33/50x2: Jarhead

For the most part, war movies can be pretty good to watch. As someone who has been lucky enough to never have to fight in a war, it gives you that feeling about just how horrible war can be. Even though it doesn't even come close to the actual experience.

Jarhead is a film about Anthony Swofford's (Jake Gyllenhaal) time in the military during the 1991 Gulf War. Swofford joined the military after not really fitting into civilian life after high school. He then found out just how difficult boot camp can be.

But, Sykes (Jamie Foxx) notices that Swofford just may have what it takes in a different section of the military - the snipers.

As Swofford makes the switch to sniper, he is sent to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Desert Storm and is paired with Troy (Peter Sarsgaard), who will be his spotter - or someone that gives the coordinates for the sniper to shoot.

Most of Swofford's unit doesn't see any action throughout the entire mission. They do a lot of walking around, training and horsing around - especially Swofford, who gets himself demoted due to a few pranks and accidents around camp.

Finally, after months, Swofford and Troy are given a combat mission - to shoot two Iraqi officers. They were finally getting their moment to shine and be apart of the war. But, at the last second a higher ranking officer comes in and orders an air attack to destroy the entire area. Once, again Swofford and Troy are left out.

I can't say this ranks up there with a lot of the great war films that I have seen. But, it was a pretty interesting watch and I really did enjoy the characters.

Gyllenhaal stood out pretty well, but Foxx and Sarsgaard were also pretty great in their roles. For a war movie there wasn't much action - but for a film based off of Swofford's actual memoirs, I guess this is how war was to him - so that is fine with me.

Grade:

29/50: Donnie Darko

I have heard many great things about this film. It sort of has become a cult classic among many people, but I never really got around to watching it - and I really had no true interest until I had heard it was so good that I had to at least give it a try.

Donnie Darko stars Jake Gyllenhaal as the titular character. Darko suffers from some sort of mental illness that I don't believe is ever truly said - though it is perceived and mentioned that he may have schizophrenia.

I do not hate Gyllenhaal as an actor, but he has never really jumped off of the screen for me like other actors have. However, in this film he was downright amazing. Probably his best acting performance to date that I have seen.

Anyway, Darko is being led around by what is thought to be a figment of his imagination - that he sees as a very odd and scary looking bunny named Frank. Darko wakes up at night - usually at midnight - and is told by Frank to do random things. During one of these sleepwalking excursions, Darko is able to escape death, which he is then led to believe that Frank saved his life and therefore should listen to whatever Frank tells him to do.

Darko also begins to lash out at school, mostly when it comes to the teachings of Jim Cunningham (Patrick Swayze) who has a sort of infomercial/cult like way to his preachings. He also falls in love with a new girl in school, Gretchen Ross (Jena Malone), who along with her mother has escaped a violent stepfather.

A lot of things begin to happen, and Frank tells Darko to do a lot of bad things - which somehow expose things that many people did not know. It all comes to fruition at the conclusion of the film when everything sort of comes together and is somewhat explained.

There are tons of well-known actors and actresses in this film, including Jake's sister Maggie playing his sister, Elizabeth. Noah Wyle portrays Ken Monnitoff, a science teacher that helps Donnie with the possibility of time travel.

Seth Rogen plays Ricky Danforth, a classmate of Donnie and also a bully, who doesn't appear to have much to do with the actual plot - but does. And finally, Drew Barrymore as Karen Pomeroy, Donnie's English teacher. Her inclusion in the film is still not really understood by me, nor is a few of the other things that go on in the film, but nevertheless I felt she did well in her role.

I did not watch the Director's Cut of the film, so I am not sure if more is explained in that version, but I don't think I totally grasped everything that was meant to be told in the film - and even without knowing that I really enjoyed it.

Like I said, great performance by Gyllenhaal (both of them actually) and I don't think I would have liked it as much if he didn't have a great performance. Also truly enjoyed Jena Malone and Wyle as well - who I am unsure why he doesn't get more film roles.

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7/50: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

I wasn't sure what to think about this film heading in. I really hadn't heard too much about it, which for a film of this nature isn't a good sign. Plus, I really had no background about the film because I had never played the video game for which it was based on.

That being said, I sort of enjoyed Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. No it wasn't epic or anything of that nature, but it was a fun and exciting film.

Dastan (Jake Gyllenhaal) is adopted by the king, and he and his two brothers take on another kingdom after finding out they are supplying illegal weapons to their enemies.

Upon overtaking the kingdom, Dastan finds a special dagger on one of his enemies - a dagger that proves very special. They also come across Princess Tamina (Gemma Aterton), whom his father agrees should become Dastan's first wife.

As the king and his subjects begin to celebrate, Dastan gives his father a gift that he received from his brother, which ends up killing his father and Dastan is blamed - but escapes with Tamina and the special dagger.

I won't give anything away, but the rest of the film really has a lot to do with the dagger and what it can do. Dastan obviously must prove to his brothers and the rest of the kingdom that he didn't kill his father.

It was actually a very fun film, which had a lot of action and some great comedic scenes as well, especially from Sheik Amar (Alfred Molina), who runs a gambling establishment based on ostrich racing.

Sure, it wasn't Oscar worthy, not many of these blockbusters are. But, it held my interest throughout and Gyllenhaal actually did a decent job as an action hero.

Grade: