Jake Gyllenhaal as a troubled youth... brilliant casting.... can you taste the Sarcasm?

Rating: 2/10 (5 November 2005)

Let me run an idea past you. In a film, a greenhorn soldier has emotional realizations about the ugly truth of war, while confronting the demons of his own beliefs and self doubt. Sounds pretty good right! Of course. That's because "Apocalypse Now", "Full Metal Jacket", "Platoon".... they already covered this folks. Thus when watching Jarhead, you will likely have your own flashbacks. Jake Gyllenhaal and Jamie Foxx... remind anyone else of Charlie Sheen and Keith David? Repetitive qualities aside, I've grown to despise war movies, and not just the crap like "Pearl Harbor". From the 1940's to the 1960's the only movies made regarding war were propaganda films where the military was always virtuous and noble. Then came the mid 60's and every film made lashed out at the government, writing the military off as a group of war mongers. The real military, like everything else in life isn't black and white, its a hundred thousand shades of gray. If ever there was a film accurately portraying the military, it would probably be quite dull. Unfortunately, movies pointing out the military's flaws seem to draw in cash, so they keep getting made. "Lucky" for me, I got a free screening. I've wasted two hours... spare yourselves the time and money. Check out the Wallace and Gromit movie, you might hate it, but at least you'll avoid the deja vu.