Chalmers Johnson, Gore Vidal, Graydon Carter
"Why We Fight" is an unflinching look at the military industrial complex and the rise of the American Empire. Inspired by Dwight Eisenhower's legendary farewell speech (in which he coined the phrase "...( read more
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DVD Release Date: June 27, 2006
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Stats: 1,638 reviews
Flixster Reviews (1,638)
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May 20, 2008Good documentary with some great moments of emotional power, but it doesn't say all that much new about the current state of the USA that hasn't already been discussed in superior films.
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June 29, 2006Inerestingly put together and fairly well researched. Too bad it's not really a documentary; it's mostly anti-American propaganda.
Way too preachy and cleverly edited to show only one tiny tiny part of war. Deliberately shows our soldiers in only a bad light and spins quite ...( read more) -
March 1, 2006Bowling for Columbine and Farenheit 911 for those who actually possess the ability to make their own decissions - very well researched and put together.
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August 10, 2009Why We Fight is described in the links section of Billhicks.com as "probably in Bill's iPod on Arcturus". I doubt that it is. Whereas Bill's comedy was loud, angry, and deliberately controversial, this documentary about the military-industrial complex is pedestrian and gentle. ...( read more)
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September 4, 2009A documentary that focuses on Eisenhower's prophetic words about the military-industrial complex. The documentary explains how intertwined the defense industry is in policy making. This is not an issue that will go away anytime soon as as so many of our Representatives would not ...( read more)
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August 28, 2009This was on in marathon fashion for a PBS fundraiser. I watched this awhile ago when my cousin gave me the DVD, and this documentary is a great way to show storytelling through mood and editing. It never seems to dwell to long and tells the story through what was called in the 90...( read more)
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August 27, 2009a good exploration of the reasons behind america's "love affair" with war.
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Critic Reviews
February 24, 2006
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
February 23, 2006
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune
Whichever truth you hold to be self-evident, Why We Fight will encourage you to reassess your beliefs and reconsider the meaning of national security. full review
February 16, 2006
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
After Ike makes his point in the opening minutes, the film itself essentially just elaborates it. full review
January 28, 2006
Ty Burr, Boston Globe
Stands as a class-act stylistic rebuttal to Fahrenheit 9/11 -- it asks questions rather than bludgeons us with ridicule, and it has the grace to hint that we can think for ourselves. full review
January 20, 2006
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Why We Fight wants to shake us up, and boy, does it ever. full review
January 20, 2006
Kyle Smith, New York Post
... this rehash of familiar pacifist arguments offers neither heat nor light. full review
December 21, 2005
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine
Facts that aren't redundant often border on being off-topic. full review
Comments
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May 3, 2007There's a shrill voice of jingoism in America these days that equates criticisms of its actions with being unpatriotic. Patriotism is precisely that - criticizing one's government and keeping it in check for the good of the country. This is not an unpatriotic movie, how can it be when it (truthfully) outlines the ridiculous contexts and mechanisms of the corporation that is the US military and the industry that is war. If people only whined this much about their governments instead of about films maybe we wouldn't be in the mess we're in today.
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January 17, 2007Depressing, of course, but what else could you expect from a movie about war? I found it very insightful and touching. I want to recommend it to my friends and family. I think this is something a lot of people need to see. It shouldn't be ignored just because it's not all rainbows and smiles.
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