This movie is about the 2/3 Field Artillery "The Gunners" in Iraq that used a palace of Uday Hussein as their barracks. The filmmaker lived with them for 2 months while getting the footage. www.gunnerpalace.com
Watch the trailers and it seems like it shows a little more of the realities of war but it makes me nervous. I haven't seen this movie yet (and in reality, I probably won't get to) but I would really like to. Supposedly it shows you the side of war that will never make it to the nightly news - I assume they are referring to the good deeds and happy moments with the Iraqis. Yet, it shows how The Gunners also party in the palace. This is the rub.
The film was intended to show the reality of war, not promote either side (pro or anti). By showing that our troops have time to party I fear that this film will become ammunition of the anti-war camp to 'prove' this war was wrong. What those protestors will be missing in their argument is that there is a NEED for our troops to unwind and have significant diversions. I haven't seen the film so I don't know if that need is expressed.
What's more is that people who don't understand military culture/life will be watching. That's going to create problems right there. To the misinformed person a service member with the time to whine about how much he hates his life is one that is in the wrong place, wrong time, etc etc. When in reality that's not how things really are. To those familiar with the USMC - A bitchin' Marine is a happy Marine. You have to know what you're talking about before you go off criticizing it and I don't think many of these people will care about that little detail.
Blackfive has a (poor) review up on his site by Ken Tucker of New York Magazine. Ken missed the point of the film by far. Take a look. Blackfive has covered this movie a lot if you are further interested.
In any case, I encourage people to go see Gunner Palace if there is a showing in town.
Watch the trailers and it seems like it shows a little more of the realities of war but it makes me nervous. I haven't seen this movie yet (and in reality, I probably won't get to) but I would really like to. Supposedly it shows you the side of war that will never make it to the nightly news - I assume they are referring to the good deeds and happy moments with the Iraqis. Yet, it shows how The Gunners also party in the palace. This is the rub.
The film was intended to show the reality of war, not promote either side (pro or anti). By showing that our troops have time to party I fear that this film will become ammunition of the anti-war camp to 'prove' this war was wrong. What those protestors will be missing in their argument is that there is a NEED for our troops to unwind and have significant diversions. I haven't seen the film so I don't know if that need is expressed.
What's more is that people who don't understand military culture/life will be watching. That's going to create problems right there. To the misinformed person a service member with the time to whine about how much he hates his life is one that is in the wrong place, wrong time, etc etc. When in reality that's not how things really are. To those familiar with the USMC - A bitchin' Marine is a happy Marine. You have to know what you're talking about before you go off criticizing it and I don't think many of these people will care about that little detail.
Blackfive has a (poor) review up on his site by Ken Tucker of New York Magazine. Ken missed the point of the film by far. Take a look. Blackfive has covered this movie a lot if you are further interested.
In any case, I encourage people to go see Gunner Palace if there is a showing in town.
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