Movies released in America tend to be released here in Britain some months later, which is why my post comes some months after the previous one. ^ That might be changing, what with the availability of DVDs through eBay and the like, but whatever: I saw this movie last night on a rented DVD. I thought it was very good and would watch it again.
It was well directed with a good screenplay, and the pace was about right. One thing though: My ear is not attuned to some of the non-standard English used in military dialogue, especially when they're doing all that "Sir yes sir! Sir no sir!" shouting with the drill sergeant. I have never done military service, preferring instead a life in which I could set my own schedule and wear the clothes of my own choosing. In my dealings with other people, communication whether with someone on the phone or sitting a few feet away would be made in a normal spoken voice. I don't think all this military style shouting aids communication, and even has the opposite effect. Why shout at the top of one's lungs to convey a message to someone standing 2ft away? Indeed, after the first 6 minutes of the movie, I decided to restart it from the beginning, with the subtitles turned on. I'm glad I did, because the first time round I missed Swofford's reply to the drill sergeant when asked why he was there:
"Sir, I got lost on the way to college, sir." 
I was interested to note the disclaimer, shown in the prologue, that the opinions expressed during interviews shown in the movie did not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Universal Pictures International or its affiliates. Later on I could see why, with one young man saying that the war was about "defending the freedom of America". I don't think that's what Gulf War 1/Desert Storm was about. Oh wait, a big part of the mission was to secure the oil wells. Maybe he
was right.
