Jarhead is strictly Hollywood

Rating: 1/10 (30 November 2005)

Jarhead is strictly Hollywood - a movie of "sound and fury, signifying nothing." On a recent radio talk show, I heard a friend of one of the Marines portrayed in the movie say that the guys hated the movie, that it was not an actual depiction. The movie depends on the F-- word (among others), nudity, alpha-macho-male conduct (preying upon one another in the barracks), and obscene cavorting in order to "entertain" the audience. I'd hate to think that all Marines serving in the Middle East are immature, crude and immoral individuals. The entire movie is designed to "set up" today's military as a cadre of idiots. Not a single admirable character in the bunch. Come on now! Is that reality? The only memorable scene for me was the burning oil wells, but that didn't make up for the disgust I felt for the waste of time and money.