Jarhead the Movie...

...sucks according to Froggy (Matt) at Froggy Ruminations. He reviewed the movie for Hugh Hewitt, and this is what he had to say:

The story of Anthony Swofford's war service in the Marine Corps during the first Gulf War, it is a first person account of what it is like to be a $hitbird in the Corps. While it is always very easy for veterans to nitpick war films to death for every minute technical discrepancy that conflicts with the reality of military service, this film's errors were so glaring and ridiculous that only patchouli stinking anti-war activists would be gullible enough to believe them.

I read the book during my second trip to Iraq. The guy who gave it too me was making fun of it, so because I used to be a Jarhead I was naturally intrigued.

I felt pretty much the same about the book as Froggy did about the movie - it sucked. The one particularly hokey part that sticks out in my mind now is the part where Swofford contemplates committing suicide. He made some comment about his tongue swirling around the flash-suppressor of his M-16, or something ridiculous like that. I then realized why my Army buddy was busting on Swofford - because Swofford comes off like an idiot.

During the first Gulf War with the USMC, I spent a better portion of my time (like everyone else) doing a whole lot of waiting. We made the push to Kuwait City, did some souvenir collecting, and then waited around some more. Yes, there were a few times when things got a little spooky, but all in all it was a walk in the park compared to the war we are in now. It's a good thing Swofford decided to get out of the Corps. He would probably have screwed things up for the new batch of Marines who are kicking ass in Iraq today.

I'm not going to waste my money on this movie. Thanks for the heads-up Froggy! Semper Fi.