Watch Thunder Run on Baghdad

Thunder Run on Baghdad is a military action film directed by Simon West, portraying the events of the first phase of the Iraq war in 2003. The movie takes its inspiration from the book titled Thunder Run: The Armored Strike to Capture Baghdad, written by David Zucchino, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist. The story of the film revolves around a daring and dangerous mission called "Thunder Run," which was carried out by American soldiers in Baghdad to capture and secure the capital city's airport. The mission was executed with overwhelming force and surprise against the Republican Guard troops loyal to Saddam Hussein, in which the US Army employed a combined-armored task force of tanks, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, and other armored vehicles, which became the hallmark of the battle.

The movie features a gripping and intense portrayal of the challenges facing the soldiers involved in the mission, the harsh realities of urban warfare, and the bravery and sacrifice of the American troops in the face of overwhelming odds. The movie tries to show the struggle and determination of American soldiers who were tasked with capturing and securing Baghdad in a very short amount of time.

The film begins with an introduction of the US Army "Thunder Run" battle plan to capture Baghdad, and how it is executed in a swift and surprising manner. The movie then jumps right into the action, showing American soldiers on the ground fighting for survival amidst a hostile and heavily fortified enemy force. The intensity of the battle scenes is accentuated by impressive visual effects and heart-stopping sound effects.

The movie does not hesitate to show the harsh reality of warfare, with scenes of gore and mutilation, which gives a very realistic depiction of war. The film also showcases the human side of the soldiers, their emotions, conflicts, and camaraderie, and their mental state during and after the mission.

The cast of the movie includes some of the most talented actors in Hollywood, including Gerard Butler as Lieutenant Colonel Gary Volesky, a US Army officer who led the Thunder Run mission. Supporting actors include Aaron Eckhart, who played a character called "Gunny," Ken Watanabe, who played General Hassan, and many more.

The movie also tries to showcase how the Iraqi people were affected by the war, depicting scenes of chaos, violence, and despair. Although the focus of the movie remains on the US soldiers, the Iraqi perspective is not ignored.

The film's cinematography is worth mentioning, with breathtaking aerial shots showing Iraqi landscapes, and up-close shots illustrating the grim and dangerous urban warfare environment. The visual effects add to the realism of the movie, particularly the explosion scenes, which look extremely genuine and leave a lasting impression.

Overall, Thunder Run on Baghdad is a well-crafted movie that delivers an accurate and entertaining depiction of one of the most significant battles fought by the US Army in modern times. The movie's portrayal of the Thunder Run battle plan, the soldiers' courage and sacrifice, and the realities of warfare, is commendable. The director manages to keep the viewers on the edge of their seats throughout the movie, regardless of whether they are familiar with the events of the Iraq war or not.

If you are a fan of military action movies or are interested in modern warfare, Thunder Run on Baghdad is definitely worth watching.

Thunder Run on Baghdad is a documentary with a runtime of 2 hours and 12 minutes.