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Rating: 9/10 (29 January 2015)

Having been around awhile I've seen my share of war movies. Back in the last century most were about triumphant, courageous types who were luckier than lottery winners. Bullets always seemed to just miss them while their shots almost always hit the mark. It was a simpler, more simple-minded, time. I think 'Fury' would have appalled 'the greatest generation' having been weaned on John Wayne and Audie Murphy.
There's no way to explain it. Brad Pitt and Shia LaBeouf have a better grasp of warfare than your average recruiting sergeant. Their performances here evoke a better sense of battle and war than any I've seen. And I felt as if they were bringing to life exactly what needed to be seen: those scenes between brothers in arms that 99% of soldiers know, no one will ever know or understand.
It's a terrifying movie to watch and I'm glad I didn't catch it until the DVD came out. I was able to stop it when it got too intense which was a couple of times. Every performance is beautifully delivered and that's a miracle too. How did the director get these young men to understand what most men never will? It's beyond me.
This story is a moving experience but probably not destined to be everyone's favorite, especially women. The only scenes not hip deep in war are shocking and disturbing because they involve men with women under the worst of circumstances. The battle scenes make sense and yet there's no hint they're somehow contrived. That in itself is a unique achievement.
I haven't seen 'American Sniper' yet but if it's even half as good as this I'll be quite happy.