...HATED IT!

I expected somewhat of an action movie considering that it was about Marine Recon Snipers but what I watched was nothing like it.

I found this movie to be very negative and disturbing and in some parts outright boring.

The only action was a friendly fire incident.

If you are hoping to see US Marines kick bad guy's butts, this is not the movie you will want to see. If on the other hand you are into watching male bonding, seeing grown man act like immature nitwits, seeing guys self-gratify themselves or dealing with wifes or girlfriends "spending quality time" with other guys while their husbands/boyfriends are away, then this is definitely a movie for you.

Way too much hype over this one. Just my opinion.

- you answered my question then. I couldn't tell by the commercials as to what message this movie was trying to convey to it's audience.

I saw some magazine say something like "a war movie with no battles, no fighting, and a naked marine in a santa hat. What type of war movie is this?"

Seems like it bears our your review.

I was turned off by the rap music in the commercials, but I thought I'd maybe give it a try. Guess I'll wait till it comes out on DVD.

Hmmm..... I was wondering about this movie, but then again, I only see 2-3 new movies a year! In fact, the only new one I've seen recently is Star Wars Episode III! Thanks for your review.

I just finished watching it and have a completely different viewpoint.

I thought it reflected well the mentality in the military (yes I did time in the service). Also, I am familiar with the huge bouts of time where you have nothing to do but what you see in the film.

But then again, I'm not as into the "Marines kicking ass all over the place movies". I want to see stuff from the viewpoint of men who have been there and how they felt.

But I knew going in that it wasn't going to be what was expected from war film fans. Hell, the ground war in the first gulf war hardly lasted as long as the movie. Did you really think there was going to be that much action?

didn't the ground war last for something like 96 hours.

It sounds as if it is based on the book with the same title.
I'm surprised that it has been made into a movie, the book whilst giving an interesting viewpoint wouldn't work well as a movie - from what I remember.

If I wanted to see a movie about feelings and emotions I would have seen Fried Green Tomatoes or Ya Ya Sisterhood.

Guess that's the same reason I don't like the tv show Over There.

I certainly didn't think it would be a Rambo-type of a movie but come on..not one meaningful shot was fired in that movie.

I understand now that this flick was based on a true story, however boring it may have been. Perhaps if i were in the military I could relate more to this. Unfortunately as an average guy I did not enjoy it.

After reading this, I think the next movie I go to will be Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.

Any movie based on a sniper unit would be boring if it showed reality, don't you think? Sit, wait, be still, wait, wait, take one shot, return to base. I'm sure there's more to it than that, but that's what snipers do.

The movie is alot like the first half of Full Metal Jacket, without the second half. It's supposed to show the layman what the majority of the ground war in the Gulf War was like. I think it succeeds here.

Action? No. It was a modern war,and with that comes the fact that most of the war was fought through the air. That was the point they made in the scene where they were actually going to finally snipe someone,and the commander instead calls in an airstrike. It's a good movie, but no, theres not alot of action. I read the Yahoo review before going,and they tell you that.

At least rent it.

i havnt went to the movies in over 2 years, last movie i saw was gothica with a whole bunch of friends.

I broght my girlfriend along with my dad, brother and i. We all thought hte same as you. im not sure its even worth renting if you want to watch a war movie.

Frank

Guess no one wants to know what it was really like for the average Marine sniper during ODS :-) Or for that matter what modern war's really like. What did you expect? Saving Private Ryan? Most modern soldiers hardly get a glimpse of an enemy during conventional warfare.

I haven't seen the movie, but I plan to. Read the book and I think it's a brilliant look into the mind of a modern warrior. Probably not the best subject for a movie, I agree.

[quote]I was turned off by the rap music in the commercialsquote]

Well there's no chance then that young people will watch 'Platoon' or 'Full Metal Jacket'. Damn rock-and-roll.

Rap music is what the majority of youth listen today, including grunts. Anyone here watched 'Gunners' Palace'? It's a docu about a US artillery unit in the infantry role based in Baghdad last year. Nothing happens except boring patrols and some house searches. All they do is rap and watch porn. Oh, for the good ol' days Highly recommended if you want to know what it's really like for soldiers on the sharp end in the 21st century. But if you want 'Blackhawk Down' you should rent that.

You guys are funny. Sometimes you should think about seeing a film to be provoked - not just entertained.

What's wrong with a war movie that not a 'war movie' sometimes? I have heard nothing but praise for this film and I think I may see it as its at a local theater that only charges $5.

As far as the rap music - man, how old are you guys? That's what people are listening too, especially young soldiers...

Steve

Hell i only listen to music if it was before 79' i love the 60's and 70's rock.
Havent even heard of this film actually, no commercials for it over here, but oh well, i guess we cant expect every "war film" to be combat based, i remember i was disapointed after watching a "vietnam" film called Tigerland, same thing, boot camp, and then a whole lot of nothing, i suppose we cant say we hated the film just because it was nothing like we anticipated, especially when its not just that it lacked in action or such, rather that it wasnt based on what we thought it would be in the first place.
Cheers

Reality people. So many military wanna-bes out there. It's all glory ain't it folks? In 1861 --we're gonna whip them thar yankees in a week. 1942--Gee I hope there are still some Japs left by the time I get over there. That's the way war movies always have been, even when they show the blood and gore like the current trend (Pvt Ryan, Blackhawk Down, We were Soldiers). Unless you've lived it, you can't possibly understand. One of the most oft repeated remarks when I was in "hurry up and wait". What is the saying....59 minutes of ubelieveable boredom followed by 1 minute of sheer terror. You want to see a war movie with non-stop action....go rent he new War of the Worlds.

Personally I liked the movie. I didn't go in expecting much, and overall I thought it was pretty good. No it wasn't like 'Hamburger Hill', but I think it gave the average person some idea of what Marines go through and deal with. Just my opinion.

Before you read this let's make sure I don't want to start a discussion about the war in Iraq:

The trailers I've seen on Dutch television made it looks like some sort of protest against the war in Iraq, with a lot of jokes etc. Looked quite funny actually.

I've also read some reviews and they were very positive....

I'm mixed up now lol

Martin

I watched a show on the military channel today that sort of dealt with this.

It was during OIF and it was a documentary following a squad of marines from Kuwait to Baghdad. It was pretty uneventful actually for them in regards to combat.

During the drive north one of the Marines was saying how Hollywood ruined it for them with their Rambo movies and even war movies in general.

He figured that if people really wanted to see what war is like they should make movies at least 6 hours long and only have 15 minutes of combat. The rest could just show them sitting around waiting and tossing stones.

It was kind of funny as these guys were so hyped up for combat and it never really happened.

I still havn't seen Jarhead but I want too. I knew from reading the book what it was going to be like so I doubt I will be as disappointed.

Sounds like the sort of war film my wife might enjoy, boring with no action or explosions, but lots of meaningful emotional stuff on display! Yes I know this is more realistic, but is it great cinema? I'd recommend Chronicles of Narnia, take the kids as an excuse & just enjoy!

Well I liked the movie.

But its not a action-war movie.
It was funny with the irony, sarcasm thats pretty common in the militayr to ease the tensions.

I think however the build up ended in nothing and suddenly everything was over and lets throw in a "war is a bad thing" message.

If your only into actionmovies this is not for you but still its a good movie in my mind. Cant say its for the Desertstorm or against.

I didn't care for it either. Not so much for the lack of action, but for the storyline as a whole. I felt they were trying to make a Desert Storm version of Full Metal Jacket. In addition, I felt there was far too much emphasis on the screwing around that goes on while the soldier is away from home (Yes, it happens and a lot, but there's more they could have focused on.) and it made Marines look like psychopaths. Granted, they are high strung, but not psychos.

Just my two bits worth.

[quote]and it made Marines look like psychopaths. Granted, they are high strung, but not psychos.quote]

Well, when someone is taught to kill for a living, they can seem like psychopaths!

I just think ODS was a bad war to make movies about, because of the fact there just was so little real ground combat, particularly in comparison to OIF. Unless it's a SF (special forces, NOT science fiction) movie. Saw 'The One That Got Away', and that was good, and heard the movie of 'Bravo Two Zero' was good too, but both accounts are apparently heavily 'fictionalized' it's now turned out.

ah real shame this movie is more about drama than action. Im no war junkie but i love watching military action type movie (minue the gory bits) so i really wish they would come out with a worthy movie. One that could be compared in the same level as Black Hawk Down or Saving Private Ryan.

I kinda liked Over There as well.

Guess i wont be watching this one (jarhead) then.