Yeah it's good but it's no classic.

Rating: 8/10 (28 February 2010)

The consensus here regarding the greatness of this film has changed considerably over the last few months. When it first appeared it was regarded as a so-so Iraqi war drama but over time the hype has raised the film to iconic status. Recent BAFTA awards (what were they thinking?) confirm that thinking. I saw the movie several months ago and I still believe it is a good movie, well worth watching as it has some tense moments that really are "edge of the seat" stuff but the biggest miss with this film is the main character. Me, I like to like the main character(s). The film starts off impressively due entirely to Guy Pearce's performance as SSG Matt Thompson but then he gets killed! I couldn't possibly like his replacement SSG William James. He is one stupid yet incredibly lucky soldier who risks his own life and the life of his colleagues. He is certainly no hero. If I had liked him this film could have been a 10/10 not a 8/10. Further, I discovered this too early into the story and my impression doesn't change when the DVD kid goes missing and is presumably found very dead.
The real highlight for me was the encounter with the British and subsequent sniper scenario. I thought it was brilliant, but either side was a just too much Hollywood cliché. Going home to his loving family, a family, by the way that James finds droll and boring and his subsequent return to service was just the nail in the coffin. If it was up to me, Pearce would have been cast in the lead role, he would have been killed right near the end and the film would have been sensational. District 9 will be getting my vote for the standout pic of the year.