War and war impact movies you think every one should see

[Aristus]

8. Kevin Reynold's 'The Beast Of War'.

From 1988. Includes a performance by Stephen Baldwin before he became a religious whackadoodle.

Russian tankers get lost in a blind valley in Afghanistan in 1981, and have to deal with vengeful Mujahedeen. Filmed in Israel using captured Soviet-made tanks and equipment, it was a way of getting a good, up-close look at Soviet-made tanks in the years before YouTube made them pretty much ubiquitous.

The Mujahedeen are played mostly by Israeli actors, although the leader is portrayed by American Steven Bauer. The Russians are all played by Americans. The film received some criticism at the time for having their ostensibly Russian characters speaking in American accents. But I think that just punches up the fact that soldiers are soldiers, regardless of where they come from. It was for the best that the actors didn't use comical, James Bond-villain style Russian accents.

An excellent little film that leaves the viewer thinking: who are the bad guys here?