Trying to fill enormous shoes is a difficult task to accomplish. I have stated before, when new films are released to the public, normally it is not an original idea. In most cases it is based off of an older film that sparked an idea in Sam Mendez's(director)' mind that gave him inspiration to do his version of that film-full metal jacket to jarhead. These films were meant to tell you the stories behind the military and the hardships our brave troops, who serve and protect us, go through. Each of these films are unique in their own way but each have the same message.
This film is riddled with stars: Jamie Fox (stgt Sikes), Jake Gyllenhaal (Swafford), Lucas Black (Kris Kruger)....but still lacks the ability to become an epic war film like Saving Private Ryan or Pearl Harbor. The film's carbon copy twin Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) displays how marine life is, through the eyes of Mathew Modine (Gomer Pyle), very relentless, have to do constant rigorous training, and a hard nose stone jaw drill instructor yelling at the central character constantly to try and break down his mental. Sounds familiar? If it dose not I can tell you what that oh so conventional story line sounds like. It is the horribly mediocre and unoriginal Jarhead.
Now I acknowledge the fact that this is a war/love story but, that should not take away the wartime/eire feeling that this film lacks. It was more of a story that was fast forwarded through most of Swafford's life. Also the whole movie unfolded in the course of several months which makes the plot even more unbelievable. the movie tried to capture the real events and situations that go on in our fine military but failed to do so. Reason being is that the events that transpire throughout the whole film seem to "Hollywood". Granted it is a Hollywood production but, Sam Mendez failed to capture all the bloody Gorey scenes that occur during war-as a Saving Private Ryan film would have.
Even tho the film was not unique in any peculiar way I can still resurrect some admiral traits out of this movie. The pros of the movie are the acting, realistic scenery, and the character progression. The acting job done by Jake Gyllenhaal is phenomenal because he totally embodies the whole character of Anthony Swafford (who the movies is about). Another merit that this film receives from me is the fact that Mendez actually traveled all the way to the middle east to shoot some of the scenes. This is proving that in his attempt in trying to step out of his comfort zone and produce a war movie he tried to make the movie as authentic as possible. the last of the few things Mendez dose right is show a brilliant character progression through Swaff. We got to see Swaff come into the marines perfectly sane an a little disgruntled as to why he had to join then throughout the film we get to see him turn into a well trained killing machine with discipline who salivates at the thought of "pink mist"(a clean shot to the head).
In closing, Jarhead was utterly predictable (fresh recruits endure tough training; fresh recruits encounter a new culture and are dumbfounded),studded with Oscar winning performances and actors. But eventually the great cast was just a cover up for the weak timeworn script. It seems as though Mendez's attempt to venture into unfamiliar territory with war a films was unsuccessful. Making the quote "every war is different; every war is the same" seem remedial seeing as not one of the well trained snipers fired a shot. Filling big shoes is an enormous responsibility so if you can not beat the standard do not even attempt.
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