War machine

 We watched the action flick War machine (2026) with Alan Ritchson. I needed something light and it delivered. It's a fast paced action movie (get your popcorn) with a lot of suspended disbelief, but leave your brain at the door and it delivers. Basically, walk in to be entertained and nothing else. I would recommend it as a good action flick to friends of mine who like them.

I watch these types of movies on occasion to shut off. Then why am I writing about it?

There is no character development. The script or dialogue is so bad that it made me cringe. After all the reason movies have memorable quotes that rarely occur in real life in the moment is because screenwriter have months or years to think about that great line or quip.

It's actually not dumb I told spouse the next day. It doesn't have the satire of Starship Troopers a commentary on how we put very attractive stupid people into recruitment propaganda because war is great. It lacks the depth of saving private Ryan or the brilliant Hurt locker.

The commentary is there though. A few spoilers ahead. The soldiers are numbers in fact they dont even address each other by name. The dehumanization of war. The utter disposability of human lives. The fine line between heroic efforts and wanting to quit. The anti-hero doesn't want to bond or become emotionally attached to others again. As to the bad dialogue. Reality is like that. There are no great speeches.

Career soldiers cant function well in society. PTSD is a running theme. 81 the antihero doesn't want the responsibility of leadership. For newbies experiencing trauma for the first time, it needs to be processed, rather than focusing on survival.

I don't like gore. But in this case it's not gratuitous, but shows the actual horror of what we put these soldiers through; bond with your team so you can rely on them then watch a best buddy...

To defeat a common enemy natural resources are used. In fact ammunition makes it worse and a simple mechanical solution works better than weapons. 

There is a scene that is utterly ridiculous, the hero needs medical care and no one notices. However, if viewed as a metaphor it's what we do to vets. 

The movie is simple and straightforward. Using a common alien enemy that attacks makes it more palatable. Humans have no choice in this case. Courage and bravery are a necessity. And then soldiers are patched up to do it all over again.

War machine does not reinvent the wheel. It's a War machine up against a literal War machine. The reluctant hero has a journey, he's both a leader and a rescuer. It's a metaphor of life set a goal do not quit get to the finish line. Repeat.

It's not a great movie, but I do recommend it.

I'm focusing on the lives of these men and women and ask that politicians are not discussed.