Above the Best

Above the Best, a documentary that recounts several missions in Afghanistan through a lens that only the soldiers involved could provide, stands apart from the big-budget Hollywood versions of war. Director David Salzberg does this by creating an immersive experience that delves into the physical and mental challenges that combat presents through emotional reconts by the soldiers that are amplified by the accompanying body cam footage. The choice to produce the film in this honest way is ultimately what makes it more palatable than the films like Hacksaw Ridge because it switches violence and gore for heartfelt descriptions of selfless acts of loyalty with footage that depicts real non-dramaticized action. There are also very humanizing clips such as snowman built on base and drinks shared between veterans long after they served together that tends to be left out of the military’s narrative. I think this film did a great job in encapsulating the full range of elements that go into being a soldier and provided a unique perspective which I found made it worth the watch.

Brave pilots and soldiers sacrifice their lives for the safety of each other and Americans across the world. In Above the Best, Apache pilots like Daniel Flores and Chris Abramo show their true colors. They share a strong moral of brotherhood and gamble their lives every time they fly out to protect infantry soldiers. This inside perspective displayed in the documentary shows real soldiers operating under serious pressure to redeem their unit and fulfill their important responsibilities. Overall, Above the Best does a great job of showing all the honorable qualities of these hardworking men and women. As an audience, you can feel the unity that the deployed US soldiers and Afhgan soldiers share with each other, and it is so heartwarming. Above the Best surmounts any of the other war films I’ve watched and I highly recommend seeing it.

In Above the Best, director David Salzberg chooses to show the harsh realities of the war in Afghanistan for Army soldiers. Salzberg also shows these harsh realities in a way that is palatable and not too graphic, and I enjoyed being immersed in the real footage of the missions because I felt like I was able to get an inside look at what most people don’t know about. It was really inspiring to see the bravery and selflessness these soldiers showed during intense combat, and how no matter what they fought to protect each other from harm. Overall, this documentary is extremely moving and well put-together, I would definitely recommend it.

Courage, honor, and bravery, all aspects we see in the soldiers that risk their lives to protect our freedoms, are now able to be seen in Above The Best. A documentary film that interviews soldiers after their time in combat and that also shows archival footage of the actual action, it highlights the human characteristics of these people and dives into their actual psychological state. A must see film, it follows Apache aviators on their mission to give assistance to their fellow soldiers in combat on the ground. I have to commend the director, David Salzberg, for his ability to create an emotional and powerful narrative throughout the film. I’d have to recommend this inspiring film to watch with the family.

Above The Best gives a unique inside-look into the reality of modern warfare and the genuine mental, emotional and physical aftereffects that the brave men and women involved must face. Director David Salzberg innovatively uses footage from body cameras that the soldiers wore as the main source of film, in accompaniment with talking heads to give in-depth explanations for the events that have taken place. I felt that by providing the viewer with deeper reflections, it allowed me to have a better understanding and a deeper sense of gratitude by allowing me to place myself in their shoes and truly understand the magnitude of their service. Above The Best gave me the opportunity to reflect upon how lucky I am to live in a country where complete strangers will and have risked their lives for my safety and freedom. I am grateful to have watched this film, and based on that, I will strongly advocate that you see it as well!

I really enjoyed Above the Best, as director David Salzberg execution in combining live action footage with the soldier’s helmet cam really gives the audience the experience of what US soldiers endure while working. The In & out interview edits gives you more details of what each soldiers job and purpose for each mission is and the value of each soldier’s supportive roles for each other. The use of flashback adaptation of the soldier’s mental state depicts the dangers our troops face just to keep us safe. Above the Best explores the combination of both land and air comradable duties that gives the audience an understanding of what each US soldiers goes through to keep the US safe, definitely a must see

I gained a whole new sense of empathy towards soldiers from watching the film Above the Best. Unlike other, sensationalized war films, Above the Best features first-hand accounts of war from real veterans. They offer full details of what emotions they felt, the thoughts they experienced, and the lasting effects that battle had on them. These interviews open up an honest discussion about the anxiety and PTSD that soldiers experience throughout and after their time of service. I felt like this film offered a way to really get to know these soldiers as real people, not just characters in a movie. The authentic connection formed between the audience and these veterans, along with so many other aspects of this film make Above the Best a must watch.

Above The Best and its use of the documentary genre to illustrate the intesirty of the Afghan war gave me an inside look to the sacrifices and bonds felt by soldiers. The director, David Salzberhg's use of body cams and real life testimonies presents the unbelievable tasks of composure, communication, and battle during uncertain high stake situations. From this extensive footage and first hand accounts, I saw the astonishing strength of brotherhood formed as the aviators risk their lives to protect their fellow comrades fighting on the ground. I can't help but reccomend this film, becuase of its ability to highlight the realness of war through the soldier's eyes, while most importantly honoring those who serve.

The use of archival footage and intimate interviews makes this film a raw and honest account of what soldiers go through during deployment. I appreciated that the film was not graphic in the way that other films about war are because it made the writing and structure of the film that much stronger. David Salzberg directs the interviews and fits the footage together in such a cohesive order that the weight of war is realized without the need of visual trauma. Very interesting documentary that I really appreciated!

David Salzburg’s newest documentary on warfare is far from political commentary; it is essentially a story of redemption that is told directly from the perspective of those who are fighting for the freedoms of Americans above their internal conflicts. Archival footage is brilliantly paired with emotionally charged interviews that serve as powerful narration to create a well-crafted narrative documentary that is worth the watch, regardless of your perception of war.