Jarhead (Probable SPOILERS)

IceBus

IceBus

IceBus

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Watched this tonight after looking forward to it for the past few months. Wow. Simply amazing movie. Kind of falls somewhere between FMJ, Platoon and Tigerland for how it approaches the war film, with a fair bit of time in basic training, moving on to the war zone and then in combat.

Jake Gyllenhaal is unbelievable. I'd always really rated him as an actor but this is without doubt his best performance to date. Peter Saarsgard is also outstanding, and Jamie Foxx is totally believable as a staff sargeant.

It shows a lot of the Iraq war that hasn't really been shown much (Three Kings wasn't really even a war movie) - the oil cleanup, the boredom, the tension and the comedown when coming home.

The pacing of the movie was fantastic, and even though it clocks in at over two hours I was sitting tensely on the edge of my seat for all of that.

Don't go in expecting an all action blockbuster, as that's not what this movie is like (there are very few deaths during the film) - it's more of a thoughtful film about war and what the soldiers go through (very much like Tigerland).

I highly recommend this movie to anyone remotely interested in the war genre :D

9/10
 
Also just got in from this, absolutely fantastic film, awesome cinematography. Acting was pure quality and for a long film without that much 'war' in it the film was excellently paced and the time flew by. Totally agree with IceBus, stop stuff :)
 
I really want to go and see this tonight, and reading the comments about it not being a blood and guts all the time war film is making that possiblilty even mroe realistic as the other half is more likely to want to go :P

Her question is, how sad is it?
 
I saw it as well and thought its was great. I knew it wasn't going to be an all-out action war film, which helped but as i was sat there watching it it didn't bother me. One of my mates kept saying "i hope they get into a big fight", but its one of those films that doesn't need anything big to happen, it just kept me hooked all the way through. Thought the performances were top notch, Jake Gyllenhaal surley should be up for oscar nomination now.

9/10
 
Well what a total shocker, when i first saw this film advertised in mid 2005, i thought great another pro-war, pro-american farce, boy was i bloody wrong. The acting was was exceptional allround, although i think oscar nominations for the acting are a bit strong.

Overall i'd say this film is a gem, the previews completely throw you (might **** some people of, but who cares). Am very glad i got the chance too see this so early before someone else ruined it for me.

9.5/10
 
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Brynn said:
The horse was really random, but the slick oil on the skin was kickass.

Both scenes with the warthogs were ace
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i think the horse touch was quite a good one, it shows the unseen casualties of war (its only a horse you might say), but hell the horse is alive and deserves better standards of living than that.
 
Mardy Bum said:
Well what a total shocker, when i first saw this film advertised in mid 2005, i thought great another pro-war, pro-american farce, boy was i bloody wrong. The acting was was exceptional allround, although i think oscar nominations for the acting are a bit strong.

Overall i'd say this film is a gem, the previews completely throw you (might **** some people of, but who cares). Am very glad i got the chance too see this so early before someone else ruined it for me.

9.5/10
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Might wanna edit the sweary before you get told off! (I guess you don't know about no swearing as you are new here by the looks of it :))

Great idea quoting it, by the way.

Otacon
 
Mardy Bum said:
i think the horse touch was quite a good one, it shows the unseen casualties of war (its only a horse you might say), but hell the horse is alive and deserves better standards of living than that.
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I am surprised when they were in the van coming back from the impromptue meeting with the arabs, that they didn't give more abuse to thickie-redneck who shot the camels
 
My favourite shot in the movie (and boy were there lots) was the one of Jamie Foxx and Jake Gyllenhaal silhouetted at the top of the sand dune with the sunset in the background. The oil fires were a close second too - it looked unbelievably hellish. I thought the horse scene was good as well, again it just added further depth and didn't need explained away, much like Troy's death etc.

I don't think Oscar nominations are an exaggeration either - Gyllenhaal and Saarsgard were absolutely superb imo.

I want to see Brokeback Mountain now, if Jake's performance is anything like that good in that it could be another awesome movie.
 
Brynn said:
I am surprised when they were in the van coming back from the impromptue meeting with the arabs, that they didn't give more abuse to thickie-redneck who shot the camels
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i think if anything by the way they acted they were just disgusted with him and saw ignoring him mainly as the best way of putting him down, seemed to have done a good job and he shut up pretty quick.
 
Finished reading the book at work this morning then went to see the film oh my god it was brilliant, sticks so close to the book you can remeber the page from where a lot of the quotes are taken.
its a breath of fresh air no big screaming yanks running in to blow things up chew gum and ask questions later, its got a nice pace and a lot of amusing parts while still showing the anger and frustration with all the waiting.
Plus the soundtrack was excellent :D
 
Maxi said:
When they all sat down to watch the 'film' (deer hunter or whatever). I actually felt sick myself for the guy.

The thought of having that happen made the stomach turn.
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Yea, but you must not have seen the bit at the end where the woman speaks to the camera. Because, that was he motivation for that
 
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