Looking for some thougts on the movie. Have not personally seen it yet. Have gotten alot of feedback from active and retired Marines. All have been very negative. Some people that did not serve in the Corps have liked it.

Kip

 

I saw it the day it came out and liked it. I went to see it out of curiosity since my husband is currently stationed over there. One of the guys that I work with was a marine in the Gulf War and said that it was really close to what he went through over there.

 

From the reviews I've heard about, it seems like the guys that don't like it kinda have the "John Wayne's Corps" view about things. I even saw some pogue that served behind a desk the whole time call this Swofford kid a coward, so I'm not real sure what to think. Wife and I are going to go see it tomorrow or the day after, I'll let ya know then.

Disclaimer: Former 0311

 

I read the book, the story line was very disjointed and hard to follow at times.

He obviously did not like being in the Corp or being in the war either...the same view I have no doubt many share.

I didn't like the book that much, but that was because of the writing style not particularly his view of things. War is chaotic during the best of times to say the least, the book carries that same undertone to it.

 

I read the book, but I'm not sure about going to see the movie--that Gyllenhaal guy annoys me to no end no matter what character he's playing. I might still see it, though. Maybe.

I remember what I was doing during the time period covered by the book, and it was very similar to what Swofford has written. What I was thinking was probably a bit different, but that's hardly a surprise. One thing I remember in particular that stood out was there was no mention in Jarhead that he or anyone in his unit was disappointed to be fighting under UN auspices rather than our own Congress having the stones to do their Constitutional duty.

I believed then, and I still do, that Congress owes it to our fighting men and women to stand up on their hind legs and declare war on the enemy. It seems like the least they could do.

 

I heard on the Radio that there is NO combat whatsoever. Sounds lame to me, from what I could gather it is a poor representation. (just what I heard, not an opinion based on ME actually seeing it.

 

Sounds like William Manchester's 'Goodbye Drakness', which is his experience as a Marine in WWII. He was not kind to John Wayne in the book. I haven't read Jarhead or seen the movie, but one review called it 'Half Metal Jacket' :^)

 

Goodbye Darkness is a book about somebody that didn't enjoy the war. Manchester fought on several islands, one of which was Okinawa, the site of some of the most savage fighting in history. I guess I don't really see where the comparison comes in.

 

This is only my opinion for what it's worth...

I saw the movie this past weekend and it sucked. Good thing it was a matinee so I'm only out $9 for the girlfriend and I. Actually, she walked out on it 30 minutes into it due to its content. If I wanted to hear about how many times someone wants to wack off or take a dump, then I'll just go back to highschool - well, wait a minute those guys in the movie are about the same age so I guess it's OK then!

I guess I was just expecting some blood and guts as well as interesting characters and development, but I guess it was too much to ask for. Yeah, I can acknowledge that out of sheer boredom these guys would act the way they did, but to make a movie out of it...???

This movie is not even in the same league as Full Metal Jacket, Platoon, Apocalypse Now, Saving Private Ryan, We Were Soldiers, Blackhawk Down, etc...not even close. Even though in these movies it showed the guys screwing around and stuff, it wasn't the core story line in the movie unlike what I thought Jarhead seemingly appears to portray.

It's not even worth a DVD rental.

 

Don't waste your money on it...totally lame...if that is what being a Marine is all about ..then i feel sorry for those poor fellows.Your right, NO COMPARISON to Full Metal Jacket or saving Private Ryan.

 

I actually liked the movie, I thought it was pretty funny!! Especially the beginning with the drill sargant!! And I never expected it to be like Saving Private Ryan or any of the other ones, it wasn't supposed to be about that. It was supposed to be about one guys experience with going into the corps and that's about it. It was kind of the same principle as GI Jane, a story about what she went throught to get in...............but it didn't have much combat!!! I guess if you are looking for shooting and blood and guts then yeah this movie doesn't have it, but it's not a BAD movie, it just isn't like all the other war movies out. JMO


~Nick