Entertaining war movie that does not hold back with its graphic war violence

Rating: 8/10 (25 January 2015)

Fury is another war movie that does not hold back on showing the horrors of war and its unflinchingly graphic violence. The violence is certainly not over the top nor does it have graphic violence for the sake of it. It is real and it shows the viewer that war is hell, and in no way should the makers of the movie apologise or have to justify themselves for exhibiting such graphic violence. Fury may not be right up there with such classic war movies as Saving Private Ryan, Apocalypse Now or Platoon, but its still an entertaining and enjoyable war movie.
Brad Pitt is the hardened and battle weary tank commander Sgt Don "Wardaddy" Collier who has been responsible for leading his tank affectionately named Fury as well as his crew through many campaigns in World War II. His experienced crew includes the deeply religious and God-fearing Boyd "Bible" Swan (Shia LaBeouf), the tank driver Trini "Gordo" Garcia (Michael Pena), and the vicious and volatile Grady "Coon-Ass" Travis (Jon Bernthal). After one of their crew members is killed, a fresh-faced Army Clerk Norman "Machine" Ellison (Logan Lerman) who has not been in combat is called in as a replacement and dropped right into a baptism of fire. The crew at first treat Norman with disdain and contempt , but once Norman is able to overcome his fears and proves himself in battle, the men start to treat him like one of their own.
Brad Pitt shows that age 50, age will not weary him and he still shows the same clout as a box office draw card that he has always possessed throughout his career. Shia LaBeouf may be regarded as a person who is not quite right away from the cameras, but in Fury all that is put aside as he puts in a very likable performance as "Bible". Logan Lerman is a standout as the Army Clerk inexperienced on the battlefield but gradually becomes hardened by the horrors of war and shows that he has an intense hatred for the enemy. Michael Pena is always a likable actor no matter what movie he is in. Jon Bernthal of The Walking Dead fame came across as very unlikeable and volatile, but after a while he shows that he is a human being who has almost lost his humanity through the horrors of the war.
Director David Ayer (Street Kings, End of Watch) does a great job bringing Fury to life with Brad Pitt and the rest of the cast as well as the story that has you hooked from start to finish. David Ayer also hammers home the message that war is hell and affects everybody on the battlefield.
Although Fury does not reach the same groundbreaking cinematic heights as other classic war movies, nonetheless it is still an entertaining movie that is highly recommended.
8/10