Kaya Young
On the line of action in Above the Best, some men and women’s true colors were shown as they valued other soldier’s lives above their own. American soldiers have an endless amount of respect and love for their fellow brother or sister soldiers. I found that to be such a redeeming quality. Not only are they representing and protecting their country, they are fighting for each other. Hearing US Army Chinook Pilot Kristi Hickey’s perspective in the beginning of Above the Best was specifically emotive. Waiting for her friends to “come home… but they never came home.” Those relationships and close bonds between US Army personnel make their fight so much more personal. Above the Best is definitely eye-opening piece that changed my perspective on being an American.
Tessa Futch
Daniel Flores is just one of the soldiers in this film that was able to show how perseverance can lead to victory. With his help, soldiers fighting in Afghanistan were able to recover from many hardships that they encountered while in battle. The raw footage Flores captured while he was in his helicopter was unbeatable and incomparable to any other war film. The truth in this document helps people watching feel like their really there with these soldiers, which makes viewers gain an even stronger appreciation for them. This film made me feel like I was right in Afghanistan with the soldiers and because of that I recommend watching it.
Gabbie Benjamin
Above The Best presents an emotional accounts that particularly proves the “beauty of the American soldier”. It’s a documentary about the troops in Afghanistan who fought to protect their country and the civilians who were at risk. Such heroism was shown through an authentic lens which emphasizes the soldiers’ mentality of perseverance and how they continued to fight during times of extreme hardship. The film incredibly showcases this journey through personal interviews and raw footage actually captured on the battlegrounds. Above The Best is a moving piece of artistry that guides the audience to feel immense sympathy for these heroic figures.