This is one of my secret favorite movies.
Some interesting things I like about it.
I like the brutality of the movie. It does not censor the violence of war, and in so doing, makes a very good war movie.
I like the use of "Advertisements" throughout the film. The book was all about a play-on the Propaganda and war furvor that fueled WW II, and I like how throught the whole film, people are doing ridiculous things and adverts, and yet everyone in the film doesn't even notice how cheesy and ridiculous it is. They all just sign up, to go squash the enemy, even though they are living in a propaganda controlled society.
I like how it shows the effect that the media has in normalizing violence in a society.
I like how it portrays the normalcy of a gender included future. All share the same barracks, same showers, same treatment in the military.
So you get this strange contrast: on the one hand you can see that this furure society has progressed, on the other, you can see all the war furvor and ridiculous behavior going on.
It's quite a contrast, and clearly shows how an entire society can be willing to march themselves off to the meat grinder for the sake of "saving the world".
It shows how small town kids get brainwashed into militant patriotism and get turned into stone hearted killers.
And the senslessness of war is very well portrayed.
Just about all the main characters get killed in this film. Many just randomly.
Very accurate war portrayal. -Kids always think the military is going to be some great adventure until some random event kills or maims them. -they just happened to be standing two feet to close to the wrong location at the wrong time. No defense.
This is a really great film about War, Propaganda, and Militant society.
I recomend it if you havn't seen it. It is of course based in large part on American society both historical and present.
