The Fog of War (DVD, 2004)

Robert MacNamara had just died and the director of the film was interviewed on NPR. We love history and lived through the Vietnam War. It was very interesting to see who really wanted us to remain in Vietnam and how MacNamara's ideas have changed in retrospect.

I have collected militaria for decades and I always enjoy watching any type of historical films related to war and the military. Errol Morris won an Academy Award for the film so that should be enough to bait anyone into at least watching the film once. Robert McNamara speaks of his time in WWII and the bombing of cities in Japan (some to the point of near total destruction). His very short tenure with the Ford Motor Company, as Secretary of Defense for John F Kennedy with the toe to toe standoff with the Russians over missiles in Cuba. Lastly what McNamara is more widely known for his role in Vietnam and his feelings on the war. McNamara was also president of the World Bank from 68-1981 and he also worked with programs for the poor on a worldwide basis.
The movie does many things quite well while some things seem just omitted, the World Bank and what has McNamara been doing since. If you set on the left or the right of the isle then your take on this film may differ, Errol Morris could have pushed McNamara harder with questions and if you’re looking for McNamara to say I'm guilty it does not happen. He is quite introspective as to how his position weighed heavy on him and his family, and I got a sense that McNamara didn’t approve of Lyndon B Johnson's methods and how Johnson looked at Vietnam. In the long run McNamara looks as if he knows mistakes were made and he is emotional at times about it. He talks of an encounter later in life with a North Vietnam official in which McNamara looks floored by the man’s response, so McNamara does understand that the world seen things in a different light. Morris filmed many hours of footage (I have read a few days worth) so what you are seeing is just a tiny glimpse of McNamara, maybe someday Morris will re-edit the film for a much longer segmented TV run. I would like to see several hours of footage. McNamara is a very good speaker and story teller and this film will hold your attention, entertains, it make you think on your own and of world events and really in the long run thats what film is for.

This is an amazing and rare view of the Vietnam war by a key player. Mr. McNamara is candid and open to all questions. His ongoing doubts and questions reflect the American psyche.

The Fog of War is worth watching. McNamara's compulsion to control everything seems to spill over into history as well. McNamara seems to me to have been obsessed with his place in history, and how he would be remembered. He wrote numerous books that leave that impression and did this movie with Errol Morris in which he puts his whole life in perspective. It gives you some insight into McNamara's need for control (from the very first scene) and some interesting details about his life. He was a truly remarkable man. I found his narratives to be fascinating and the movie itself was complete with all kinds of rare footage, and inspired images. And there are the 11 lessons; keep those in mind. The score by Philip Glass was wonderful. I think that the book The Living and The Dead: Robert McNamara and Five Lives of a Lost War by Paul Hendrickson is a nice counterpoint to this movie. I feel that it was because of books like that that McNamara came forward like this to secure his legacy. More people will see his movie than read many of his critics, so McNamara made a brilliant move in his public relations by the release of this film. You will want to watch it again and again.

Very interesting documentary interview with Robert McNamara, one of the policy makers of America's Vietnam War. Makes one wonder why no American bothered to ask the Vietnames what their goals were. Also debunked the so called domino theory of communism.

DVD was received in good condition. Once the seller confirmed street address, the DVD was quickly delivered.

It is a documentary about former Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamera. He narrates and reflects on his role in key decisions of war predominantly during the Kennedy, and Johnson administrations. For example, he shares about events surrounding the Cuban missile crisis, and the Vietnam war. His perspective is very insightful and illuminating. The viewer gets to see McNamera from a very human point of view. I was amazed how lucid and sharp he was during this documentary. I believe he was 85 or 86 years old at the time. He articulates very well, for example, just how close America was to war with the Russians duing the Cuban missile crisis. Many Americans wouldn't know the true details surrounding this if he hadn't done this documentary. I think anyone who is interested in historical documentaries will enjoy this. Because I enjoyed seeing this film, I wanting to buy a copy for my father.

Amazing, to hear history from one who was involved at the very top.
Breathtaking, Eye opening and at times shocking. A must see.

This is an excellent documentary on the Cuban missile crisis, and the begining of the Viet Nam war, and the political thinking behind the decisions of the administrations involved

what a great way to hear about history, from someone who has made it! Robert McNamara cuts through the politics and tells it like it is

This is a great documentary. Buy it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fog of War is a well done documentary with a first hand account into the Kennedy and Johnston administrations. Gives a new on Vietnam and how the war was view from the high brass. The soundtrack is not half bad either.

I bought this dvd because I spent a year in Vietnam in the 60's and was very interested in what one of the war's chief architects had to say about it 35 years later. It certainly could be analogous to the current conflict in Iraq. Many would argue that the intentions of those who put us and kept us in harm's way were honorable, but the result was far from it. McNamara obviously has done some serious soul-searching in his later years and has more than a few reservations about the decisions he made at the time.

It's really not a hatchet job on the right wing. Instead, it's a thoughtful treatise on the effect of emotions on the prosecution of war in general. Many interviews with a much younger Robert McNamara and many high-ranking military leaders of the time lend weight to his recent musings.

This movie should be required viewing for anyone holding public office or disirous of ever holding one. Had the Bush administration done a little research before barging into Iraq we might have avoided a disaster. The Fog of War could help those who never fought a war understand the consequences thereof.