Navy SEALs BUD/S class 234

release year: 200?
genre: documentary
viewing setting: home DVD, spanning several days ending 9/24/04 and previously 12/5/03

synopsis: This is a five-hour, six-part documentary that follows an actual BUD/S class through training, where 17 of 83 make it and go on to become U.S. Navy SEALs.

impressions: This is without a doubt the most detailed and thorough documentary on BUD/S (the Navy's Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training.) It covers everything, including instructors' cursing, the motivations of students, the methods of instructors, the logic behind the design of the program. It's divided into six roughly 45-minute episodes, and a nice touch is that at each one's beginning, the names of those who remain in the class at that point roll by. The viewer really gets a sense of the shrinking class as people voluntarily drop out. The video and audio quality here are top-notch. Note that you can't buy this in most stores, only through the Discovery Channel store or their web site.

something this movie has that no other movie has: An almost daily account of the entire BUD/S program.

final word: At $45, this is a tremendous value for anyone who's a fan of the SEALs or challenging military training in general.

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