Quite an average film

Rating: 5/10 (19 September 2006)

I expected more of this film. The idea to show the US army going to Iraq through the eyes of a regular Jarhead was neat, and Jake Gyllenhaal is a very strong, promising actor, but the final result was large disappointment. Well, Jake is a good choice here, he plays a very good role, his acting is refreshing and convincing. But then, the film is far too long and soon starts to stumble and crawl. Anyway, there are absolutely excellent moments there. The one where the angry jar-heads try to kill at least one Arab is so truthful and chilling that makes you shudder. Or, when the jar-heads go along the desert, covered with the billows of oil smoke, black and really shocked - What are we doing here? Is the war that there is? The film could have been much better, be it not so slow and prolonged.