I have mixed emotions

Rating: 7/10 (6 November 2005)

I was lucky enough to see an advanced screening of this film. I had high expectations for this one, I have read articles by Anthony Swofford, the writer of the novel and person who Swoff is based on. I was left with mixed emotions after seeing it.It was good but it wasn't great. The acting is very strong on the part of Peter Asgard and Jake Gyllenhal and some of the parts are very powerful in my opinion, while other parts are brisked over like a certain training scene. There is heavy reference to other war films in this movie and while it strives to be modern and original its just another war film. there really isn't any innovative camera work and the story is very cliché on certain war related topics. It still gives a glimpse at how sometimes there's just nothing to do in the desert, but then again war is war and its hard to make something unique so there are similarities to the loss and gain of the war experience. The boot camp scenes and rifle references wreak of Kubrick and the viewing of war films in the movie kind of make them prerequisites to seeing this film. It definitely isn't the best war film but it is worth seeing.