• This documentary makes a pretty good case that in the siege of Waco, federal authorities and especially the ATF were gung-ho, unprofessional and generally unable to handle a very tricky situation. What's more, it seems that authorities at least in part lied to the public in order to cover up their actions. It's disconcerting to see visual evidence of gunmen, who the authorities said were not there, firing shots which the authorities said weren't fired.

    If the film had concentrated on the mistakes of the authorities it would have been worthwhile. But somehow the makers are keen to point out that they don't find it necessary for authorities to step in when a messianic, apocalyptic cult under a leader who has sexually abused underage girls and sleeps around with the female side of his flock stockpiles automatic weapons which they have illegally fabricated (converted from semi-automatics). The film takes the side of the Branch Davidians that it was OK to shoot and kill four ATF agents and then hold out taking their own children hostage because they felt they were entitled to do so and that the raid was illegal. Somehow the filmmakers feel that that's a case for individual and religious freedom. That's very strange and I strongly disagree.