The Outpost (Amazon) Movie Review & Comments

[Tom Davies]

The Outpost is a very bog-standard movie about war heroism in Afghanistan, elevated far beyond what anyone could have expected by sheer force of everybody bringing their A-game.
Read the review.

Write your own review for The Outpost

 

[MarkusThatch]

Good review - it's a well made film, decent tension in the build up to the ‘the big one’ - personally though in this genre specifically in the Afghanistan setting I think Kajaki is a better film (think it’s on Netflix). But it is a good reminder yet again of the folly of foreign invaders in Afghanistan and the woeful planning for what happens once western forces get a foothold. Lions/donkeys etc. Impossible to not notice the politics, balance with these type of films but on a technical level it’s well put together. The black crush though on night scenes etc (artefacts? I can’t recall what you call it) - pretty terrible.

 

[Russ 66]

I agree with your review, definitely very Zulu even with the run down of medals at the end.
The effects were a little ropey but the soundtrack was really good, explosions and bullets flying everywhere.
Scott Eastwood looks and sounds really like his dad in this one. I think it’s the heavy tanned face with squinty crows feet around the eyes like in TGTBATU.

Good review - it's a well made film, decent tension in the build up the ‘the big one’ - personally though in this genre specifically in the Afghanistan setting I think Kajaki is a better film (think it’s on Netflix).

Agree, really good film, almost too real and probably shows what it’s really like out there.

 

[gibbsy]

Atmos sound track??

 

[Tom Davies]

Atmos sound track??

Nopesk. I don't even think there's one on the Extended Cut disc release.

 

[Tom Davies]

The black crush though on night scenes etc (artefacts? I can’t recall what you call it) - pretty terrible.

I didn't find the black crush "terrible", it was in line with the quality Amazon usually produce on their stuff that isn't 4k in my experience.

 

[MarkusThatch]

I didn't find the black crush "terrible", it was in line with the quality Amazon usually produce on their stuff that isn't 4k in my experience.

It was really blotchy looking but then I have done a factory reset on my tv recently so might need to do a bit of recalibration. It looked really ropey, particularly at the end when there’s all those fires in the darkness.

 

[Toon Army]

Thanks Tom - A recommended badge from you means it's a must watch.

 

[Roohster]

Thanks Tom, I hadn't spotted this one, I'll give it a go tonight.

 

[Evinger]

Thanks Tom. Still pay to View on Prime Germany, but I'm sure that will wash through soon.

 

[Gordon2147]

Hi Tom,
Always interested in movies about events in Afghanistan, and your review has made this a must watch. Admittedly expectatons will be lowered due to the likely budget for it, but look forward to it all the same. I see it is available in 4k, so I will be interested how that quality turns out.

Glad to have read a review about a streaming sevice original that is good, as my hope was waning for originals bringing anything worthwhile to the table.

If any of you like Afghan war stories , there is a russian film called 9th company from 2005 about conscripts in the 1980's, that is a worthwhile watch, with some great fight sequences and a storyline that draws you in to the reality faced by the soldiers.

Update,
Was an enjoyable film, with a real noisy ending. The characters were believeable and I did invest in them, felt sorry for the Lieutenants, getting the job then realising the futility of the job. quite the twist for Orlando Bloom's character, won't spoil it, you will be able to figure it when you see it.

But glad I watched it, 4k was pretty good too, if not demo quality, great for streaming.

 

[Rambo John J]

Glad to have read a review about a streaming service original that is good, as my hope was waning for originals bringing anything worthwhile to the table.

If it was an Amazon Original it would have been streaming worldwide exclusively on Prime a year ago when it was released. I remember watching this one last year when it was bobbing along quietly under the radar.

 

[Gordon2147]

If it was an Amazon Original it would have been streaming worldwide exclusively on Prime a year ago when it was released. I remember watching this one last year when it was bobbing along quietly under the radar.

Yeah, looks like I didn't read that through properly, thanks for the pointer

 

[Valen]

Watched this last night, got Black Hawk Down vibes when the main assault happens, great stuff.

 

[stewjoy]

Definitely an 8/10, good gritty movie.

 

[MikeTVMikeTV]

The Americans are idiots, I served in Afghanistan in Summer 2007, on OP Herrick, (having previously done 2 tours of Iraq, I was aware of their idiocy) but in Afghan they really took the piss.

Dropping bombs on our guys in Kajaki, shooting our guys with A10s, dropping bombs on Afghan villages that weren't even required and killing plenty of civilians.

They are the most unprofessional bunch of morons imaginable, they were even mocking british troops for (in their opinion) failing to hold onto just 1 province, Helmand.

So they replaced us in Sangin (at the time the most dangerous place on earth) and preceded to have more soldiers killed in 6 months than we did in the previous 4yrs.

Bunch of absolute idiots, you cannot even imagine their stupidity unless it's been witnessed.

Edit: If you would like to see how idiotic the American Military Machine can be then I suggest seeking out "Generation Kill" Its a TV series based on the recollections of an American Recon Marine Officer in the invasion of Iraq, it features actors and some real Marines who were there as well.

 

[domtheone]

7/10 for me. Last 45 mins with the major battle was pretty riveting.

PQ was all over the place. Not my connection speed either.

 

[TheHighFlyingBirds]

The Americans are idiots, I served in Afghanistan in Summer 2007, on OP Herrick, (having previously done 2 tours of Iraq, I was aware of their idiocy) but in Afghan they really took the piss.

Dropping bombs on our guys in Kajaki, shooting our guys with A10s, dropping bombs on Afghan villages that weren't even required and killing plenty of civilians.

They are the most unprofessional bunch of morons imaginable, they were even mocking british troops for (in their opinion) failing to hold onto just 1 province, Helmand.

So they replaced us in Sangin (at the time the most dangerous place on earth) and preceded to have more soldiers killed in 6 months than we did in the previous 4yrs.

Bunch of absolute idiots, you cannot even imagine their stupidity unless it's been witnessed.

Edit: If you would like to see how idiotic the American Military Machine can be then I suggest seeking out "Generation Kill" Its a TV series based on the recollections of an American Recon Marine Officer in the invasion of Iraq, it features actors and some real Marines who were there as well.

Generation kill is fantastic, watched it a few times. You're the first person I've seen who has watched it.

 

[simonblue]

I watched this sometime ago,got the blu ray from the US,i thought it wasn't to bad, maybe even go the new Director Cut 4K UHD

 

[SyStemDeMoN]

Generation kill is fantastic, watched it a few times. You're the first person I've seen who has watched it.

Then I am the 2nd.

Reading the review I was wondering if I already had seen this and it turns out I have seen it somewhere either last year or the year before.

It was good but I've seen the story a few times now.

7/10

 

[domtheone]

3rd lol. Gen Kill was very good.

 

[MarkusThatch]

Generation kill is fantastic, watched it a few times. You're the first person I've seen who has watched it.

I've seen it too - definite Private Joker vibes to it. Really good - co-written by the excellent David Simon.

 

[the_dude2]

I love Generation Kill. Might watch this movie too! Thanks for a great review @Tom Davies

 

[encaser]

Not a bad film with a decent ending.
It definitely leaves with you the reckless nature/ego of American Military; in building the base in a ridiculously poor defensive position, because they assume they know better and are so well equipped,, regardless. And, that one thing you can always rely on, is them being great at blowing theirs up.

 

[steve a]

Thank you for your review Tom.
I watched this today and enjoyed the movie .