IMDb > The Beast of War (1988)
The Beast of War
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The Beast of War (1988) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
7.3/10   3,228 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 6% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Kevin Reynolds
Writer:
William Mastrosimone (play) (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Beast of War on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
29 September 1988 (West Germany) more
Genre:
Drama | History | War more
Tagline:
War brings out the beast in every man. more
Plot:
During the war in Afghanistan a Soviet tank crew commanded by a tyrannical officer find themselves lost... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
1 win more
NewsDesk:
Late Actor Swayze's "Black Dog" Released On DVD
 (From iCelebz. 15 October 2009, 1:26 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
Shouldn't be missed more (69 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
George Dzundza ... Daskal

Jason Patric ... Koverchenko

Steven Bauer ... Taj

Stephen Baldwin ... Golikov

Don Harvey ... Kaminski

Kabir Bedi ... Akbar

Erick Avari ... Samad
Chaim Girafi ... Moustafa (as Haim Gerafi)
Shoshi Marciano ... Sherina (as Shosh Marciano)
Yitzhak Ne'eman ... Iskandar (as Itzhak Babi Ne'Eman)

David Sherrill ... Kovolov
Moshe Vapnik ... Hasan
Claude Aviram ... Sadioue
Victor Ken ... Ali
Avi Keedar ... Noor
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Beast (USA) (video box title)
more
Runtime:
111 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English | Pashtu
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Filming Locations:
Israel
Company:
A&M Films more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The words "Badal" and "Nanawatai" that are spoken by the rebels in the film mean "Revenge" and "Mercy". more
Goofs:
Factual errors: At one point the gunner pulls the trigger and the main gun fails to fire (a mis-fire) The crew begins yelling, "Cook-off!" and jumps from the tank to take cover. First - a cook-off occurs when a very hot breach causes a round to fire by itself, not at all what happened in this case. Secondly, a misfire is indeed dangerous because you don't know if the primer was struck or the firing mechanism failed. If the primer was struck, the round could still fire unexpectedly. On rare occasions a primer can burn slowly for a bit, then go off. The best place to be in that case is in the tank, clear of the breach. (if the gun does fire the recoiling breach could maim or kill you if you got in the way - such as while scrambling around yelling, "Cook-off!"). Jumping out is a bad idea too, because if the gun fires the muzzle blast will mess you up. So their drill was as wrong as it could be. more
Quotes:
Kaminski: You better watch your ass, Koverchenko. You know, sometimes Afghan snipers pick off tank drivers.
Koverchenko: Sometimes tank drivers pick 'em off first, Kaminski.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Syphon Filter 3 (2001) (VG) more
Soundtrack:
STREETCAR HEADED EAST more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
7 out of 9 people found the following comment useful.
Shouldn't be missed, 16 December 1998
10/10
Author: Blue-Falcon from Bermuda Triangle



I just caught this movie last night...I'd never even heard of it before, but I happened across it at Blockbuster. I'm a fan of realistic war movies anyway, but I also liked the fact that Kevin Reynolds directed it. He also did the wonderful Rapa Nui. I have to say this is one of the most gripping films I have seen, and the first I have seen about the Soviet-Afghan war. Great performances by George Dzundza, Jason Patric, and Steven Bauer, who many may remember as Manny Ray from Scarface as the Afghan leader. Definitely worth catching.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Beast of War (1988)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Why did the Soviets invade Afghanistan? Pearl_Jade
Now, imagine an American tank, businka
Can you realy.. lagwager137
Kevin Reynolds's best ? actually_yes
Does it bother anyone? victorboston
Realism AccidntlTourist
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