Similar Stories to This Week’s Wars, Art Hoppe, 1982 on Bing News

AFGHANISTAN — Based on the earlier war, “Vietnam,” this Russian production descends into a turgid, meandering scenario that serves primarily as a vehicle for rambling, ineffectual monologues by various world leaders. Here, the central figure is one Pol Pot, a villain of monstrous proportions who starves, tortures and executes millions of his countrymen only to be reborn following the invasion of his nation by Communist Vietnam as a democracy-loving freedom fighter. FALKLANDS — This delightful Victorian period piece will appeal more to aging war buffs than to the computer-oriented younger generation, although guest appearances by such attractions as the French Exocet provide a modern touch. The highly original script captivates reviews with a marvelously comic beginning and then plunges them into frightening scenes of cinema vèritè. Featuring spectacular photography of exploding buildings and homeless refugees, Lebanon offers enough armed might to warm the heart of any war fan. (Yasser Arafat is outstanding as a trapped guerrilla leader vowing to fight to the death.) The grim slaughter of innocent civilians is relieved, fortunately, by an occasional humorous line as when Begin tells American reporters in Washington: “Israel did not invade Lebanon.” In a direct steal from “Cambodia,” gun-slinging Robert d’Aubuisson, who threatens to “exterminate” his political enemies with death squads, wins an election and becomes a democracy-loving freedom fighter. Featuring a cast of billions, World War 111 will offer an apocalyptic vision of the end of all life on earth (Running time: one minute, 30 seconds).