Warning: This review may spoil the movie if you haven't seen it yet.
I really enjoyed Jarhead but was a little misinformed before I saw it. From the previews I had expected that there would be some action scenes. There weren't any. Other than some shelling in one scene towards the end of the movie the only bullets flying were during training and into the air in celebration.
That said, there were many other aspects of this movie that held my interest and made it well worth watching. I particularly liked the interactions of the soldiers with each other and watching the bonds form between them. I kept waiting for the final battle that would cement their relationships knowing that once they had been through it and shed some blood, they would be brothers for life. That moment never comes.
The movie theater was virtually silent as the credits rolled which was the complete opposite of the buzz and anticipation that was there before the movie started. While a bit sobered about what the war was really like for the marines, at least I didn't feel sick after watching it the way I did with Traffic or Lord of War.
For those of you with easily offended sensibilities: The intent of the movie was to portray what it was like for the men on the ground in Kuwait. It shows what soldiers do to pass the time when there are no women around and death could come at any moment. While tamed down a bit for us civilians, it will offend anyone who is uncomfortable with swearing, sexual innuendo and explicit sexual content. If that's you, then Jarhead is not a movie you should watch.
Ironically, I found the graphic content of the movie a bit refreshing. I have become accustomed to the news and the daily footage of the war in Iraq and lately have given it very little thought. This movie brought back the reality that our men and women face on a daily basis and renewed my appreciation for their efforts and sacrifice.
Personally, I don't know too many people who I would recomend seeing Jarhead. After having slept on it for a night and taking a few hours to think about it, I am glad I took the time to watch it but its not a movie I will be adding to my collection.
Rating: 7/10
3 comments:
That's good to know. I will likely save it for a rainy day rental...
No kidding...rainy day rental it is. Although I'm kind of weirded out that there's no real fighting scenes. Isn't that what war movies are about?
I should also mention that this movie does not portray women in a positive light.
Much of the plot revolves around the main chacter's fears that their girlfriends are back home cheating on them. This has a very negative effect on the men and it comes out in fairly graphic ways.
If you're a woman and you choose to watch this movie, I would definitely like to hear your thoughts on it afterwards.
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