MovieChat Forums > The Beast (1988) Discussion > Why was the title changed from The Beast...

Why was the title changed from The Beast of War??

posted 11 years ago by blitzslay
4 replies | jump to latest

Wow! What an awesome film! Truly a diamond in the rough!

I saw this movie when I was 14.

I never thought I would go to war in Afghanistan when I first saw this movie.

I served as a weapons gunner and a combat engineer advisor in southeast Afghanistan from January 2008 to December 2008.

Anyone know why the title was changed?

Thanks.

-Derek

[–] Blueghost 10 years ago

It's probably a marketing decision. "The Beast" is easier to remember than "The Beast of War".

[–] shiftylee 9 years ago

Dawn Steel took over Columbia pictures and didn't like war films.

[–] WhiteWolf_McBride 9 years ago

Then again, the shorter name brings up questions...

Is the beast Dhaskal, the psychotic tank commander?

Is it the tank itself, used to terrorize the Afghan people?

Or is it War... ie. War is a beast that ravages both sides hen it is let loose?

Makes you think...

WhiteWolf

[–] pschroeter 8 years ago

I think shortening it makes it connect better to the Bible/Koranic story the holy man dancing around a fire the mujas run into early in the film tells them about David and the beast he slays.