Jarhead (R)

Intelligent and bleak; for mature audiences only.

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Common Sense rates it
4
Seen the movie? Review it
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Movie details
  • Studio: Universal Studios, Universal Studios
  • Directed By: Sam Mendes
  • Cast: Jamie Foxx, Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard
  • Running Time: 123 minutes
  • Release Date: 11/04/2005
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 03/07/2006
  • Genre: Drama
  • MPAA Rating: R
  • MPAA Explanation: pervasive language, some violent images and strong sexual content

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie isn't appropriate for kids. It includes frequent scenes of violence, including shooting (at targets and people), hazing rituals, fights, explosions, and grueling training exercises. The film shows frequent images of carcasses (burned and broken along the Gulf war's infamous Highway of Death). Characters curse relentlessly, smoke cigarettes, drink, and do drugs. The troops also engage in frank sex talk (including slang for genitals and masturbation) and gestures; the film includes a brief glimpse at the protagonist's parents in a hotel bed, and scenes from a homemade porn movie (the doggy-style sex act is explicit, without penetration).

Families can talk about the conventional reasons for war, the ways that young men posture for one another in order to prove their "masculine" identities, and defining "enemies" by their differences. How does Tony's experience in the Saudi desert not meet his expectations -- of glory, mission, and camaraderie? How is Tony, as a precise, ground-based sniper, shown to be outmoded by overwhelming air-war technologies?

Message

Social Behavior:

Troops are cynical, wartime violence is expected but harrowing.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Cigarette-smoking, drinking, pot-smoking.

Violence

More focused on effects of violence than violent acts; explicit images of burned corpses.

Sex

Repeated sexual allusions and language; a couple of brief sex scenes; sexy photos from girls back home; troops fret over cheating girlfriends.

Language

Extreme cursing (100s of f-words, slang for genitals, abusive slang); some racial and sexual orientation slang.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Cynthia Fuchs

Joining the marines, 20-year-old Tony Swofford (Jake Gyllenhaal) seeks sense, maybe a way to fit in. In training camp, he becomes a sniper and learns to dote on his gun. When Swoff and his spotter Troy (Peter Sarsgaard) are sent, along with Staff Sergeant Sykes (Jamie Foxx), to the Saudi desert, they're instructed to hydrate and train. Days and days and days they wait. They play football, drink, spit prefab answers for the press, and erect a Wall of Shame to their cheating girlfriends back home to survive the monotony, as they also anticipate the worst. Macho and childish at the same time, they can't imagine the horrors they will behold. At last, they're sent to a battleground that's been decimated by the awesome U.S. air war. Traipsing through the desert until they come on what became known as the Highway of Death, they look out on charred vehicles and corpses, the top layer of sand burned black beneath their boots.

Is it any good?

4
Adapted from Anthony Swofford's 2003 memoir, Jarhead is a frankly intelligent and beautifully bleak war movie with very little conventional "war" in it. It focuses on the ways that authorities rationalize war "scenarios" and train troops to carry out orders that are, on their face, irrational and costly. The movie depicts the "conflict" as an endless series of traumas that will continue to afflict Swoff and his fellows long after they're "home." The problem with war, according to Jarhead, is precisely that it's endless.

In the horrific Highway of Death scene, Swoff is shown sitting near the dead man, so that each appears in foreground and background, as if they are conversing. The effect is more harrowing than any battle sequence, underlining Jarhead's anguished point: war is not heroic or rousing. It is only devastating.

Other choices

Three Kings

Full Metal Jacket

The Big Red One (1980)(1980)
The Thin Red Line
The Grand Illusion

Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 10 reviews.

5

Posted on 05/26/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12

Great Movie!!!

I think this was a great movie.The sex scenes were a little iffy, but other than that it was okay.
5


Posted on 07/05/07 by damoviecritic Kid contributor, age 14

One of the great war movies

This was truly an excellant film. For one thing, it is extremly funny. But it is much more than that. It is probably as close to modern warfare as can be dipicted in a movie. I have heard a few first hand stories of Iraq veterans, and this film comes very close to hitting the mark. The soldiers are fighting boredom, not a horrific enemy. There are no huge, epic, stomach churning conflicts in the film. That is because the movie wants to be more serious than that. It is not a pretentious, action packed bloodbath in the vein of Private Ryan. It is a soldiers story, clear and simple, and I think every teenage kid interested in modern warfare and potentialy fighting should see THIS film, not Saving Private Ryan.
4


Posted on 04/20/07 by Kass Kid contributor, age 14

Wonderful, but tred with caution

Jarhead is a brilliant film. With exceptional pacing, acting, and cinematography, and a fascinating premise, it does well across the boards. All the same, this is one that I would strongly caution parents about; I would recommend that only older, very mature teens be allowed to see it. There are some disturbing war images, alarming transformations in the soldiers, and a few scenes of graphic sexuality; but what truly is the problem in this movie is the language. When the CSM reviewer there were hundreds of instances of the f-word, this was not an exaggeration: to be exact, are 278 instances of that swear alone. So: adults, enjoy. But in terms of your teenager(s), think wisely.
1


Posted on 03/28/06 by momo2 Adult contributor
4

Posted on 03/28/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Excellent

This is definitly one of those movies that every young adult should see. Especially those considering the military. The story is realistic. The characters are believable. And the content is not too bad given how far they could have gone.
4


Posted on 03/21/06 by bethlthomson Adult contributor

its sucks its only for teens & growing ups.
5


Posted on 03/18/06 by Catlysha Adult contributor

thank you... a film that lets me use my brain

This film can be summed up by the lyrics of a single song 'War... huh... what is it good for...absolutly nothing, say it again', i forget who the song is by, but you get the picture. Yet while it manages to display the dissilusionment often felt about modern political war, the film manages to stay clear of too many cleches that surround what life in the miltary is like. This balance is most notable in the role of Sworff played by Jake Gyllenhaal. who simultauously critricses the marine corps, yet willingly partakes in the life he is presented with as a result of being in the marine corps!! All in all the film is an intelligent look into the military and war with the indervidual stories of people found within the marine corps taking the main focus rather than any overt political comment. in my opinion this adds to the films genius, by presenting the facts and reality of the characters it leaves the audience to decide what to make of what happens within the film. In this way forcing the audience to think, and distencing itself from other shoot um up action films where answers to moral dilemers are often given in neat little packages. with this film you have to face in full, the range of human capabilites and feelings, from heroism to cowadice, to anger, hate and love, its all there.
4


Posted on 01/01/06 by i have i s Adult contributor

interesting

good movie but if you were in the military you will understand
3


Posted on 11/08/05 by seenit Adult contributor
3

Posted on 11/05/05 by Anonymous Adult contributor

The point is...there is no point

This is a well made film with good pacing, amazing scenery and special effects (digging foxholes in a burning oilfield flooded with oil, charred bodies and burned out vehicles, human branding), and excellent acting. What it lacks is plot and a point. Unless, the point is that there is no point and there is no beginning, middle and end to war. One leaves this film feeling that one has an inside look at what it is like to be a Marine and to be on the desert in war. There is way more swearing and sexual content than in most war movies. Except for a very graphic scene of the charred bodies after Allied bombing of an Iraqi highway, there is really not much violence or gore. This is mostly about feeling trapped and frustrated and disappointed. I want to read the book now. There seems to be a really good story trying to get out of the main character. I don't think we really get access to the best part of the story in this movie.

See all 10 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 7 reviews.

1


Posted on 03/28/06 by momo2 Adult contributor
4

Posted on 03/28/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Excellent

This is definitly one of those movies that every young adult should see. Especially those considering the military. The story is realistic. The characters are believable. And the content is not too bad given how far they could have gone.
4


Posted on 03/21/06 by bethlthomson Adult contributor

its sucks its only for teens & growing ups.
5


Posted on 03/18/06 by Catlysha Adult contributor

thank you... a film that lets me use my brain

This film can be summed up by the lyrics of a single song 'War... huh... what is it good for...absolutly nothing, say it again', i forget who the song is by, but you get the picture. Yet while it manages to display the dissilusionment often felt about modern political war, the film manages to stay clear of too many cleches that surround what life in the miltary is like. This balance is most notable in the role of Sworff played by Jake Gyllenhaal. who simultauously critricses the marine corps, yet willingly partakes in the life he is presented with as a result of being in the marine corps!! All in all the film is an intelligent look into the military and war with the indervidual stories of people found within the marine corps taking the main focus rather than any overt political comment. in my opinion this adds to the films genius, by presenting the facts and reality of the characters it leaves the audience to decide what to make of what happens within the film. In this way forcing the audience to think, and distencing itself from other shoot um up action films where answers to moral dilemers are often given in neat little packages. with this film you have to face in full, the range of human capabilites and feelings, from heroism to cowadice, to anger, hate and love, its all there.
4


Posted on 01/01/06 by i have i s Adult contributor

interesting

good movie but if you were in the military you will understand
3


Posted on 11/08/05 by seenit Adult contributor
3

Posted on 11/05/05 by Anonymous Adult contributor

The point is...there is no point

This is a well made film with good pacing, amazing scenery and special effects (digging foxholes in a burning oilfield flooded with oil, charred bodies and burned out vehicles, human branding), and excellent acting. What it lacks is plot and a point. Unless, the point is that there is no point and there is no beginning, middle and end to war. One leaves this film feeling that one has an inside look at what it is like to be a Marine and to be on the desert in war. There is way more swearing and sexual content than in most war movies. Except for a very graphic scene of the charred bodies after Allied bombing of an Iraqi highway, there is really not much violence or gore. This is mostly about feeling trapped and frustrated and disappointed. I want to read the book now. There seems to be a really good story trying to get out of the main character. I don't think we really get access to the best part of the story in this movie.
See all 7 adult reviews>

Kids Reviews

There are 3 reviews.

5

Posted on 05/26/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12

Great Movie!!!

I think this was a great movie.The sex scenes were a little iffy, but other than that it was okay.
5


Posted on 07/05/07 by damoviecritic Kid contributor, age 14

One of the great war movies

This was truly an excellant film. For one thing, it is extremly funny. But it is much more than that. It is probably as close to modern warfare as can be dipicted in a movie. I have heard a few first hand stories of Iraq veterans, and this film comes very close to hitting the mark. The soldiers are fighting boredom, not a horrific enemy. There are no huge, epic, stomach churning conflicts in the film. That is because the movie wants to be more serious than that. It is not a pretentious, action packed bloodbath in the vein of Private Ryan. It is a soldiers story, clear and simple, and I think every teenage kid interested in modern warfare and potentialy fighting should see THIS film, not Saving Private Ryan.
4


Posted on 04/20/07 by Kass Kid contributor, age 14

Wonderful, but tred with caution

Jarhead is a brilliant film. With exceptional pacing, acting, and cinematography, and a fascinating premise, it does well across the boards. All the same, this is one that I would strongly caution parents about; I would recommend that only older, very mature teens be allowed to see it. There are some disturbing war images, alarming transformations in the soldiers, and a few scenes of graphic sexuality; but what truly is the problem in this movie is the language. When the CSM reviewer there were hundreds of instances of the f-word, this was not an exaggeration: to be exact, are 278 instances of that swear alone. So: adults, enjoy. But in terms of your teenager(s), think wisely.
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