This movie is basically a story that tries to justify torture by showing how heroic American soldiers are corrupted by the horrors brought upon them by murderous terrorists. It tries to make you believe it's a true story by sticking a date in the film and stating it is inspired by true events but even the most patriotic of Americans can surely see through such a one sided unbalanced fantasy. Just when you think that the movie is examining the complexity of war and showing how decent people on both sides are being damaged by conflict we learn that the one prisoner that seemed decent was just a cold blooded killer and the only way to get the info was through torture. The implication here being that every prisoner detained was guilty when the chances of this are extremely remote given that people were held without trial. In the U.S people are innocent until proved guilty, why should this not be the case for rest of the world or is it just for U.S citizens. We learn how a very decent caring U.S soldier can be corrupted and driven to commit acts of torture yet there is not back story to show what drove the prisoners to commit their horrible crimes. Perhaps it is easier to think that these people are mindless killers rather than human beings who were once innocent children. I am not anti-American I am anti-bullshit. My review my may come across as anti-American because I am pointing out the complete lack of balance in this story. Unfortunately war is not as simple as the good guys vs the bad guys though it seems that is what this story would have you believe. If it wasn't for the woeful story this could have been a decent movie.

Certainly a watchable movie at least. Could have been better. Still, I was drawn into the story and found it entertaining... Well rounded American boy finds himself in a rear echelon outfit in Iraq. Originally working in a motor pool. He hears the prison next door is short staffed and willing to take non military-police personnel as guards. It all becomes factual at that point, leading to a similar situation to the well known abuses and tell-all photos of the scandal we saw on every news channel back in the day.

The side stories are not developed enough and are too cliché'. It makes soldiers appear too emotionally fragile. There is a scene where one squad mate goes nuts, has a situational reaction, but its not believable. At least show the soldier getting a dear Jon letter on top of having financial stress, losing his home or something. But no, they make it look like rear echelon soldiers go nuts for no reason. They also do not develop the lead character's reason for volunteering for guard duty. Show these guys on the road dodging IED's, then it would make sense to volunteer as a guard in Abu Ghraib. These things need to be portrayed to the audience to make the movie believable.

The movie does not fall completely flat. What saves it is the relationship the character develops with one of the prisoners in the cell block he is guarding. There is also constant tension in the scenes within cell block, as the guard is alone with several prisoners. This keeps the viewer interested as the story progresses. The guard walks a fine line between maintaining control or becoming abusive.

I had no problem with the ending. Frankly I wondering where the real life news stories of Abu Ghraib were going to meet the fiction. Just as I said: Is this about the same Abu Ghraib? I had my answer.

I watched this Film and a little Annoyed bye it why. It is a WAR Film the Young Men went Across there to Protect our Country. In my Eyes and Mind NOTHING WILL EVER HAPPEN. My Great Grandfather was in World War 1 and 2. What happened to him Dyed an Old Man Poor and Crippled and living off of Pennies. If your in a WAR PROTECTING OUR COUNTRY OUR COUNTRY SHOULD TAKE BETTER CARE OF YOU. Anyways that's just my mind speaking. So in this Film you have this Man that KILLED 18 PEOPLE. So he is taking to speak the TRUTH. One of the DUMB USA SOLDIERS. Talks to him and becomes his Buddy HE CAN'T DO THAT WHY? It is a rule he is Tricked to believe Oh he is Such a GREAT MAN. NOPE he is a Dirty Killer of course at the End of the FILM THEY WANT the USA SOLDIERS TO LOOK LIKE THE REAL BAD MEN WHY? Because it is 2000s now and NOBODY has a BRAIN. Come on People there the Ones that Killed alot of people. Some of them even have there Children with Guns and such. Now I am NOT a Bad Man but it is the Army Protecting our People. So everytime they BEND THE RULES JUST LET THEM GET THE JOB DONE. Look at what he did to that one USA SOLDIERS even I thought he was a Good Man. No he was Not He did KILL 18 PEOPLE he could NOT EVEN LOOK AT HIM TO ADMIT IT. So what was he really trying to do make such Good Friends with him then One Day he Opens his Gate then Bang he Kills him and his others. He seemed to be a pretty smart Man just knew who to Trust and not to Trust.