Search - National Geographic - 21 Days to Baghdad on DVD

A compelling look at Operation Iraqi Freedom

Kyle Tolle | Phoenix, Arizona USA | 07/31/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"National Geographic has done itself proud in its production of the three most critical weeks of military action in Iraq. Beginning at the launch point in Kuwait and following through to the culmination of the military offensive in Baghdad, the American war machine is analyzed and showcased in much detail.Using footage never seen by the American public, a comprehensive picture is drawn of a decisive, although ambiguous military victory. State of the art technology, advanced weapons systems, Special Forces operations, and military tactics demonstrate the outstanding abilities of the United States armed forces in achieving their objectives. Interviews with ground forces, military experts, and journalists show the emotional side of the conflict and how it affected those involved.Relegating itself less to politics and more to wartime operational aspects, 21 Days to Baghdad is a solid, in-depth, and superb documentary on the campaign to oust the regime of Saddam Hussein.This DVD offers outstanding audio and video qualities and comes with 3 good special features which consist of an interactive war zone map, tools of war fact files, and bonus programming with special interviews. For any and all viewers interested in the depth of Operation Iraqi Freedom, this is an excellent account from start to finish."

Okay, but not outstanding documentary

Manfred Zeichmann | Austria | 02/16/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"While not a complete disappointment, this documentary could have been much better. Admittedly the filmmakers manage to cram quite a lot of information in the rather brief running time (1 hour), but it is too short.
After a very brief introduction about the reasons that led to this military conflict, 21 DAYS TO BAGHDAD shifts aboard carrier
vessel USS TARAWA, where we see marines training for the upcoming combat. The US strategy focussing on high tech, flexiblity and special forces is explained. Officers explain weatherforcast for military purposes. Then 21 DAYS TO BAGHDAD
details the story of this successful military campaign in day by day form. While we get to see all the familiar aspects of the conflict (the "shock and awe" aerial bombardments starting the war on 20/3, sandstorms delaying the advance of the Allied troops, the ludicrious antics of Iraqi "information" minister
Mohammed Saeed al Sahaf, Jessica Lynch's story, special forces operating behind enemy lines) a lot of the proceedings focus on an embedded journalist advancing with marines and a National
Geographic film team in Bagdad secretely filming the aerial bombardments. I was particularly impressed by this footage. I was also impressed by the combat footage, where marines fought for a bridge with Iraqi soldiers.
Again, there is a lot of information in this documentary, but in my view it lacks depth.
Extra features are impressive, but, once again, lack depth. There are bonus interviews with the journalists, which are quite interesting. They comment how they managed to film the aerial bombardments on the sly from the balcony of their hotel and the experience of being in the field together with the marine unit. There is also a feature called Interactive War Zone Map (= a day by day account of important events of the war with troop movements shown on a map.) Sounds interesting, but I wish the map would have been more detailed. An option to zoom in would also have been welcomed by me. Then there is a Tools of the War feature (files on war vehicles and weapons). It is divided into 3 sections (air, land, weapons). The e.g. weapon section consists of files on the following:
* GPS-guided bomb
* laserguided bomb
* cruise missile
* Javelin anti-tank missile
* bunker buster bomb
However, do not expect too much. Each "file" consists of a single image and a very brief description.
Rounding up the extra section of the DVD are three trailers for other National Geographic DVDs: INSIDE THE PENTAGON, VIETNAM`S UNSEEN WAR (about the conflict from the Vietnamese perspective; this indeed looks quite interesting) and LEWIS AND CLARKE: GREAT JOURNEY WEST."

21 Days To Baghdad

aco_70th_en_bn | Manhattan, KS USA | 09/30/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The minute that I started watching this I wouldn't stop until it was over. It had me very interested. I think that I liked it so much because I have a lot of friends in the military and they are al over in Irag right now. If you haven't seen this DVD you should watch it. Rather than watching it, you should buy it. It is well worth the money that you have to pay. I wish that there was more videos/DVDs like this one."