The Movie Jar Head

[DanCa]

I have been seeing bits and pieces of clips during my regular tv viewing. Is this a pro war or anti war movie. I probably can't see it because I have a low tolerance for movies that portray real life violence right now. Let me know about the movie. Thanks Danny.

[TheMightyFavog]

1. Here's the link to the book it was based on

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000CAR5Y/002-3135523-5198426?v=glance&n=283155&n=507846&s=books&v=glance

A witty, profane, down-in-the-sand account of the war many only know from CNN, this former sniper's debut is a worthy addition to the battlefield memoir genre. There isn't a bit of heroic posturing as Swofford describes the sheer terror of being fired upon by Iraqi troops; the elite special forces warrior freely admits wetting himself once rockets start exploding around his unit's encampment. But the adrenaline of battle is fleeting, and Swofford shows how it's in the waiting that soldiers are really made. With blunt language and bittersweet humor, he vividly recounts the worrying, drinking, joking, lusting and just plain sitting around that his troop endured while wondering if they would ever put their deadly skills to use. As Operation Desert Shield becomes Desert Storm, one of Swofford's fellow snipers-the most macho of the bunch-solicits a hug from each man. "We are about to die in combat, so why not get one last hug, one last bit of physical contact," Swofford writes. "And through the hugs helps make us human again." When they do finally fight, Swofford questions whether the men are as prepared as their commanders, the American public and the men themselves think they are. Swofford deftly uses flashbacks to chart his journey from a wide-eyed adolescent with a family military legacy to a hardened fighter who becomes consumed with doubt about his chosen role. As young soldiers might just find themselves deployed to the deserts of Iraq, this book offers them, as well as the casual reader, an unflinching portrayal of the loneliness and brutality of modern warfare and sophisticated analyses of-and visceral reactions to-its politics.

[MrScorpio]

6. Sounds like a story in the tradition of the late, great Gustav Hasford

Sounds good

[democracyindanger]

2. Pick up the book

It's certainly not pro-war, and I can't say it's stridently anti-war--but it can be considered anti-war because it shows the ugliness honestly.

Can't say what the end result in movie form will be, but if it's faithful to the book, it'll be more "Platoon" than "The Green Berets."

[DanCa]

5. Do you think it's like full metal jacket?

That was won of the most brilliantly real films i saw and the last intelluctantly honest piece i ever scene. It also turned me off of war films. Because it showed me how real combat and trainning was.

[DS1]

3. I'll probably go see it

However, since there's no beach to storm as yet another dumb marine waiting to eat his bullet, I guess I can't really relate to this movie.

:eyes:

[BlueIris]

4. I've just been wondering how I'm going to make myself "resistant"

enough to see this film. I still haven't quite recovered all the way from F 9/11 yet.

[bliss_eternal]

7. Here's a link to an interview w/director Sam Mendes...

http://www.empireonline.co.uk/interviews_and_events/interview.asp?IID=297

He speaks a bit about the movie and what aspects of the book he decided to utilize for the film.