So I managed to see the advance screening for this last week, and I have to say I'm quite impressed. It's a film that doesn't take any sides, instead choosing to observe and record one man's experiences as he goes from patriotic Marine into a bit more of somewhat disillusionned veteran who's not sure of what the point of the war is anymore.

With Jake Gyllenhall in the lead, he manages to capture quite well the wide-eyed naivet? that's needed in order to capture the spirit of the book. Going into boot camp, he's eager to become another honored veteran in his family, and basking somewhat in the status of being part of an elite sniper team that is fed ideals of honor, action and heroism.

But when they are dispatched to Iraq for the first Gulf War of 1991, it's nothing like he expected - war in this day and age seems to be about waiting and patience. With his fellow squadmates bursting with testosterone from every orafice, they begin to jab at each other mentally, and eventally tensions with each other start to rise, while their Sergeant (played by Jamie Foxx in another excellent performance) comes up with new and unusuall punishments to keep them in line (including having all of the squad play football, fully decked out in chemical warfare gear, in 112 degree f heat in the middle of the desert). But when the fighting breaks out, it's absolute chaos and harrowing to be in the middle of. This is not the John Wayne perception of warfare, nor is it the romanticised notions of war that Platoon, Blackhawk Down or other war films had in some respects either.

Jarhead manages to follow in some footsteps however, evoking nuances of Apocalypse Now, Three Kings and other similarly minded war films have treaded on before. But Jarhead manages to separate itself from those films, managing to establish itself in a very unique, more neutral point of view than other war films have really taken on. It chooses to study some of the disillusionment of the purpose of the war and some of the ideas that we have fed to us from a Hollywood war is glory ideal.

This is one hell of a good film. Go see it.

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excellent review presidente. makes me wanna see it even more now.

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yes, this one is on my list, glad to hear you reccomend it

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cant wait to watch this especially after such excellent review

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Thanks pres. Jake G is top actor after Donnie Darko. Cant wait to see him in a good role after your review.

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Great review, figured it would be great when I saw that the man who brought us American Beauty (great film) directed it. Plus Donnie Darko kicks ass, so all in all should be really good. Going to see it ASAP!!!!!!

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I can't wait either! It's out tomorrow!

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gonna go see it soon, great review!

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Pres.. good review! It appears to be matching up with the other scuttlebutt that has leaked about the movie. I'll be sure to follow-up after I have viewed it and had time to reflect.

Here are some old war photos of mine from when I was a Jarhead, and Semper Fi, Happy 230th Birthday on 10 Nov.:

Spring of 97 in Tirana, Albania. Me manning the "pig" under a porch of a neighborhood used as an extraction point and was being assaulted. [IMG]http://jbrannon.servebeer.com/1stPlatoon/OpSilverWake002.jpg[/IMG]

My Squad, 2CEB 1st Platoon C Co. 2nd "Ghost" Squad and Gunny: Back Row L-R: Pvt. Marshall, Gunny Koch, Lcpl Lowrey, Me Sgt. B., Cpl. Chavez, Lcpl. Bichoff, Lcpl. Sawyer. Front Row: Sgt. Zulu, Cpl. Willoughby, Lcpl Sather Photo By: Some Grunt from 1/8 Bravo Company.

[IMG]http://jbrannon.servebeer.com/1stPlatoon/OpSilverWake001.jpg[/IMG]

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saw it tonight...fucking brillaint film.

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Algy, thanks for sharing those pics. I'm curious what you'll think of the film, and even more so about the book (which I'm reading now - way different from the movie).

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great film. going to pick up the book now.

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i thought this film was the biggest pile of shit ever. It had some nice scenic shots, thats it, good thing i saw it for free or else id have flipped my lid after it was over.

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looking forward to seeing this one tonight...

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For non-vets, I can see where this movie would be mediocre at best. Though this was not another ?Full Medal Jacket? were the movie depicted the extreme molding of young men into gut hungry Marines primed for engagements in Vietnam, the movie was pretty damn accurate depicting life for a Jarhead in the field. The boot camp scene was sold short, but I understand because the intent was not to redo FMJ. As for the STA school, you?d have to ask a Marine sniper regarding the accuracy of the training, I was an Engineer myself, so I?m not going to comment on the matter.

Bottom line, the movie was about the stress and life of what occurs during the ?Waiting Game?. When I think back to my waiting game, I can remember being stuck on an LHA-4 class ship and in a steal can along with 3,000 other Marines for more than 2 months while we waited, waited and waited to conducted operations in the Africa. There is not a fucking minute where you don?t have another person within arms reach. The ?Wall of Shame? is for real, movies sent by wives to their deployed husbands being fucked by neighbors is for real, the continual of short timers discussing what they are going to do with their life once they are out of the Suck is for real and the intensity and attitudes are pretty ramped which followed up with at least a fight every other night.

Some other topics that hit home where scenes reflecting the Marines equipment.. ie non-serviceable M-40 gasmasks and the fact troops were issued fucking cami green chemical suites for a dessert environment. This is all for real and we still see this today in Gulf 2 where troops are not being properly armored and the devil dogs are getting fucking armored vests paid for by hometown churches, schools and Boy Scout troops.

All in all I felt the movie to be efficient in delivering the message and that message is one that I understand. Like I said, to a non-vet it?s probably a movie that you?d complain mis-labeled as an action when it should be a drama, but I think all in all that the movie may have helped some guys find closure with things they have seen or done while serving and to me that?s mission accomplishment.

Semper Fi, -Algy

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fucking amen! with this kind of summary i defo want to check it out. for all those dudes brave enough to risk their lives, i am but a pussy fuck! respect!

the part about video taped wives fucking neighbors... FUCK! what kind of demon slut do you have to be for this kind of behavior? i hope i never meet one!

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GREAT MOVIE!!! That was fucked up when the video popped up with that dudes wife bangin his neighbor."whos fuckin who now" What a whore!

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Didn't even know there was a book... :/

Looking forward to this coming to theaters in Europe. :)

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give this movie 5 pickles

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rented tonite. watch tommorow nite.

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good stuff just watched it me likes

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I saw this a few weeks ago. It turned out much more diffrent then I expected. A really good movie i think, shows a little bit diffrent view on war then what we're used to.

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I liked this movie as well. Felt it was fair with all aspects of war and even the Marines. The wife could not relate, but I had a hard on the whole time.

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This is not a war movie, a soldier movie and how the mind and society fucks with your head. Chicks should see it to, lots to learn from both genders. Anyone that has a long distance relationship, friend or partner, uncertainity of shit can make the feeble mind evaporate.

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[quote=asdf_admin]I liked this movie as well. Felt it was fair with all aspects of war and even the Marines. The wife could not relate, but I had a hard on the whole time.[/quote]

now that is a review :lol:

personally, I didn't like it. I expected a lot more than watching men cry about everything. As someone else posted "non-vets most likely wont get it", so I am a non-vet and I don't get it. It is tough to imagine coming back from that and being fucked up in the head. If they were in battle, then I would understand it.

I am a non-vet so again, like someone said, I won't get it. So IMO, they were weak minded. Why didn't the sarge get all fucked in the head? he was level headed the whole time.

Doesn't change the fact that I support every single one of our Troops, here and overseas. Anyone who serves my country is :Bingo:

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I was hoping for a better movie, I just wasted my money on this pice of shit movie!!!!

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It's an enjoyable movie that shows the another side of war, ie, it's not all guts and gory. Lots of sitting around, waiting around, and when the action comes, you have no idea what's going on. Not everyone in a war is a purple heart, and I think this movie shows that very well. It's basically a John Doe war movie.