thedrifter
11-07-05, 06:34 AM
Published - November, 7, 2005
Marines weigh in on depiction in 'Jarhead'
Opinions of Gulf War film fall on both sides of the line in the sand
Nicole Lozare
@PensacolaNewsJournal.com
New to the Marines, Pvt. David Castleberry wanted to watch a movie about his new brotherhood.
"I think it's going to be motivating," said the 19-year-old, who is studying aviation electronics at Pensacola Naval Air Station. "My buddy saw it and said that 90 percent of the people in the theater didn't get it and that maybe I would."
The movie? "Jarhead," adapted from Anthony Swofford's best-selling memoir of the same title. The film is about Swofford's time in the Marine Corps during Operation Desert Storm in early 1991.
The 115-minute movie isn't so much about politics or the climax of war. Instead, it is about the emotional turmoil, the stress and even the boredom of war.
The film, directed by Sam Mendes of "American Beauty," will spark controversy, Internet pundits proclaimed long before the movie was released Friday.
An example: "Are we ever going to get to kill anyone?" is a question posed by a Marine toward the end of the film.
At a Sunday afternoon show at Rave Motion Pictures, viewers gave the movie mixed reviews.
A group of Marines, who declined to be interviewed, complained loudly outside the theater that "Jarhead" made them look bad. After the film, Castleberry said that he believes it is an accurate depiction of Marines fighting a war.
"That's the spitting image of what I thought the Marine Corps was when I got in it," said the Oregon native. "I don't think a civilian could understand what that movie was really talking about. That movie was trying to explain the way we think, how we have problems as Marines and how we adapt and overcome situations."
The movie also shows the reality of being a Marine, Castleberry said. Killing is what Marines are trained to do, he said.
David Kauffman, who comes from a military family, said the film was more about the "interpersonal relationship and the frustrations of bureaucracy."
"I think there is realism in the movie," said the 30-year-old paramedic from Pensacola. "The irony is that we are out there again."
Barry Calvit, who served as a Navy physician during the Persian Gulf War, thought the movie was fair to Marines.
"It didn't just stereotype them," said the 43-year-old, who is now out of the service. "I've known characters just like these guys. It really portrayed a lot of frustrations."
Desert Storm, as the movie showed, involved a lot of waiting, Calvit said. "Sitting there, waiting and waiting and then just like that," Calvit snapped his fingers, "the Gulf War was over.
"Some (veterans) will say that's exactly what it was like, and others will say it portrayed them badly," he said.
"I think it was as close as Hollywood can get to accuracy."
Ellie
Marines weigh in on depiction in 'Jarhead'
Opinions of Gulf War film fall on both sides of the line in the sand
Nicole Lozare
@PensacolaNewsJournal.com
New to the Marines, Pvt. David Castleberry wanted to watch a movie about his new brotherhood.
"I think it's going to be motivating," said the 19-year-old, who is studying aviation electronics at Pensacola Naval Air Station. "My buddy saw it and said that 90 percent of the people in the theater didn't get it and that maybe I would."
The movie? "Jarhead," adapted from Anthony Swofford's best-selling memoir of the same title. The film is about Swofford's time in the Marine Corps during Operation Desert Storm in early 1991.
The 115-minute movie isn't so much about politics or the climax of war. Instead, it is about the emotional turmoil, the stress and even the boredom of war.
The film, directed by Sam Mendes of "American Beauty," will spark controversy, Internet pundits proclaimed long before the movie was released Friday.
An example: "Are we ever going to get to kill anyone?" is a question posed by a Marine toward the end of the film.
At a Sunday afternoon show at Rave Motion Pictures, viewers gave the movie mixed reviews.
A group of Marines, who declined to be interviewed, complained loudly outside the theater that "Jarhead" made them look bad. After the film, Castleberry said that he believes it is an accurate depiction of Marines fighting a war.
"That's the spitting image of what I thought the Marine Corps was when I got in it," said the Oregon native. "I don't think a civilian could understand what that movie was really talking about. That movie was trying to explain the way we think, how we have problems as Marines and how we adapt and overcome situations."
The movie also shows the reality of being a Marine, Castleberry said. Killing is what Marines are trained to do, he said.
David Kauffman, who comes from a military family, said the film was more about the "interpersonal relationship and the frustrations of bureaucracy."
"I think there is realism in the movie," said the 30-year-old paramedic from Pensacola. "The irony is that we are out there again."
Barry Calvit, who served as a Navy physician during the Persian Gulf War, thought the movie was fair to Marines.
"It didn't just stereotype them," said the 43-year-old, who is now out of the service. "I've known characters just like these guys. It really portrayed a lot of frustrations."
Desert Storm, as the movie showed, involved a lot of waiting, Calvit said. "Sitting there, waiting and waiting and then just like that," Calvit snapped his fingers, "the Gulf War was over.
"Some (veterans) will say that's exactly what it was like, and others will say it portrayed them badly," he said.
"I think it was as close as Hollywood can get to accuracy."
Ellie