An American journalist and his cameraman are caught in the combat zone during the first Russian airstrikes against Georgia. Rescuing Tatia, a young Georgian schoolteacher separated from her family during the attack, the two reporters agree to help reunite her with her family in exchange for serving as their interpreter. As the three attempt to escape to safety, they witness--and document--the devastation from the full-scale crossfire and cold-blooded murder of innocent civilians.
As propaganda, 5 Days Of War is unlikely to make a mark, though perhaps the idea of reaching people through would-be blockbusters will.
– Alison Willmore,
AV Club,
19 Aug 2011
rotten:
Flimsy dramatization of Russia/Georgia conflict fails both as historical re-enactment and as action-flick thrill ride.
– John DeFore,
Hollywood Reporter,
25 Aug 2011
rotten:
The plot is culled from a variety of "war is hell but I'm covering it anyway" journalist-in-the-field movies but handled with cliched clumsiness in a script by David Battle and doctored by Finnish writer Mikko Alanne.
– Linda Barnard,
Toronto Star,
26 Aug 2011
rotten:
Harlin's film begins with the familiar adage that truth is the first casualty of war. Usually that phrase precedes an attempt to revive the patient, not bury it deeper in the rubble of propaganda.
– Liam Lacey,
Globe and Mail,
26 Aug 2011
rotten:
An action movie scarcely deeper than a Michael Bay extravaganza.