5/5 Dynamic, excellent documentary.
  by Evan Applegate (Davis, CA USA)
Shadow Company is a sober and sobering look at the privatization of force, the motives behind it, and the costs involved. The pacing is great, the interview subjects are interesting and knowledgeable, and the little diary entries from security contractor James Ashcroft (narrated by Gerard Butler) offer great insight into what it's like on the ground.

My only gripes: I think the film should have left out the segment where the producer of the "A-Team" weighs in. Also, the professor of philosophy.

Following other reviewers, I highly recommend Licensed to Kill: Hired Guns in the War on Terror as a companion to this film.

5/5 Unbiased reporting
  by Grumpy (El Monte, California United States)
This is an outstanding DVD on the current trend of PMCs. Unlike Jeremy Scahill's very anti-PMC book "Blackwater" and Al Venter's very pro-PMC book "War Dog" (which were both great reading), this video showed the pros AND cons of modern mercenary organizations.

I enjoyed the fact the producers provided information without displaying their own personal views (biases), much like Robert Young Pelton's book "Licensed to Kill." True professional journalism. I hope these guys cover more hot topics. Licensed to Kill: Hired Guns in the War on Terror

5/5 could have not seen better
  by Richard L. Maguire (Hermosa beach California)
Shadow Company is entertaining ,educational and information rich. Get It . I just finished viewing it . I found it facinating. I could not take my eyes off the screen. Being Ex Military and former security employee I personally believe this DVD hits the nail on the head. Those saying this is biased are them selves biased.
Use your own judgement when you view this superb DVD with your own eyes and ears.
Nuff said, Richard

5/5 good film
  by Wei Du (arlington, VA)
If you need to understand how the PMF operated in the history, you need this film. This film did not bash anyone, just laid out the facts, so you could decide yourself.

5/5 Top-notch entertainment
  by D. Budzik (Fresno, CA USA)
Is the journalism biased? Yup. Don't put Nick Bicanic down for journalist of the decade or anything, but he did an excellent job of following the members of merce... oh, sorry, we're not supposed to used the pejorative "mercenary" anymore. We're supposed to say Private Military Company. The people he interviewed come across very candidly and Bicanic really doesn't pull any punches when discussing an industry that is still in its adolescence. Based on the information presented in this film, it will be extremely interesting to see where the industry goes from here. It was very informative, cleverly done, and definitely keeps your attention. Might be a little dry for non-military or history afficionados, but if you're not into either of those, you probably aren't watching this movie anyway.