MovieChat Forums > Generation Kill (2008) Discussion > Is todays war really this boring?

Is todays war really this boring?

posted 16 years ago by fredrik-d-hansson
120 replies | jump to latest

I have not served in the military but am interested in war series like Band of Brothers and like. I am from Sweden and was curious to this, especially when Alexander Skarsgård is main character. BUT, why is it sooooo boring all the time?? Nothing happens, they drive around in their Humwees and talk about killing, sex (lots of dirty talk), and how stupid the Iraqians are but nothing happens. The fighting scenes are badly done compared to BoB and sometimes they are acting stupid. When they got stuck on the bridge they could not figure out to push the vehicle themselves and where acting very clumsy. I stopped watching after that episode, what have I missed?

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] isthisinternet 15 years ago

i could complain that band of brothers sucks because it's nothing like braveheart or kingdom of heaven but that would be retarded because it's comparing different civilizations at different times. war changes; now that we are living in the 21st century and technology is advancing at an accelerating pace, war is going to change much further and it's going to change much faster.

so 70 years from now when wars are fought by machines with the people controlling them sitting in air-conditioned rooms ten thousand miles away, then you'll really have a case for complaining about war being boring. until then, just enjoy the show for the characters rather than the explosions.

or, failing that, go rewatch band of brothers.

[–] markthomas26 14 years ago

i think a lot of you have watched too many WW2 movies....yes it was an intense/bloody war, but it wasn't non-stop action...theres always lot's of waiting in any war.

and modern conflicts (secret ops etc) can be exciting affairs
and a COKE....i'm sorted

[–] DariusStrain 14 years ago

I agree, boring is the word I would use to describe this series. Even if not much is happening in a series there should at least be tension, a feeling that something might happen. Even if there really is boredom in a war the depiction of said boredom shouldn't be boring. Hope that makes sense.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] DariusStrain 14 years ago

That's the price you guys gotta pay for Bush & Cheney's and now Obama's wars. Hope it was worth it.

PS. Many many more Iraqi and Afghani civilians have lost loved ones over these wars then Americans.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] DariusStrain 14 years ago

I'm just stating facts. It's too bad the Iraqi and Afghani civilians who have lost many loved ones don't have a voice in the west that they could use to draw attention to their losses. I mean, the wars are taking place in their nations, I think it's only fair for them to have a voice as well.

Btw, I've been to the military of my nation. Militaries around the world do like to use young men and women for their purposes and when these same young people die, it's tough luck for them and their relatives. I think you in the US should hold your military accountable for the loss of your childrend and relatives, it's only fair.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] jackfrusciante80 14 years ago

Deb, it is not worth it to upset yourself over comments that others make on the internet, especially imdb :) Your son made the ultimate sacrifice, and his life and actions affected people around me...I am sure they will tell you the same.

Darius, I dunno what to tell you, I was in the US Navy for 7 yrs, and I am not a military crazed fan...well, it is one of those necessary evils if you will...if we do not have a strong powerful military, than other countries will, which will affect us in a way or another. It is not a matter of bush and cheney misusing it (which they did), everytime you have war trained troops and equipment, a military that drills a lot but no real action, you are going to have to use them...not saying its fair, but it is true...the way of the world

[–] DariusStrain 14 years ago

In the States people join the military volutarily, you don't have to do military service because the laws say so. So if someone in the US joins up and gets killed in war or even an accident while in the military, it's partly their own fault. Nobody forced them to join.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] DariusStrain 14 years ago

How about you shut up, I see you can't refute the facts so you rely on ad hominem. Real classy of you.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] DariusStrain 14 years ago

In the post that you answered with ad hominem I stated that in the States people join the military voluntarily. That's a fact. So if they get killed or wounded in a war, tough luck, it's their own fault.

Btw I don't see you caring about the mothers in Iraq and Afghanistan who have lost many more children because of the wars.

Keep the ad hominem coming, all the more likely you'll be banned from IMDB.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] DariusStrain 14 years ago

You know I think Iraqis and Afghanis would prefer to be insulted then have war brought to their nations. A war that is subsequently continued for a decade. A huge number of mothers who have lost children there, and also children who are orphans. It's a huge legacy that will just not vanish, I guess the US will do as it always does and not clean the mess that it has made.

If you have been with the US military then I understand that you cannot criticise them, the brainwashed little parrot that you are.

[–] stack176 14 years ago

Wow, you're an *beep*

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] DariusStrain 14 years ago

I criticize the politico-miltary construct almost daily.

Like, where?

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] DariusStrain 14 years ago

Exactly so you don't criticise it at all. Typical brainwashed yank behaviour.

Also, I asked you in this thread this: "Are you saying that if the result of a popular vote in Iraq or Afghanistan would indicate that the majority would want the US out the US would comply?"

You haven't answered.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] jackfrusciante80 14 years ago

Deb, sorry to hear about your son. At least he died doing what he loved most, which was saving the guys and girls he was with over there.

Darius, if you got nothing nice to say...well...you know...

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] DariusStrain 14 years ago

Nope I've never been in a war but I have completed my military service and was trained as a medic. During my service I never had to save anyones life after they were injured but I'm able to do so if needed.

I got out of the military about 15 years ago and have since completed two uni degrees and worked in a variety of jobs so I'm no spring chicken as you Americans say.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] DariusStrain 14 years ago

Sadly the situation is also about numbers and when looking at the numbers the Iraqis and Afghanis have suffered more then the Americans in these wars that were started by Americans.

Also remember that you're not the thought gestapo and don't get to decide what people are allowed to talk about.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] DariusStrain 14 years ago

I'm saddened by all the victims of the wars. I think Americans who look back at the wars will have to come to the conclusion that their sons, daughters and relatives who have died and wounded in the wars were in a way sacrificed by Bush, Cheney and the rest of that cadre.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] bubblenator 14 years ago

I think we as Americans must realize that the world is not made up of Christians, that other religions have their place, and are to be respected,

Religions that support the oppression of women and Sharia Law are NOT to be respected. People living under a ruthless dictator don't have a voice and political opponents are either jailed or executed. There is no Bill of Rights and Freedom of Speech. Just be thankful of where you live like I do.

and that other countries are perfectly capable of solving their own issues.

Bullsh!t. Africa has been a mess and always will be, now they're fighting in the Ivory Coast. Egypt, Tunisia was relatively peaceful but what now? There's no "leader-in-waiting" just as in the case of Libya which is just descending in to civil war.

" I'm freakin pumped! I've been drinking green tea all goddamn day!"

[–] stack176 14 years ago

FYI, Christianity has supported the oppression of women for what? 2,000 years now?

[–] bubblenator 14 years ago

I'm talking about 2011.

" I'm freakin pumped! I've been drinking green tea all goddamn day!"

[–] DariusStrain 14 years ago

Religions that support the oppression of women and Sharia Law are NOT to be respected. People living under a ruthless dictator don't have a voice and political opponents are either jailed or executed. There is no Bill of Rights and Freedom of Speech. Just be thankful of where you live like I do.

Give her a break, she's already lost one kid because of propaganda like that.

Bullsh!t. Africa has been a mess and always will be, now they're fighting in the Ivory Coast. Egypt, Tunisia was relatively peaceful but what now? There's no "leader-in-waiting" just as in the case of Libya which is just descending in to civil war.

Tell me exactly, why is Africa like that? Concrete examples please, no opinions.

[–] bubblenator 14 years ago

Give her a break, she's already lost one kid because of propaganda like that.

It's not propaganda it's fact. Look at how women were treated under the Taliban or still in Saudi Arabia today.

Tell me exactly, why is Africa like that? Concrete examples please, no opinions.

What?! You want to know why Africa is such a mess with corrupt, ruthless dictators still fighting over tribal issues and natural resources.

" I'm freakin pumped! I've been drinking green tea all goddamn day!"

[–] DariusStrain 14 years ago

It's not propaganda it's fact. Look at how women were treated under the Taliban or still in Saudi Arabia today.

Of course it's propaganda. Stuff like that was spread by the media in order to get the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq going.

How about the US stop arming folks like the Taliban and supporting the Saudis. There has been a US presence in the Saudis for a long time, they obviously don't care about the human rights situation in that country.

What?! You want to know why Africa is such a mess with corrupt, ruthless dictators still fighting over tribal issues and natural resources.

Still waiting for the concrete examples.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] DariusStrain 14 years ago

Are you saying that if the result of a popular vote in Iraq or Afghanistan would indicate that the majority would want to the US out the US would comply? That's new information.

[–] Storm_Thunder_Infantry 14 years ago

Comparing WW2 to Iraq in any category is like comparing aircraft carriers and yachts.

Unlike Iraq, WW2 was a total global-wide war with fighting at Asia, Europe, N.Africa, the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean all in a near simultaneous time with all the world's superpowers actively taking part at the time - and involving the mobilization of millions of soldiers backed with thousands of planes, tanks, artillery pieces and ships.

Not to mention, Saddam's forces were also hopelessly outmatched against the US-led forces so it's no surprise fighting wasn't as fierce as it was in some hell zone at the Eastern Front like Stalingrad, Budapest, Leningrad, Kursk, Belgrade, Kharkov etc.

Let the world change the punishment for sexual-related crimes to execution

[–] rosalee_adams 14 years ago

I am former military, not combat, and have heard warfare described by some combat vets as periods of intense boredom interrupted by occasional moments of sheer terror....

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] yellowdischarge 14 years ago

War has always been boring, hence the saying that it's 90% boredom and 10% *beep* your pants.

You're either marching somewhere, flying somewhere, guarding something, etc and actual combat has always taken up the least amount of time.