Jarhead (2005) (Blu Ray) - 8/10

Sam Mendes's third film is a very intersting take on war and based on a book of the same name written by the guy who experienced all this, it's cool to see it from their perspective. Listened to commentary by Mendes and another by the screenwriter and the real life "Swoff" character who wrote the book, they examine the details of being a marine and how the director was learning as they went in how to show the realism of relationships and horror they encountered along the way. It's hard to think that they were so bored during this war but the quote that says these soldiers were the actual casualities is important to understand as this movie tries to paint war as something that changes people for the worse and can bring out the animal in people who learn to kill and when dont' have that opportunity, turn on eachother. The comedic side is fun at times yet you can't help but be amazed at the ILM digital work of the blazing oil fields and mirror shots that give this movie a type of sadness that these soldiers didn't get the stories they wanted in the end.