reasons for fighting... and eventually forgiving and leaving in peace. This was one of the best movies of the early 90's.
Rating:
Summary: The Beast
Review: The Beast is a rare look at a Soviet Tank crew during the invasion of Afghanistan. The film depicts the horrors of the life of a soldier in the rocky wilderness that makes up the majority of the terrain. This film strives for military authenticity and does a very good job. The main story juxtaposes the tank driver's morals against his desires to remain loyal to the "Motherland". As a U.S. Army Tanker for 16 years, I recommend this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Maybe the best war movie EVER
Review: The Beast combines fantastic acting with totally accurate on-the-scene filming. The location is right. The equipment is right. The tactics are right. If you want to know what small unit tactics are truly like in a limited war. This is it. Any 'Nam vet, any Algerian vet will identify with this movie. If you want to know what it feels like to be a member of an occuping army in a foreign country; this is it. The best small unit military movie since "The Last Command".
Rating:
Summary: Things have changed a lot since 1988.
Review: The political climate at the time of this film's release in 1988 made it impossible for it to obtain the distribution it deserved; the movie itself, taking place during the first full year of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, centers around a Soviet tank crew who are commanded by a miserable officer who is a veteran of the Old School...and the Old War (his details of his exploits as a child in Stalingrad against the Nazis are both chilling and exceptionally revealing). He has no regard for the lives of the people in whose country his armies are "guests" (the government in Kabul at the time was well- supported by Moscow), and he has neither regard for anything he perceives as weakness among his own troops, nor time to listen to anyone who would interfere with his command of them. This leads to the action that ultimately adds the twist of "Badal" (Islamic term for "revenge") as the tankers become lost in a box canyon and attempt to elude Mujahideen (Islamic freedom fighters) as they return to their column.
>
I know it's an insignificant and meaningless consequence to the actions of September 11, 2001 here in the United States...but I believe this movie should be reassessed and far more appreciated. The decision to allow the Soviets to speak not in the traditional thickly-accented English that can be expected from most intrigue movies, but instead with American dialects (any of these guys could have been extras in "A Bronx Tale") was inspired at the time, and it very effectively humanized an enemy that we in America had been indoctrinated to believe were "an Evil Empire". And in truth, the first scene of the armored attack of an Afghan village pretty much supports this categorization...but as the movie runs its course, you start to wonder.
>
The Afghans, in contract, speak their native tongue (with subtitles). This is an incredible feat, particularly pulled off by Steven Bauer ("Manolo", from "Scarface") as the young Khan who inherits his position after his elders are killed during Soviet interrogation. The Afghans religiously see their obligation to destroy the Soviets as divine will, and are thoroughly merciless in their attempts to do so. A group that begin the movie as oppressed but gallant freedom fighters slowly reveal themselves to be little short of brigands, literally (at least in the case of their women) thirsty for the blood of their invaders.
>
Of course, today things are different. Today we as Americans are only beginning to understand the horror that the conflict in Afghanistan was (and continues to be). Today we as a country ask ourselves what we were thinking when we pledged our support to the Mujahideen that eventually begat the Taliban in an attempt to thwart an "Evil Empire" who, for some reason, wanted to control the most worthless patch of land on this planet.
>
Therefore, I say with great conviction: Watch this movie...and when you find yourself wondering if it's right to feel one way or the other for one side or the other, then you find yourself understanding a little more about what war really is.
Rating:
Summary: Watch this movie..... and see the immediate future.
Review: When I first saw "The Beast" a few years ago, it grabbed me the
way few war movies ever have. This is not a gung-ho John Wayne
kind of movie; this is more along the lines of Norman Mailer's "The Naked and The Dead". It puts you right between the Mujahadeen and the invading Russians during the 1980's, a time when we were watching the Soviets engaged in their own Vietnam. George Dzundza shines as the Russian Tank commander, together with the rest of the cast. As a cinematic experience I would recommend this one to anybody, the technical aspects having been well critiqued by the other reviewers here. As a preview (and perhaps a warning) of what the US and it's allies are going to get into as a result of September 11th, it should be required viewing for EVERYONE in the NATO countries.
| 
