Return to the Frontline ~

I brought this DVD after watching the first series from Ross Kemp last year.
I have always shared an interest in these war documentaries and this series interested me not just because of the actor Ross but also of the reality of the Afghanistan War we are currently fighting. This series is a five part documentary which was aired on Sky One and shows Ross Kemp staying and following the action of modern warfare by British Soldiers. In the two series he and a small film crew take part in operations and follow the soldiers into the frontline with the Taliban. The series is very addictive and when I had received the series on DVD from Play.com I watched the whole thing in two nights. I think it is a great way of showing civilians what our soldier go through in the most dangerous war at current time. It gives a good insight to what is really happening and the risks of fighting for our country. Not only does the series follow the soldiers into battle but it includes interviews with various commanders British and Afghan police forces. It also shows the dramatic outcomes of what happens when our soldiers are injured and how the families of these lads cope with what their loved ones are involved in.

~ Who Is Ross Kemp? ~

Ross Kemp is a well known and BAFTA winning actor who was featured in the British Soap Eastenders for many years as thug brother Grant Mitchell. Since he left the soap in 1999, he has been involved in other TV dramas such as Ultimate Force and has done some charity work. Ross now works in documentaries and has an international recognition for his Journalism around the world to reveal what happens in some of the poorest and dangerous countries. He has made another well known series on the most dangerous gangs in the world- ‘Ross Kemp on gangs’, where he follows gang members to reveal the truth of how some countries are living under terrorism and threats.
Ross Kemp has won many awards for his acting and productions including Best Actor and Best Factual Series for his work on the gang’s series. I have a lot of respect for him and think that the last two documentaries have proven he is a brave and brilliant journalist. He has put himself at extreme danger to show the world the reality of War and Devastation.

~ Afghanistan ~

Ross wanted to show the realities of what our soldiers are facing in one of the most violent and dangerous wars in current time. His main reason for wanting to do this series is because he has many friends that are in the armed services and he wants to show the events from a squaddie’s point of view as this is not seen much. There are never any views spoken out by the soldier’s and he thought that getting the opinions and views from these young men would show a reality of what is going on there. The series wanted a reaction of honour and belief that our boys are putting their lives on the line for us, and it reaches out to those young men who want a realistic view of The Army from the soldier’s. The idea was first thought of in 2005 when Ross was working on his series on the Gangs around the world. He wanted to show the other danger to our lives and he first thought of doing the series following the Iraq invasion but the political situations were sensitive at the time so the thought was discarded by the MOD.
Ross first follows the Royal Anglian’s Regiment from York which has a personal memory for him as his father swerved in this regiment in the 1950’s. He wanted to see the differences and how they work as a service in current war fare.

From the first series Ross Kemp shows the life following B Company of the 1st Battalion and their training for War. In this second series he returns into the lives of the 5th Battallion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and Delta Company of the Argyll and Sutherland. After his first visit Ross was shocked at the dangers they really face and says that the soldiers are in a very ‘unhealthy environment’. He say she appreciated a lot more finding out the views from a soldier’s point of view and will never take advantage of his life again. From returning a second time form the Afghan War he has described the men as- ‘brave, dedicated and not respected or paid enough for what they do’. He is shown that some of these men are only young of ages from 19 and they show a lot of mature, intelligent decision making. He believes that the soldier’s are doing an extremely good job and they do not want sympathy but amore respect from our public in what they are doing for us.

~ DVD ~

The series is split into five episodes which include a wide range of what today’s war includes.
After a year on Ross joins the 5Scots while they are on a seventh month tour in Helmand Province, where he spends three weeks with the troop. The main location of the series is a town called Musa Qala where the British and the Taliban are fighting to keep possession of.

The 2 disc special can be brought from many main retailers. Some of these include Love film at £13.93 and Play.com at £12.99. The DVD includes artwork on special features. The DVD is a region 2 DVD and the certificate of the Programme is a 15 which I think is the right age for this documentary.

Company- A Tiger Aspect and Mongoose production.

~ OPINIONS ~

Overall I love both of the series Ross Kemp has done on this War. It is realistic, shocking and gives a realism of the war we are involved in. There is a wide range of views taken from the programme and a lot of different parts to it. I particularly like the parts where Ross goes out on Operations with battalion as we get to see close up action of the dangers of the War. Ross follows the troop right into the frontline and is several times too close to the action. There are several close misses and his reactions show just show scary the atmosphere is there. Having a camera so close to the frontline shows you how the soldiers work under fire, how the British and the Afghan police forces work together and the situations they are put in. There are many points in the programme where you feel really involved in what is going on and the tension built. There is a specific scene where Ross travels through a plain with the 5Scots in open vision to the enemy. The tall blades of grass are used to hide from the Taliban’s view but Ross seems uncomfortable with the fact that they could also be hiding any where in the grass close by. The Scots engage their knives into the ends of their guns which give the indication they could be very close to them. The atmosphere is tense and you feel yourself watching closely and feeling fear for the men.
The atmosphere during the programme is really mixed and it shows that you can go from one extreme to another there. The silences of the villages were scary and places are deserted. You can tell the soldiers are edgy and you become aware that they have to be prepared at all times.

~ Views ~

What was very interesting about the series was the reaction s and opinions shown by all of the people involved in the War. We had interviews with the battalion itself which was great to see what they really thought about the War and why they are in it. The living conditions are explained and also their feelings on missing their families, fear’s and costs of being in the war and political views. As well as this Ross interviews locals from the villages and also members of the Afghan forces who the British work alongside. This was brilliant to watch. I was intrigued by the opinions from the local villager’s who live right in the middle of the conflicts. They explain that having the British forces here is a good thing and they feel safe when they enter their village. They feel that the Taliban are not Islamic but terrorists who are committing inhuman actions against their people. I thought this was a good thing to show as we can see that we are wanted their by the locals and our help for them is appreciated.

~ Forces ~

The programme shows variations of the constant threat the Army and Forces are under. In this second series though you can see the differences from the first series, and the changes made there within a year. The standard of the equipment and vehicles are better than they have been and the way all of the troops work together is amazing. Each part of an operation is carefully planned and I found it really great to see that each operation had different tactical angles. The ground troops have air support and also land support from nearby bases to cover them if under pressure. It is brilliant to see how all of the different Regiments work together and how decision making has to be done in a blink of an eye.
One statement made by Ross which I agree with and found very true was- "Sometimes I think we've got more respect for our national football team than we have for our soldiers. And that beggars belief’. "Those boys out there fighting are the ones worth £70,000 a week not those pampered players.”
I do think that the soldiers today do not get the respect they deserve and they are apallingly paid. Even though I have a slight bias opinion as my boyfriend is in the Armed Services this series will show you the realstic angle on what I really happening. After watching the series I feel I have a lot more insight to what actually happens there and the views from the soldiers and the afghan locals. I will also appreciate the fact that my boyfriend does not have to go there and came back from Iraq safley.

~ Recommend ~

I would definatly recommend this series to anyone. It shows you the realitiy of Warfare today and whatever your opinion on the War you get to see what the soldiers think of it and also the people we are helping. It gives you a better undertsnading of what really goes on and the situations our boys are put through.

- Donation will be made from every DVD purchase made.
www.armybenfund.org

For more information on Ross Kemps Documentaries visit - www.sky1.sky.com/ross-kemp

- Thanks for reading blackmagicstar4- April 09 * published on ciao and dooyoo. xx