The Pentagon Wars

The Pentagon Wars

Year: 1998

Runtime: 104 mins

Language: English

ComedyDramaWar

The film satirically chronicles the 17‑year, multi‑billion‑dollar effort to create the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, a project billed as the ultimate combat machine that repeatedly failed to deliver. Directed by the filmmaker behind “Made In America” and “The Money Pit,” the documentary blends humor with military history, highlighting the costly missteps and, after a quarter‑century, the eventual functional outcome of the BFV.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Pentagon Wars (1998)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Pentagon Wars (1998). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1960s - 1980s

The film spans over two decades, focusing on the development period starting from the 1960s through the 1980s. This era was marked by Cold War tensions, rapid technological advancements in military hardware, and extensive government oversight of defense projects, reflecting a time of bureaucratic challenges and military innovation.

Location

Pentagon, military testing grounds

The movie is set primarily within the Pentagon, the heart of US military and defense decision-making, and at military testing grounds where the Bradley Fighting Vehicle undergoes evaluation. These locations are known for their significance in shaping military technology and policy, showcasing the bureaucracy and military testing procedures involved in weapon development.

🏢 Government 🛡️ Military 🧪 Testing facilities

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 04:51

Main Characters – The Pentagon Wars (1998)

Meet the key characters of The Pentagon Wars (1998), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Major General Partridge

A senior military official responsible for overseeing the Bradley project, he is depicted as driven by cost and politics, often compromising integrity for organizational benefit. His actions reflect the systemic pressures to promote military hardware regardless of its practical flaws.

🎖️ Military leader 💼 Politician 🥇 Ambitious

Lieutenant Colonel James Burton

A principled officer committed to honesty and safety, Burton advocates for truthful testing and transparency. His integrity puts him at odds with bureaucratic interests, making him a symbol of moral courage within a corrupt system.

🎯 Honest 🕊️ Ethical 🚶‍♂️ Reluctant rebel

Colonel Bock

A subordinate to Partridge, Bock is involved in the manipulation of test results, exemplifying complicity in corruption and unethical practices within the military testing process.

🤝 Corrupt 🗳️ Loyal ⚙️ Manipulative

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 04:51

Major Themes – The Pentagon Wars (1998)

Explore the central themes of The Pentagon Wars (1998), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🛡️ Corruption

The movie highlights corruption within military procurement and testing processes, revealing how personal interests and politics can influence defense projects. It depicts the manipulation of test results and the prioritization of promotion over safety, illustrating systemic ethical issues in military bureaucracy.

⚖️ Integrity

A central theme is the importance of honesty and integrity in military operations and decision-making. Burton's insistence on truthful testing and accountability underscores the moral values necessary for responsible leadership and safeguarding lives of soldiers.

🚧 Bureaucracy

The film showcases the complex, often inflexible military and government bureaucracy that hampers innovation and accountability. It emphasizes how bureaucratic red tape can hinder progress and allow corruption to thrive within large institutions.

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 04:51

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Bureaucratic Satires and Institutional Absurdity like The Pentagon Wars

Stories that expose the maddening logic and dark humor of large, powerful institutions.If you enjoyed the satirical take on military bureaucracy in The Pentagon Wars, explore more movies like it. This section features comedies and dramas that expose the darkly humorous and frustrating inner workings of large, powerful systems, from government agencies to corporate giants.

satiricalfrustratingcriticalinvestigativebureaucraticabsurdexposing

Narrative Summary

These narratives often follow an insider or an investigator as they try to navigate a labyrinthine system, encountering absurd logic, red tape, and powerful figures resistant to change. The conflict is less about physical action and more about the intellectual and moral friction between individual integrity and systemic inertia.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on exposing the absurdities of large-scale bureaucracy. They share a tone that mixes critical humor with tense frustration, creating a specific vibe where the 'enemy' is often a faceless, illogical system rather than a single villain.

Whistleblower Stories and Moral Journeys like The Pentagon Wars

Dramas about principled individuals fighting for truth against overwhelming opposition.For viewers who admired the principled stand of the protagonist in The Pentagon Wars, this section collects similar movies about truth-seekers. These films focus on the emotional and professional cost of fighting corruption, featuring tense dramas and biographical stories about moral integrity.

tensefrustratingmoralinvestigativeprincipledbittersweetintegrity

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a protagonist's investigation as they uncover a hidden truth, facing increasing pressure from authority figures to stay silent. The central tension builds from the internal conflict between personal safety and moral duty, leading to a climax that often involves a public reckoning but at a significant personal cost.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by their focus on the archetype of the whistleblower or truth-teller. They share a tense tone and a steady pacing that builds frustration, with a medium to heavy emotional weight derived from the protagonist's difficult choices and the mixed outcomes of their actions.

Unlock the Full Story of The Pentagon Wars

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Pentagon Wars in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Pentagon Wars is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Pentagon Wars Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Pentagon Wars, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Pentagon Wars Summary

The Pentagon Wars Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Pentagon Wars with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Pentagon Wars Timeline

The Pentagon Wars Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Pentagon Wars that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

The Pentagon Wars Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Pentagon Wars

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Pentagon Wars: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Pentagon Wars

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