" This War gives little reason of why good Men should have to die for Oil "

Rating: 6/10 (6 March 2014)

From personal memoirs and written with first hand knowledge of his military experiences comes a movie called " Jarhead. " Director Sam Mendes allows audiences to follow actor Jake Gyllenhaal as Anthony Swofford from Boot camp to The Gulf War otherwise called 'Operation Iraqi Freedom.' Swoffords' book describe the many experiences of the new Marine during his early days in Basic Training, through his desert travels in the Country of Iraq. He learns, as many young men have learned that going to war, does not necessarily means understanding why he must fight. A fact no one ever explains either. Although he and the military enters Iraq, indeed, Kuwait, to secure Freedom for the citizens of Kuwait, none are ever given democracy. In fact the country is returned back to the Despot King after the war ends. As for the movie, it becomes a fixture in Swofford's mind of all the misery the Corps bequeathes to him and his brother Marines. There is no glory in this war and even less in the country he is stationed in. He does however witness the political turmoil and double talk, of the various leaders of his own country from his immediate officers to the inept President George W. Bush who had to further invade the neighboring country of Iraq to try and finish Operation Desert Shield with Operation Desert Storm. The movie is slow to follow as is the gritty outcome of the war. Scenes from utter boredom, the childish behavior of his fellow soldiers to the emotional reactions of comrade's when receiving bad news from back home. Still the cast which includes Peter Sarsgaard, Jamie Foxx and Chris Cooper, make for good acting and an interesting story line. The memorable scenes in the movie include the burning of the Oil Wells which in itself are well worth the viewing and the long destructive mess left behind by the Air Force. ****