grim, funny and real

Rating: 9/10 (9 January 2007)

I've viewed this many times since 1987, and each time it's absurdist, pessimistic view of the military machine seems more up to date. You could easily set this in Iraq: military training that dehumanizes; there is the U.S. Marine killing of civilians from the air; a suicide attack on a U.S. base; a young fanatical sniper; a disguised roadside bomb; unwilling allies; the uselessness of high-tech weapons when a war is reduced to street fighting; even the shooting of a prisoner - all chillingly familiar on the news. As the American Empire slowly wanes this film was one of it's pointers. Once again Kubrick predicted the future as in "2001" and a "Clockwork Orange" and "Dr. Strangelove". An amazing experience.