NationStates Jolt Archive

I have not seen the movie, Im determining if it will be a good movie or propaganda desgined to get more support for the military in Iraq and to boost ratings for the government.

I have not seen the movie, Im determining if it will be a good movie or propaganda desgined to get more support for the military in Iraq and to boost ratings for the government.
A movie can be propaganda and still be good. Almost every Hollywood movie that gets nominated for Best Picture is pushing some agenda. That is, by definition, propaganda.

Its about Gulf War I (circa 1990-1991) Not about bolster support for the current war.


But i have yet to see it, I'm going to go see it in about 2 hours though

When did Leatherneck go out of fashion?

A movie can be propaganda and still be good. Almost every Hollywood movie that gets nominated for Best Picture is pushing some agenda. That is, by definition, propaganda.
No, propaganda is only propaganda when it is pro-US. Otherwise it is "unbiased", "independent" or "a spider."

When did Leatherneck go out of fashion?

It didn't, but I think the guy's autobiography was called Jarhead.. the guy who wrote the book the movie's based on, that is. I haven't seen the movie though, so I dunno about the original question. However, I heard there's very little action in the movie, since the guy who wrote it never really saw action during the war.

It didn't, but I think the guy's autobiography was called Jarhead.. the guy who wrote the book the movie's based on, that is. I haven't seen the movie though, so I dunno about the original question. However, I heard there's very little action in the movie, since the guy who wrote it never really saw action during the war.
Well its not just that i ust always here Jarhead and i have no idea what it really means.

Well its not just that i ust always here Jarhead and i have no idea what it really means.

It's a reference to the haircut, I believe.. the "high-and-tight" cut.. and usually the term of choice for people wanting to insult them.. My family's all Army going back, and they'll use "jarhead" when they want to poke fun at Marines. Marines can use the term endearingly, of course, as well.

It's fun, it's propaganda, it's Funproganda!

It's fun, it's propaganda, it's Funproganda!
Shouldn't that be Funaganda, instead?

It's a reference to the haircut, I believe.. the "high-and-tight" cut.. and usually the term of choice for people wanting to insult them.. My family's all Army going back, and they'll use "jarhead" when they want to poke fun at Marines. Marines can use the term endearingly, of course, as well.

The term "jarhead" is also linked to the uniform hat that some said looks like a mason jar lid.

"Leatherneck" comes from the thick leather collar the marines wore back in the days of sailing ships and boarding parties, developed to help turn the blow of a sword aimed at decapitating the marine.

The term "jarhead" is also linked to the uniform hat that some said looks like a mason jar lid.

"Leatherneck" comes from the thick leather collar the marines wore back in the days of sailing ships and boarding parties, developed to help turn the blow of a sword aimed at decapitating the marine.


I always liked the Marine Headgear, it looks better than My BDU Soft Cap, except when a good ranger roll is done ;-)
and its a hell of a lot better than that damn ugly black Beret I wear.

And the New ACU caps, errrr i don't know if I like them.

It's a reference to the haircut, I believe.. the "high-and-tight" cut.. and usually the term of choice for people wanting to insult them.. My family's all Army going back, and they'll use "jarhead" when they want to poke fun at Marines. Marines can use the term endearingly, of course, as well.
That is cause Marines don't know any better.

I always liked the Marine Headgear, it looks better than My BDU Soft Cap, except when a good ranger roll is done ;-)
and its a hell of a lot better than that damn ugly black Beret I wear.

And the New ACU caps, errrr i don't know if I like them.
Because Image is the most important thing?

It's fun, it's propaganda, it's Funproganda!Shouldn't that be Funaganda, instead?

propafunda!

It didn't, but I think the guy's autobiography was called Jarhead.. the guy who wrote the book the movie's based on, that is. I haven't seen the movie though, so I dunno about the original question. However, I heard there's very little action in the movie, since the guy who wrote it never really saw action during the war.

It was based on the book Jarhead: A Marine's Chronicle of the Gulf War and Other Battles by Anthony Swofford.
Amazon link (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0743235355/103-6552032-9455808?v=glance)
I have read the book - twice (I just re-read it about a month ago). Swofford was a scout/sniper. He didn't really see action, but the book is more about the USMC.

On the whole it seems to come across as anti-military and particularly anti-USMC to some readers (see the amazon link). However, I found it wasn't really so much anti-military as a realistic look at the military. (This opinion is based on annecdotal evidence from friends who've served in the military, as well as extensive reading on the subject.)

I plan to see the movie, preferably with some of my friends who served in the USMC. I don't know if it keeps well with the book. If it does, it would in no way be propaganda.

propafunda!
That just sounds like some sort of Genital Fungus.

That just sounds like some sort of Genital Fungus.

or the cream to cure it

Funnily enough, this thread was created while I was watching Jarhead in the theater. With the experience fresh in my mind, I feel I can relay my opinions here with my trademark, almost startling clarity.

Jarhead cunningly reserves judgement and doesn't make any meaningful commentary about the political situation at the time. It doesn't strike me as being propaganda, really. It's based on a book by a marine sniper scout that was actually in the conflict, so if it is propaganda it's probably accurate propaganda, which is the best kind. The movie isn't so much about the resons for the war, and it's not your average "go kill stuff" type war movie either. Instead of focusing on action, it focuses on the psyche of the soldier and the mental effects of warfare overseas. I think the film focuses on the growing obsolesence of our ground forces, as exemplified in one scene where the snipers start complaining to their fellow soldiers because they're calling in an airstrike to dispatch the sniper's would-be targets.

I think the film turns the 'war is hell' notion on its ear. Fifty years ago, soldiers would complain about the greuling nature of war and their desire to stay home and not kill anyone. In Jarhead, soldiers lose their minds because they're trained to kill, then go to the desert and do precisely zero killing. Instead of focusing on political overtones, Jarhead elaborates on the nature [not purpose] of warfare, and I like it. It was a very good film, and the imagery in particular is breathtaking, if a bit unsetlling at times.

My friend saw it and absolutely hated it

Funnily enough, this thread was created while I was watching Jarhead in the theater. With the experience fresh in my mind, I feel I can relay my opinions here with my trademark, almost startling clarity.

Jarhead cunningly reserves judgement and doesn't make any meaningful commentary about the political situation at the time. It doesn't strike me as being propaganda, really. It's based on a book by a marine sniper scout that was actually in the conflict, so if it is propaganda it's probably accurate propaganda, which is the best kind. The movie isn't so much about the resons for the war, and it's not your average "go kill stuff" type war movie either. Instead of focusing on action, it focuses on the psyche of the soldier and the mental effects of warfare overseas. I think the film focuses on the growing obsolesence of our ground forces, as exemplified in one scene where the snipers start complaining to their fellow soldiers because they're calling in an airstrike to dispatch the sniper's would-be targets.

I think the film turns the 'war is hell' notion on its ear. Fifty years ago, soldiers would complain about the greuling nature of war and their desire to stay home and not kill anyone. In Jarhead, soldiers lose their minds because they're trained to kill, then go to the desert and do precisely zero killing. Instead of focusing on political overtones, Jarhead elaborates on the nature [not purpose] of warfare, and I like it. It was a very good film, and the imagery in particular is breathtaking, if a bit unsetlling at times.


Good. It sounds like they managed to keep fairly true to the book. Have you read it?

Good. It sounds like they managed to keep fairly true to the book. Have you read it?
Nope. I have met my share of Desert Storm vets though, and they all have pretty much the same thing to say. The two I knew closely were in the Green Berets and regular army, respectively. Both saw relatively little action, and in fact one was sent home because he was peppered by a friendly grenade.

Nope. I have met my share of Desert Storm vets though, and they all have pretty much the same thing to say. The two I knew closely were in the Green Berets and regular army, respectively. Both saw relatively little action, and in fact one was sent home because he was peppered by a friendly grenade.

Yep. That's what the people I know who were there have said. Check it out - it's a good read.

propafunda!
Poo.

(I SO went there...)

I voted both.

...Almost every Hollywood movie that gets nominated for Best Picture is pushing some agenda. That is, by definition, propaganda.

I disagree. Lets take a look at the last three year's Academy Awards nominees:

2004
The Aviator
Finding Neverland
Million Dollar Baby
Ray
Sideways

2003
The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
Lost in Translation
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Mystic River
Seabiscuit

2002
Chicago
Gangs of New York
The Hours
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
The Pianist

Help me out here, which ones are propaganda? I can only spot one that is even political in any way (Million Dollar Baby), and it's hardly propaganda, it explores both sides of the controversial topic. But lets give you that one. That's 1 out of 15, which is a little under 7% of the last three year's Best Picture nominees. I wonder which awards you meant, certainly not the Academy Awards.

Help me out here, which ones are propaganda? I can only spot one that is even political in any way (Million Dollar Baby), and it's hardly propaganda, it explores both sides of the controversial topic. But lets give you that one. That's 1 out of 15, which is a little under 7% of the last three year's Best Picture nominees. I wonder which awards you meant, certainly not the Academy Awards.
What you talkin' bout, fool? Johnny Depp has a secret plan to take over the world, and any movie he appears in is merely pro-Depp propaganda, and the Lord of the Rings were the most shameless examples of anti-Orc propaganda I have ever seen. Way to present only one side of an important racial issue Peter Jackson!

It wasnt well-reviewed and I dont plan to see it.

I saw it. It didn't reflect my experience there (I was in the Army, not the Marines, so maybe that made a difference). Also, I was busy from the moment I got there - maybe the 101st is more high speed than the Marine unit he was in.

One thing - being a sniper is fun, and you will get hooked.

What you talkin' bout, fool? Johnny Depp has a secret plan to take over the world, and any movie he appears in is merely pro-Depp propaganda, and the Lord of the Rings were the most shameless examples of anti-Orc propaganda I have ever seen. Way to present only one side of an important racial issue Peter Jackson!
Fuck you! Fucking Orc-lover!! Fuck you and the Warg you rode in on!

I have not seen the movie, Im determining if it will be a good movie or propaganda desgined to get more support for the military in Iraq and to boost ratings for the government.
It is definitely not propaganda, at least for the government, nor is it a very good movie, IMHO. I saw it last night with my younger son and my son-in-law ( who was a Marine ). I paid for the three of us, but now I wish I had simply taken them out drinking. heh!

It is definitely not propaganda for the government, nor is it a very good movie, IMHO. I saw it last night with my younger son and my son-in-law ( who was a Marine ). I paid for the three of us, but now I wish I had simply taken them out drinking. heh!
Its always better to go out drinking. Jarhead, like all movies, will eventually be available on cable, but you will never have beer pour out of your TV.

Fuck you! Fucking Orc-lover!! Fuck you and the Warg you rode in on!
RACIST! Go rot in Racist-Hell!

Its always better to go out drinking. Jarhead, like all movies, will eventually be available on cable, but you will never have beer pour out of your TV.

It's always better to go to war, than watch a movie about it. Good thing I went to war first. Maybe I should have written a book.

I was in the pacific theater, so my only concern was those crazy Koreans doing something stupid.

Though I did spend some time some where in Saudi, dun know where though. Im never good with those names. Ask the GF she hates it when I misprounce her last name (Though I do it on purpose mostly).

... you will never have beer pour out of your TV.
Perhaps not, but just imagine the money you could make with that one! Whew! :D

It's always better to go to war, than watch a movie about it. Good thing I went to war first. Maybe I should have written a book.
Last time I started a war in a bar, I was quite rudely handcuffed and detained in a matter that I am almost positive violated several international conventions.

Last time I started a war in a bar, I was quite rudely handcuffed and detained in a matter that I am almost positive violated several international conventions.

You got off light. I was kicked in the ribs by insurgents (at least they weren't wearing uniforms).

Perhaps not, but just imagine the money you could make with that one! Whew! :D
I suppose I should correct myself. Beer will never normally pour out of your TV. Unless you have a ghost TV that plays magic, self-generating video tapes about girls who climb out of wells and apply make-up to you while you hide in a closet, but those TVs generally just pour out water.