Above the Best

Above The Best was an exceptionally inspirational documentary that presented a story about US soldiers who fought in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley. The film was presented through the unique lens of actual raw footage that was captured by the soldiers themselves. An element in the film that I found particularly moving was seeing how the American soldiers teamed together with Afghan troops, which really emphasized the tone of togetherness and selflessness. One of the Afghans, Naser Ahmadi, showed a great deal of heroism while risking his life for his brothers in battle and presented a unique perspective of what occurred during the war. With that being said, Above The Best was a film that guided me to feel a great sense of empathy for these heroes and I really want to encourage you to give it a watch too.

After watching Above The Best, directed by David Salzberg, I felt a strong sense of renewed patriotism and understanding for the courageousness of our American soldiers. Salzberg and Tureaud placed a strong emphasis on the selfless acts of heroism portrayed by warriors such as Chris Ambro and Bill Cook. The heartfelt retelling of the traumatic and strenuous events of combat provided me with an eye-opening grasp on the reality that these are real people who are out risking their lives for our country. The display of valor and selflessness by the soldiers in this film left me feeling utterly grateful and indebted to not only those featured in Above The Best, but American soldiers universally. This inspiring film awakened me to the idea of new perspectives while providing me with a refreshed esteem for our country!

Above The Best tells a story of selflessness among a team of Army pilots and crew. The brave people of this combat group focus on the mission and what needs to be done and put those needs before their own. The incredible men and women fighting the Taliban are altruistic not only to each other but also to the members of the Afghanistan military. The unity between the two sides is unique to see and sheds light on a part of war that most people don't see. Matt Hall and Naser Ahmadi's connection during the war and ability to help each other when they need is most shows the audience that these people are not enemies but allies. This film is a great story of the courageous men and women that fought alongside each other and were together until the end and for these reasons I would definitely recommend this film!

Very intense look at the reality of war and the good, the bad and the ugly of combat. Up close with the experiences of Apache Pilot Dan Flores and team members in a live action film. Enjoyed the film and sharing it with others.

This is a horrible film about a National Guard Apache unit. They were my unit's replacements in 2006 and they were a horrible unit. The National Guard should not have AH-64 aircraft because being an attack aviator is a full time job. Please do not judge Army attack aviation by this one weird film and by this horrible unit who let their lift brothers and ground forces down day after day. Great, some random warrant officer illegally strapped a GoPro camera to the outside of his aircraft to get flight footage. Wonder if he got an official release from the Army to show his flight footage?? Did he have an Airworthiness Release (AWR) for the addition of the outside camera?? I wouldn't have made a film about a less than stellar Apache unit. There are much better units and pilots out there with much better stories.

I can't say enough great things about this film. I saw it with a few friends of mine and by the end of it we couldn't help but sit back and reflect on how grateful we are to be protected by men like Daniel Flores. Above the Best is no Hollywood Blockbuster. It is an action film that portrays the real life actions and heroism of real American heroes. The men and women featured in this film get the call and they are out to risk their lives. That is the kind of high stakes situations that are being addressed in this film. This film had me on the edge of my seat from the beginning to the end. I highly recommend this film. David Salzberg has done it again.

The mental and physical strength demonstrated by these soldiers is impressive to witness. Based on Daniel Flores' best-selling book "South of Heaven", David Salzberg brings a visual account to Flores' experiences during his deployment to Afghanistan. While omitting the graphic imagery of war, the audience is still pulled into the action by the use of actual archival footage from the cockpit and the ground, amplifying the intensity and magnifying the perseverance of soldiers like Flores or William Vile. Their determination and commitment to fulfill their duties and protect their fellow soldiers is quite admirable and symbolizes the meaning of brotherhood and patriotism, and Salzberg's ability to capture it in an honest fashion gives it a great impact. I highly recommend watching this documentary for its authenticity and its representation of unity.

With an echoing sense of unity and loyalty, Above the Best brings a sense of honesty in its representation of what is means to be an American soldier. I felt that the film did a great job of using archival footage and talking heads to create an engaging and linear documentary plot line that was easily followed, but didn't sacrifice the immersion of audience members into the fervor and complexity of combat. These interviews also captured the subjects in such a way that created a genuine sense of empathy allowing the audience to relate to ordinary people within extraordinary circumstances. I think overall, the film is both an action-packed cinematic experience and a shining example of prioritizing the whole over the individual.