This is one of the best anti-war films ever made. Inspired by a brilliant book written by a Czech writer Hasek who (like Tolkien) participated in one of the saddest events in human history which was World War I. As is well known all world wars were pre-planned by a handful of the richest and most influential people who rule our planet in the 1850s. If you want to be a flaming optimist their long-term goal may have been to change the political and economic mechanisms of human civilization towards a better future for all, but short term they made them lots of money. There is no better business than war and the bloodbath of 1914-1918 in Europe was one of the best in history. I have nothing but admiration for the main characters, plain soldiers, in this movie who show little reverence for their braindead officers who in turn view them as little more than cannon fodder. It exposes war as a game played by psychopaths for whom some imagined values are worth more than the lives and happiness of millions. If it wasn't so horrible it would be funny - adults behaving like children at play: wearing ugly uniforms like employees at a fast food restaurant, losing limb and life to get someone to hang a small piece of metal on their chest or sew a white line on their shoulder. Brainwashed children thinking their deeds will be remembered forever while a few days is the limit. These guys know all this and I cheered them on their journey every step of the way. Congratulations to the director for a very profound message wrapped in entertaining and intelligent package. This movie is a big middle finger to the war pigs who make money on human suffering. Europeans beware. They already organized 2 of these bloodbaths on your continent and now a third one is brewing. They are already counting their millions but they want more. It's never enough for them.
