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Alex Garland’s Warfare

Hot Monkey

Hot Monkey

Well-Known Member

Went this morning to an early showing. Don’t go if you are expecting an epic war movie like Saving Private Ryan, 1917, etc. This is more like a totally immersive and at times shockingly loud and horrific reality TV experience. That’s not a criticism just a genre clarification for anyone expecting Hollywood drama this has zero. It’s brutal in its depiction of hyper realistic modern infantry combat. Not sure I ever need to watch it again although I’m glad I went once and experienced it on the big screen. The sound is by design alarming, unnerving and pretty incredible. The (true) story or plot is remarkably simple… it’s basically what feels like a real time retelling of a small group of soldiers who get pinned down in a house and have to fight their way out. That’s it. It’s only after the chaos ends and the real life soldiers are shown post credits that you fully understand just how harrowing and impactful this experience was for all of them.

My bottom line take on it is that Alex Garland has not so much made a war movie as he has somewhat masterfully used the movie screen to show everyone a little snapshot of what war can really look like. IMO it was super impressive and successful to that end just maybe not an Oscar winner or even top ten cinematic Hollywood war film in the traditional sense. Again not a criticism this is just not a normal war movie is all I’m saying.
 
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Some additional thoughts 24hrs later after processing a little more of what I watched. Also spoke about it with a close friend who is an experienced Iraq/Afghanistan combat veteran. Upon review and reflection what appeared initially to be a very simple story feels like it had more depth then at first glance. The real story may be the incredible depth of military discipline, training and adherence to procedure and protocol and how in the midst of utter chaos, panic, mayhem, violence and peril how all of this discipline was essential to keeping these soldiers alive. The complex coordination required between so many different military elements that occurred was difficult even to follow as it was unfolding and we are just seeing it as movie viewers... not standing in that house under heavy fire with chaos and battlefield injuries, etc. trying to remember what to do. What my military friend said about this was very simple and enlightening... if he didn't trust the guy next to him to be able to do his job and follow such protocols then he did not want to be next to that guy. A simple statement but again after watching and reviewing what this movie portrayed it made me appreciate the seemingly simple story a lot more.
 
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