Alone in the Desert (Sam Mendes tackles the Gulf War in "Jarhead")

The Weekly Standard ^ | November 4, 2005 | Jonathan V. Last

[GianniV]

'We Were Soldiers' was a pretty good flick. So was 'Soldier of Orange' from the late 70s, starring Rutger Hauer and Jeroen Krabbe.

[Borges]

The surrealism was there but I felt it captured the tone of that war nicely. The first 24 hour newschannel, cell phone, 'events happening quicker then we can report them' war.

[colorado tanker]

My problem with Three Kings was the idiot plot. If Saddam had a treasure trove of gold hidden away in some crapblaster village outside the American occupied area he wouldn't let three Americans drive in and take it.

[Jalapeno]

This whole year has been a bad movie.

[Mr. Jazzy]

Look, I know that "Doom" is no award winner.


I just like the idea of Marines taking it to zombie critters with chain saws.


Like I say, it's the simple things that give the most pleasure.


Later, Tater!

[Little Pig]

Aah, the Marines are just jealous because all they got in Desert Storm was one small artillery exchange in Khafji, and were pretty much left out of the main war. Of course they just sat around most of the time.

[Mr. Jazzy]

"Aah, the Marines are just jealous because all they got in Desert Storm was one small artillery exchange in Khafji, and were pretty much left out of the main war."


If I remember correctly, there were Marines IN the village, surronded by enemy tanks and troops, who called in arty on the enemy at "danger close" range.

[hattend]

That's what I was going to say. The director puts the picture in idle for the second hour? How long is this trainwreck?

Another Hollyweird "Gotta Miss" movie.

[Palisades]

I thought Three Kings was a good film, but there was a slight anti-American streak in it.

I saw it as more of an anti-Bush I streak. But the criticisms were right on, for the most part.

The Gulf War was just the setting. It was mostly a caper movie.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

"Why would Broyles and Mendes not merely invent a scene for dramatic purposes, but create a scene out of the exact opposite of how events actually took place?"

Maybe it's funnier that way.

[feedback doctor]

You know the thoughts and doubts you have when you get an email from Nigeria promising millions for your help with a bank transaction? I have the same thoughts when I see that Hollywood has made a war movie.

[colorado tanker]

The only decent war movie Hollywood has produced in recent years was They Were Soldiers, and the Hollywierd mainstream hated it, which tells me not to expect much from them for a long time.

[real saxophonist]

Was in the Marines during the Desert Shield/Desert Storm time. Didn't have to go over there, I think the Cherry Point band went.

Haven't read the book, because I've never heard anything good about it, the guy pretty much blames the Marines for all his problems, according to most reviews I've read.

I don't go to movies anyway, maybe I'll rent it one day.

[T.Smith]

Of course, we all know who won the Gulf War :-)

[Cinnamon]

Don't forget Saving Private Ryan...

[GVnana]

American Beauty was the worst movie I ever saw, but I might give this one a try.

[ECM]

Hey, I love the games (all of them) but, man, if you can't copy Aliens nearly 20 years later, don't even try ;)

[colorado tanker]

Don't forget Saving Private Ryan...

Good movie. And Spielberg and Hanks produced a nice mini-series in Band of Brothers.

Hollyweird can still do OK with WWII, which they consider the last "good" war. But they are so moonbat hateful of Bush it's really hard to think they could do anything good about Iraq.

[Little Pig]

Funny, I don't remember the AF parading down the streets of Kuwait City...


:)

[norton]

If I remember correctly Three Kings was a remake and relocation of an old John Wayne cowboys and wiped out wagon train flick.

?????