Horrible cinematic patchwork without pattern

Rating: 4/10 (2 March 2010)

It is surprising how this movie fails to do justice to so many ambitious ventures it dares to explore.
It reduces struggle of US soldiers to shallow narration. Iraqi civilians are pale silhouettes. The director does not dare to take any stance whatsoever, believing, I assume, that in such way viewers will have their own conclusions. However, ignoring political issues and pretending the film will find its place in the hearts of the viewers as moving story about common people in war madness – in this cinematic work is downright preposterous. The above is indeed possible when you are faced with gripping human story – which this movie is not.
The plot tries to tackle several situations that are supposed to paint the experience with different colours and emotions. But the situations are so weakly set and motivated that movie turns into stream of boring and uncompleted stages.
The attempts of characterisation are laughable.
Utter disappointment of something that had potential of becoming solid and deep war movie. Its storytelling is diluted to horrible cinematic patchwork without pattern.