Jarhead

[Easy Mac]

Is anyone else crazily excited to see this movie. I've never read the book, and until about 3 weeks ago never really cared about the movie. I knew it was being made, but I've never been a "war movie" person (though Black Hawk Down and Apocalypse Now are probably in my top 10 movies).

But then I saw the trailer. I've honestly never had a trailer for a movie that I've barely heard of make me say "wow, I have to see that". If you haven't seen the trailer, do so. I think it's the best trailer I've ever seen for a movie. The scenes used were perfect, the music was outstanding (the use of Kanye West is somewhat ironic), this is like a must see movie now.

Anyone else agree, or am I just a nut? I'll accept either answer.

[TheOhioStateUniversity]

Im really loking forward to see it. A movie on this subject needed to be made, the only other one I can think of was Three Kings. Jamie Foxx should be interesting in a non typical role for him.

[Easy Mac]

Three Kings was an awesome movie.

[kurtism]

Put me in the same camp as Easy, I saw the trailer before Serenity and commented to my wife that is was clearly the best trailer I had ever seen - just a masterpiece of promotion. Add in talented actors like Foxx and Gyllenhall and a good director, and that equals must see in my book.

[CHEMICAL SOLDIER]

Put me in the same camp as Easy, I saw the trailer before Serenity and commented to my wife that is was clearly the best trailer I had ever seen - just a masterpiece of promotion. Add in talented actors like Foxx and Gyllenhall and a good director, and that equals must see in my book.
Looks like Gyllenhall had to pump up and lose body fat for this role. Im looking forward to the movie and its accuracy regarding military life.

[samifan24]

I'm not all that interested in seeing this movie but it has a great tagline:

Welcome to the suck.

[Honolulu_Blue]

It is a pretty amazing trailer. Some great shots and fantastic music. That said, after watching the trailer my reaction was "Huh?"

[lytic]

Three Kings was an awesome movie.

I kindly disagree... I'll probably see this movie, but it's not a must-see. Then again, I've been to "teh suck."

[lytic]

BTW, here is the trailer for it:

http://www.apple.com/trailers/universal/jarhead/large.html

(you need quicktime)

[ISiddiqui]

It sounds like this is become a great time for those who are interested in military movies. While Jarhead looks intriguing, I'm REALLY holding out for Eastwood's duology "Flags of Our Fathers" and "Lamps Before the Wind", telling Iwo Jima from the side of the Americans who raised the flag (Flags) and the Japanese who fought against the US (Lamps).

Should be an incredibly interesting experiment.

[MizzouRah]

Being a jarhead, I'm definitly pumped about this movie.

I also want to see Doom.. tee hee...

[sachmo71]

This should be good. Jamie Fox is a brilliant actor.

[albionmoonlight]

I didn't like the book. The author reminded me of all of those pretentious creatitive writing students that I knew in undergrad--the only difference being that he had gone to Iraq.

It's hard to like an autobiography when you get the sense that you would not personally like the author if you met him in real life.

[KWhit]

I liked the trailer but hated the music to it.

*shurg*

[CHEMICAL SOLDIER]

Being a jarhead, I'm definitly pumped about this movie.

I also want to see Doom.. tee hee...
Where are those loveable dog faces in DOOM. It seems DOOM is a resident evil type movie, but admit that it does look good.

[Subby]

I'm on board for anything Sam Mendes does...

[bosshogg23]

I thought the preview I saw before Flight Plan wasnt very good. The one I saw on tv was though. I agree they scored the music to the commercial well, but I just thought it looked kinda weak in the extended trailer.

[rkmsuf]

trailer was well done. something tells me it's their greatest accomplishment here.

[weinstein7]

For anyone who has read the book: who exactly is Jamie Foxx playing? When he first heard he was cast in the movie, I assumed that he was playing Swofford, until I found out that a) Swofford was white, and b) Jake Gyllenhall was in the movie. Though frankly, I think Jamie Foxx would have been better at the role regardless.

And although I did like the book, I think Albionmoonlight has a pretty interesting point. The author is a touch self-absorbed, and there's certainly a hint of "I was the only civilized man amongst all these barbarians." However, reading the book, I felt that that the author had a sense of what an insufferable prick he must have been, and for me that salvaged the story. It will be interesting to see how it's handled in the film version.

[cthomer5000]

Anyone else see it yet?

I was expecting greatness, but I'd have to say the movie is merely "good." Well-shot and well-acted though, there is little doubt about that. A little more existential than I had anticpated, and not entirely what I was expecting. Still I would definitely give it a passing grade, thumbs up, recommendation, etc.... Certainly worth seeing and above average.

[cthomer5000]

For anyone who has read the book: who exactly is Jamie Foxx playing?
He played their Staff Sargeant. No idea whether the character was in the book or not, not having read it.

[Rizon]

I saw it yesterday. Great movie.

[JonInMiddleGA]

For anyone who has read the book: who exactly is Jamie Foxx playing?

FWIW, one of the Amazon.com reviews says that the Sgt. Sykes character played by Foxx didn't appear in the book. No idea whether that's right or not, but that's what was said.

[MizzouRah]

Going to see this one this week with my dad, can't wait.

I saw the making of it and it really reminded me of what Desert Storm was like.

[-Mojo Jojo-]

And although I did like the book, I think Albionmoonlight has a pretty interesting point. The author is a touch self-absorbed, and there's certainly a hint of "I was the only civilized man amongst all these barbarians." However, reading the book, I felt that that the author had a sense of what an insufferable prick he must have been, and for me that salvaged the story. It will be interesting to see how it's handled in the film version.

Most of the reviews seem to think they stripped out everything interesting from the book to make a paint-by-numbers generic war movie. I thought the trailer was pretty wicked, but now I'm thinking I'll wait for the dvd...

[kingfc22]

I saw it yesterday. Great movie.
Hmmmm, a co-worker of mine said it was the worst movie he ever saw and that people were booing after it ended.http://dynamic.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/confused.gifhttp://dynamic.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/confused.gifhttp://dynamic.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/confused.gif

[TargetPractice6]

Hmmmm, a co-worker of mine said it was the worst movie he ever saw and that people were booing after it ended.http://dynamic.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/confused.gifhttp://dynamic.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/confused.gifhttp://dynamic.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/confused.gifNobody booed at the screening I went to, but at the same time I can see how opinions could be pretty split. It had some great imagery and compelling moments, but at the same time it was pretty vulgar. People offended easily would not like this movie.

Personally I wasn't sure what to think when it ended. It never seemed to really go anywhere, and while some individual scenes were entertaining I felt like the movie never did anything. The person I saw it with hated it though. He described it as just bunch of situations in which everybody went crazy.

[JonInMiddleGA]

He described it as just bunch of situations in which everybody went crazy.

Sounds like the reader reviews (not the book critic reviews) of the book.

[33sherman]

I saw this Friday. It was a mess, but a good mess. There's some really brilliant moments and there are some head-scratching moments. I really liked some of the music. There's a long dream sequence with Nirvana's 'Something In The Way' which was particularly cool.

[cthomer5000]

*****spoilers... discussion about the meaning of the movie ******






Personally I wasn't sure what to think when it ended. It never seemed to really go anywhere, and while some individual scenes were entertaining I felt like the movie never did anything.
....and do you see precisely how this ties into the major theme of the entire movie? This guy goes through months of training, spends months in the desert before finally being involved in just 4 days of "war" and never even fires his weapon. He feels purposeless, as do most of the soldiers around them. They wait and wait and wait for an eventual nothing basically. And then it all wraps up without ever really getting going. The movie simply mirrors his experiences there. Both literally and figuratively, he is wandering through the desert. And there is some irony in the opening and closing narration about how his hands will never forget his rifle - one he never even fired during the war. Pesonally, I like the movie but didn't love it, but i at least do feel I understand what the writer and director were going for - and think they succeed.

FWIW, I think Peter Saarsgard and/or Jake Gyllenhall have a serious shot at an Oscar nomination. The movie was very well-acted.


--regarding some other remarks posted---
I can see how someone would hate the movie. If you go in expecting some buddy war film, you're going to be severely disappointed. It's a war movie without the war.

[Rizon]

Hmmmm, a co-worker of mine said it was the worst movie he ever saw and that people were booing after it ended.http://dynamic.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/confused.gifhttp://dynamic.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/confused.gifhttp://dynamic.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/confused.gif

Man, that's just insane. I rarely like to go back to the movies to pay $45 to see any movie again, but I would with this one. Maybe I'm just biased cause I'm married to a Marine brat. Or maybe your co-worker was in the Navy??? :confused: ;)

[Rizon]

If you go in expecting some buddy war film, you're going to be severely disappointed. It's a war movie without the war.

I agree. I watched all the info from the movies website the day before I went, so I had a pretty good idea what the movie was about, and it ended up being exactly what I thought, which was good. I didn't expect some blow-up-everything type of war movie. Maybe this is why I liked it so much.

[Cringer]

Does Jake Gyllenhall ever appear in a bubble? He is at his best in a bubble.

[illinifan999]

Am I the only person who has never heard anyone cheer or boo a movie?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Am I the only person who has never heard anyone cheer or boo a movie?

I'd say that's reasonably possible.

[Poli]

I picked up at least three lines from the movie that I can share at work, slightly edited, of course:

"I thank God everyday that I'm at BEQ 831 (the barracks I work at). Hoorah."

What are you going to do when you get out? (I get out in less than a year and a half)

"I could always sell crack"

"I'm going to put you in duty section four. It's full of rejects and dumbasses."

[st.cronin]

What are you going to do when you get out? (I get out in less than a year and a half)



My answer to that question was always "rodeo clown."

[Poli]

My previous answer was

"McDonald's is always hiring."

[TargetPractice6]

*****spoilers... discussion about the meaning of the movie ******






....and do you see precisely how this ties into the major theme of the entire movie? This guy goes through months of training, spends months in the desert before finally being involved in just 4 days of "war" and never even fires his weapon. He feels purposeless, as do most of the soldiers around them. They wait and wait and wait for an eventual nothing basically. And then it all wraps up without ever really getting going. The movie simply mirrors his experiences there. Both literally and figuratively, he is wandering through the desert. And there is some irony in the opening and closing narration about how his hands will never forget his rifle - one he never even fired during the war. Pesonally, I like the movie but didn't love it, but i at least do feel I understand what the writer and director were going for - and think they succeed.

FWIW, I think Peter Saarsgard and/or Jake Gyllenhall have a serious shot at an Oscar nomination. The movie was very well-acted.


--regarding some other remarks posted---
I can see how someone would hate the movie. If you go in expecting some buddy war film, you're going to be severely disappointed. It's a war movie without the war.I completely understood that and tried to explain it to my friend that hated it.

However, in a movie it wasn't really enough to keep me hooked the whole way through. There wasn't really much of a plot and everything seemed pretty disconnected to me. Most of all the movie never really seemed to build up to anything and ending was kind of an anti-climax. I know that was just the nature of the subject matter, but it's kind of hard to make a great movie about how nothing happened. It kind of reminded me of the part of Master and Commander when the wind stopped blowing and all they had to do was wait.

Like I said I liked several scenes, but in the end it just seemed like a collection of scenes that didn't really form a cohesive whole.

[MrBigglesworth]

I saw it the other day, and I loved it. It didn't try to glorify war, it didn't try and be anti-war. It was just REAL.

[MizzouRah]

I saw it the other day, and I loved it. It didn't try to glorify war, it didn't try and be anti-war. It was just REAL.
Just saw this with my dad yesterday and I agree with your post.

I loved the movie, but heck I'm a jarhead. :)

Weird thing was last night while telling my wife about the movie, I got a little emotional thinking about how it felt to come home after being over there for 6 months.

[weinstein7]

Just saw it today, and I quite liked it. Having read the book, I didn't think Jake Gyllenhaal was really what I expected from the character - he got the whiny/introspective part down, but I never got the balancing feelings of how at times he really loved being a marine. Without that duality I think it was missing a little something, although some of the other characters made up for it.

I did like that there was no evil villain either in the squad or in the chain of command - sure some of the guys acted like maniacs at times, but it was presented as the situation driving them nutty, and they were all decent enough fellows.

[Easy Mac]

Jake Gyllenhaal pwns whiny and introspective... rarely anything else... maybe Jennifer Annston nude in the Good Girl.. but rarely anything else.

[sabotai]

Saw this a few days ago. Didn't love it, but I really liked it. I might go see it again, but if not, it'll definately be a buy when the DVD comes out.

[Karlifornia]

Just got back from seeing this. I was impressed with Gyllenhaal and Foxx. The movie was above average, but that is probably mostly because of the acting and Sam Mendes. I agree with all of those who said the story wasn't all there. Somehow I imagine there being some better stories coming out of desert storm.