I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

A Brilliant Conflict

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Not sure what the story is supposed to be about. The acting from the first party was very unconvincing. Most of the action is predictable and even the "interviews" don't tell a real story. Doesn't anyone in this army drink water? The uniforms are missing many things, real (looking)body armor, units that keep changing, no one carries ammunition, radios, any military equipment. When there is no story to follow, it is too easy to tear it apart.

(Spoiler) Except, during the Patrol, Soldiers are wearing 101st Airborne Division Unit Shoulder Sleeve Patches, then after getting to the "Bunker" they are wearing 10th Mountain Division Shoulder Sleeve Patches.The 101st Airborne Division was usually up at Northeastern Afghanistan; near "Camp Eagle", Northeastern Afghan border with Pakistan.Many were wearing both the 10th Mountain Division Shoulder Sleeve Patch and the 101st Airborne Division Shoulder Sleeve Patch as Combat Patches, meaning that they had Served more than once at either Afghanistan or Iraq, and would be a minimum Rank of Specialist Four (4; E-4) or Corporal (E-4) unless they really screwed up and were reduced in Rank.Lack of Military Equipment, during the beginning of Afghanistan and Iraq till the end, most U.S. Military were wearing lots of U.S. Military Equipment, Interceptor Body Armor, Molle with lots of ammunition. The only exception was U.S. Military Special Operations Forces. Most U.S. Military soldiers started wearing "Camel Backs" (water); Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) were common as the one advantage over the Afghan Taliban and Iraqis Shiite Insurgency, Tactical Individual Radios and Headsets were common also.Execution of Journalists, the Afghan Taliban NEVER outright executed Journalists and instead demanded Ransom Payments.Most Afghan Taliban did not wear their head covering like in the Movie and instead wore their Shemaghs to cover their faces due to the high winds and sand (sand mostly at Southern Afghanistan, not the Northern Part of Afghanistan's 2/3rds Mountains (Pamir and Hindu Kush)). Most Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan as multiple Tours wore Shemagh; kind of like the U.S. Military Soldiers during the Vietnam War wore towels around the neck.

Unconvincing and rather tedious. The characters and their reactions to situations were hackneyed, and the acting and script often poor. Quite simply, I could not believe I was watching armed forces in operation.This is one to avoid. If you want quality drama about embedded journalists on the modern battlefront, watch the HBO mini-series 'Generation Kill'.

Like most 'found footage' films Cigarette Soup has performances that feel rough and somewhat amateurish. In addition, it tends toward 'preachy' dialogue about some very well worn topics. But, if you find yourself a little stuck in 'watch' mode then pay attention: there are some moments that will simply shock you in a way that will form some new, unpleasant, sticky memories very few low budget war dramas manage to do. Cigarette Soup is worth a try. If you begin it and find that you are losing patience or interest then feel free to turn it off. But, if you keep going you will be deep in vivid thoughts by the end.