af_xander

So, I may be a little biased because I'm in the military. But honestly this was hard to make myself just sit through. And not because it was anti-military, but because it gets it so wrong. It really reinforces your beliefs if you're already anti war. But as far as being accurate... well... I think if you believe this is completely accurate, then you've watched Full Metal Jacket a few too many times. Great idea, but it just gets it so wrong that it's just not believable. Besides the little details (which I'm always willing to look beyond stuff like uniforms, or basic knowledge of the military - for instance a .50 Cal would blow people in half, not just have a gun shot here or there), but the reactions were so unbelievable. If you haven't ever talked to a soldier who has killed a civilian before, you would probably feel the same about this film. Great idea, but it was just pushed too hard in the wrong directions.

Length is a factor for this film, and it's not the normal action driven war film. I was lucky enough to attend the premier in NY and from the perspective of a Cadet at West Point, I would say that I respected this film BECAUSE it "jumped around." It showed all perspectives and that there were people with good intentions on all sides. The bad intentions were included as well, and though it doesn't grab you the entire time, it tells an interesting tale. Sadly, most people don't go to see a war film for this reasons, they all want Saving Private Ryan these days. But that's not what war is always about, and this film shows the other aspects. The black soldiers are each equally representative of varying perspectives that these men had. With a lot of duality also represented, this film leaves a lot to think about if you watch it with the right eye. It seems most people I've talked to have a problem with length and action, but if you don't pay so much attention to that and just enjoy it, you'll find a nice film that takes a different approach.