UPDATE: The following is a review of both the movie and the book, “Beasts of No Nation.” The first portion, the movie review does not contain spoilers. Exercise caution in reading the book synopsis.

The direct to Netflix film, Beasts of No Nation, is visually stunning, imminently believable, violent, warm, touching, and for mature audiences often layered and jumbled together. While the movie is bloody and violent, it is not gratuitous considering its subject matter. However, we warn you that the movie is not always easy to watch, nor the book easy to read. However, in my opinion, the movie (and book) leave you feeling that the world is a beautiful place and people are special and unique and that war and violence destroy this individuality and potential, disrupting even the best, and brightest, of characters.

One of the strengths of the movie is the touching family scenes, and the memorable scene were the kids try to “sell” their “imagination...