- Nov 27, 1999
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EightySix Four
Diamond Member
- Jul 17, 2004
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it was alright. The only problem with it was it seemed like the marines seemed to really take their responsibility so lightly (in the movie that is, I have no idea what it's like in real life)
It was really a "woah" moment for me when they were talking about how the iraq fighters had been fighting since most of the marines were 4 or 5 years old. And then to see how juvenile they were acting made me realize "wow, these really are just kids being sent out to fight".
(of course they are allowed to have fun, it was just the feeling I got at a few points in the movie)
It was really a "woah" moment for me when they were talking about how the iraq fighters had been fighting since most of the marines were 4 or 5 years old. And then to see how juvenile they were acting made me realize "wow, these really are just kids being sent out to fight".
(of course they are allowed to have fun, it was just the feeling I got at a few points in the movie)
Well, that part is somewhat true, especially for the junior troops since many are straight out of highschool and that highschool mentality is still there. This is a fact for all the services, not just the Marines.
I was a Desert Shield/Storm vet and served with the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade. I was there from beginning to end during the entire, "official" period of 19 Sep 90 to 23 Jan 91 date of cease fire.
I never caught Jarhead in the theaters, but I finally made myself see it on DVD last night. Wasn't sure what to expect out of this movie. In fact, except for Saving Private Ryan, I've generally avoided all war movies altogether since leaving the Corps back in '93. Part of me thought that this was going to be the typical hollywood junk that would insult me more than entertain. Yes, it did that, but surprisingly, it brought back an unbelievable amount of memories that I never thought it would, including little things I've long forgotten. An example being that scene with the "Deer Hunter" VHS. As far as I know, that incident was never publicized any where, but it was common scuttlebutt among the troops. Whether it really happened or not, it served to fuel the growing sense of paranoia that we all had about what was happening at home while we were away for those many months. Unless you were actually there, you would not have known the significance of that scene or what state of mind the troops were in at the time.
Was it accurate? Yes, but mostly No. Many of the sequences were completely exaggerated to speed up the story or make it more understandable to the average Joe, but that was expected since this is a movie. This is especially true for the boot camp and early training sequences. Those who served will know what I'm referring too as I'm sure your eyes were rolling too. It's not hard to see why many Marines despise this book/movie.
What I can vouch for is that during the 9 months we were out there, 99.9% of our time was spent in training and preparation. And yes, during that time, we did find all sorts of goofy activities to occupy our time just to keep boredom at bay and maintain a little bit of our sanity. Looking back, at times I can imagine some of the weird stuff we did may have seemed a little surreal to the outside world. Especially down periods where we had this little game of turning over rocks and beating little white desert lizards to a pulp with our E-tools.
In any case, I think know the point of this movie and what Swoff (the author) was trying to get off his chest. Just because one does not get a chance to charge head first into a fire fight, does not mean that it was a picnic out there. The stress of ?waiting? takes a tremendous toll. The more time you have to think about it, the more anxious you become. If you can imagine you and your neighbor staring and pointing a gun at each other for nine months straight, not knowing exactly when either of you will get the word to start shooting, you will learn the true meaning of the word "edgy". That, plus the fact that in the back of your head you know you may never see your family again, really does a number on you over a period of time. I saw more than one Marine break down over time even before a shot was ever fired in anger. Unfortunately, this is something very difficult to describe in words unless you?ve been out there and have experienced it.
Regardless of how the movie is taken as a whole, I thought the opening and ending passages were very true. The one regarding your "hand never forgetting the rifle" and that no matter where you are today or what you're doing, the rifle is still part of your hand. Not a day goes by that I don't think about my time spent over there. Which also reflects true to the final passage that "we are all still in the desert".
It's easy to see why this movie bombed. Unless you can relate to it, I don't think most people will get it.
Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
I just watched it on DVD, sue me for searching before starting a new thread Rudee!
I'm getting my Lawyer to draw up the paperwork as I write this. Consider youself sued!
Originally posted by: Rudee
Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
I just watched it on DVD, sue me for searching before starting a new thread Rudee!
I'm getting my Lawyer to draw up the paperwork as I write this. Consider youself sued!
So apparently, you can't talk about somethign talked about a few months ago because a few of the members of ATOT saw it? What about the other guys who jsut saw it or haven't seen it?
You get chewed out if you REPOST, you get chewed out if you BUMP... :roll: can't please everyone I guess. :roll:
Well said Brian48.
I am military member but have never deployed to the desert so I enjoyed reading your take on it.
Personally, I enoyed the movie. Probably because I knew what to expect, but at the same time, I didn't think the average Joe would enjoy it. This movie is just an observation of war and one person's experiences during that war. It's not pro or anti war. I saw the previews knowing the average Joe would go see it expecting to see either A) an action flick or B) Full Metal Jacket. Then when the movie turned out to be neither, he'd tell all his friends it was boring, and thus the poor box office performance. (As was the case with another smart social commentary that did poorly, Fight Club)
IMHO
I am military member but have never deployed to the desert so I enjoyed reading your take on it.
Personally, I enoyed the movie. Probably because I knew what to expect, but at the same time, I didn't think the average Joe would enjoy it. This movie is just an observation of war and one person's experiences during that war. It's not pro or anti war. I saw the previews knowing the average Joe would go see it expecting to see either A) an action flick or B) Full Metal Jacket. Then when the movie turned out to be neither, he'd tell all his friends it was boring, and thus the poor box office performance. (As was the case with another smart social commentary that did poorly, Fight Club)
IMHO
I really enjoyed the movie. I was in Desert Storm with the Army, but even though this was a film about Marines it was very accurate for the most part about the whole ordeal imho.
I just saw it on DVD last night. I really loved this movie. I'd say it was one of the best movies of last year. My other favorites from last year were Junebug, Syriana, Capote, Good Night and Good Luck, and The New World if that helps anyone else figure out my taste.
The cinematography was excellent, and the pacing was perfect. This film would make an excellent double feature with Three Kings, another great film.
I used to be skeptical about Jake Gyllenhaal in terms of acting skill. Between this and Proof, I am now convinced he's excellent.
I highly recommend checking it out on DVD.
The cinematography was excellent, and the pacing was perfect. This film would make an excellent double feature with Three Kings, another great film.
I used to be skeptical about Jake Gyllenhaal in terms of acting skill. Between this and Proof, I am now convinced he's excellent.
I highly recommend checking it out on DVD.
I thought it fvcking sucked. It wasn't funny, cute or creative how they ripped off full metal jacket. Even my retarded girlfriend picked up on those cues.
I know the irony of this, but don't get me all hyped up to see a war movie and not deliver.
I know the irony of this, but don't get me all hyped up to see a war movie and not deliver.
Good flick.. marines were portrayed as they are in reality.. young and jovial and a bit crazy..
10 year Squid here served Desert Sheild on JFK with VA-72
and yes marines are crazy =p
they have to be..
10 year Squid here served Desert Sheild on JFK with VA-72
and yes marines are crazy =p
they have to be..
Both films were based on auto- or semi-autobiographical novels. The themes were similar, but I don't know that I would say it ripped off FMJ just because it showed the similarities and recurring themes shown in FMJ.
my gf bought this movie and it was a waste of money. This movie is pretty stupid and not what you expect at all. I thought american beauty was agreat movie but this one sucked.
Is it me? or has anybody else felt that movies based on Desert Storm are the only war movies that can almost be considered a genre of comedy? I mean, I know Jarhead isn't a comedy, but it does have a great deal more comic relief than other war movies.
Three Kings, Jarhead.
Compared to:
Glory, Saving Private Ryan, Platoon Etc..
Three Kings, Jarhead.
Compared to:
Glory, Saving Private Ryan, Platoon Etc..
My father is a Force Recon Marine and at one point was a drill instructor at Parris Island (during a time he likes to refer to as "when you could still use your hands to break a grunt). After seeing this movie I felt oddly compeled to want to join up, but it's a little too late for me. I do regret that though, because sniper school always interested me and I think I have a good proficency for shooting and would have liked to see what real training would have done for that.
I couldn't relate on a personal level with this movie except for one point in the beginning where the D.I. asked him if his Dad ever spoke about his time in Vietnam and he replied "Sir Yes Sir, only once sir!", to which the D.I. replied "Good, then that means what he said was true!".
My Dad only spoke to me about Vietnam once, and that was only because my wife at the time asked him about it in front of us. I knew my Dad had seen some ******, but had no idea until that day, and that was only the tip of the iceberg I'm sure. My Dad came out of three tours over there with two purple hearts, that's all I need to know.
I have nothing but toal respect for the Marines. They are the first in and last out and make do with hand-me-downs from other branches. There's something truly bad ass about that.
Overall I enjoyed the movie and could follow and understand a good bit of it just from being exposed to that way of life.
BTW, Brian48, and all others on this board who serve and have served this country, I thank you.
I couldn't relate on a personal level with this movie except for one point in the beginning where the D.I. asked him if his Dad ever spoke about his time in Vietnam and he replied "Sir Yes Sir, only once sir!", to which the D.I. replied "Good, then that means what he said was true!".
My Dad only spoke to me about Vietnam once, and that was only because my wife at the time asked him about it in front of us. I knew my Dad had seen some ******, but had no idea until that day, and that was only the tip of the iceberg I'm sure. My Dad came out of three tours over there with two purple hearts, that's all I need to know.
I have nothing but toal respect for the Marines. They are the first in and last out and make do with hand-me-downs from other branches. There's something truly bad ass about that.
Overall I enjoyed the movie and could follow and understand a good bit of it just from being exposed to that way of life.
BTW, Brian48, and all others on this board who serve and have served this country, I thank you.
AznAnarchy99
Lifer
- Dec 6, 2004
- 14,695
- 117
- 106
Im rewatching it as im typing. I saw it the first time when it was in the theaters. The thing i hate about it the most is that it is about 90% different from the book if you read it.
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