Customer Reviews

Sas: The Soldier's Story [VHS]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Although many parts of this video are re-enactments and some persons interviewed are now retired from the SAS, the video never fails in it's realistic portrayal of the intrigue and excitement of SAS selection and service. The Desert Storm re-enactments are excellent.

The 2nd video chronicles some of the real-mission excitement and plays out like a James Bond movie, only very real. The former operators tell the story like only they can, first person all the way!

For a GREAT value and a GREAT gift, buy this video for youself or a friend. No SPEC-WAR video library is complete without this exciting edition.

For an in-depth history of the SAS, I recomend the book "SAS- Great Britain's Elite Special Air Service" from "The POWER Series" by Motorbooks International, written by Leroy Thompson.

The Gulf War part like most people pointed out is very good, and feels very real event though it's just staged of the real events.

The first trainning and selecting video is pretty boring and not much *action*, but you do learn a lot about what they must go though to become the best of the best...

The second half of the second video is the worst... The Columbia part is boring... I mean rrrealll boring...

This video is a rare glimpse into another world - that of what it takes to win at unconventional warfare. Despite the lack of certain details (who wouldn't expect this?), this tells the ordinary interested person much about the unique history of this fighting unit that is the envy - yes, Paul, envy - of Delta Force et al. Paul Devine's knee-jerk reaction about Bastian's review misses the point: our special forces group have yet to claim such a track record as these guys, such as their takedown of the Iranians. We should start taking notes from these guys if we want Iraq not to be a repeat of our previous efforts. I, for one, am glad these guys are on our side.

Except for a few seconds on the second tape, all footage consists of re-enactments. There is a lot less material about selection than in the book "Immediate Action" by Andy McNab. If you've read anything serious about the SAS, you won't learn anything new from this video, and you'll find it covers very little.

I never realized there are so many experts about the Regiment...and not one of them having served a day in their lives! What a bunch of panzies!

This video is just one of many, produced by some nitwit wanting to make a buck. So what the heck does it matter what it's like? It's drivel.

For or against, all of your reviews are nonesense!

Good grief...you'll be asking each other what colour the boat house is next!

I have interest in the special forces as a friend of mine is going for selection soon and I wanted to find out what he might have to go through. I've read the Andy McNab books (which are excellent by the way) and was looking for any dvd information. 'Special Air Service - The Soldiers Story' turned out to be several television programmes rolled into a dvd. The research into the topic feels very rushed and thrown together. The sound quality is poor and the content will probably only please those who have absolutely no prior information on the subject. In fairness, I had high expectations from this dvd but, with little more than McNab's books to go by, this provides very little further interest.
Probably best to stick to publications on the subject, books or magazines. Although Bravo 2-0 (dvd) wasn't bad.

The first tape is about the SAS selection and is 25 min. in length. The second tape is 55 min. and takes you through some missions in the first gulf war and training counter drug units in Columbia. There is also a presentation within the Columbia story about the mercenaries who attempted to kill Manuel Escobar. I'm pretty sure that the mercenary in this video had much to do with the production as he is in many of the reenactments in both videos. I imagine that most of what you see has been based on his word to the producers. The bulk of actual footage is of trainees in selection and of the mercenary operation in Columbia. Don't be fooled by that grainy night vision footage in the Gulf War, all the camera angles are pure Hollywood. I don't think I saw one second of actual SAS footage in either video (except training of course). I don't know why, but the Brits are reenactment fanatics. One would think they'd just call it a movie and be done with it, but no, it's a documentary. For you Brits out there, I'm a Yank and I knew more about the SAS than was "revealed" in this program. I did, however, learn a few things I didn't know. I payed about four bucks to see this, and it's worth it. If your a special forces nut like me the price is right.

I have seen this documentary, and it is ok, but not great. One of the reviewer's below wrote something interesting.

"If you want to learn about the true proffesionals, start looking for SBS info (even harder to find). They actually do many of the SAS missions, but because they don't want the publicity, the SAS get the credit. They are also on standby for many missions you will never find out about (Black Hawk Down ring any bells?).
Their training is much harder! Ask the US Marines who cross-train with them. They always go back home screaming about the inhumanity of training.

4. I will give you this information:
SAS is based in Hereford, England. Often seen walking the Brecon Beacons. Their motto: Who Dares Wins. (You can find out more)

SBS (Special Boat Service) is based in Pool, Dorset. Their base is shared with a few other units. They are part of the UK Marines and have around 100 members at a time. Their motto: Not By Strength By Guile".

As a fomrer Force Recon Marine, I can confirm what this person said about US Marine crosstraining with the SBS, and they are indeed a top notch outfit. I do not know of any regualr Marine Corps units crosstraining with the SBS, but I do know that thier selection is certainly not that much harder then FR selection. Because of this I would question the claim that
"They always go back home screaming about the inhumanity of training". Certainly none of my FR unit did that, and considering how strenuous FR traiing is, I doubt any other American units have done so either. Never the less, if you are interested in the SAS thier are many several ex members who have written well recieved books, like Andy McNab and others. I suggest one reads those instead of this bare bones documentary.

James Bond meets Indiana Jones, except this is real-life, not fiction. The first of many subsequent SAS books (McNab, Ryan, Curtis etc), it provides a great outline and introduction to life in "The Regiment". A fantastic read, that goes into great depth of the special training, and most interestingly, the storming of the Iranian embassy. After reading this, you feel like you were in the middle of all the action, and become desperate to join the adventures. A must for all fans of McNab and Ryan's books!! END

I,ve always had an interest in this military unit and have wanted to find out more about it. After watching this dvd, I find I know as much now as I did before. Not terrible but then not very good either. It looks like they ran out of money half way through a History channel project, which may explain why I had not seen this "documentary" on TV. A real sense of incompleteness pervades this production and leaves you wanting more-of something else. Rent it unless you must have absolutly ANYTHING regarding the SAS.