Hey Steem Movie Fans
I love a good war movie as much as the next dude. Band of Brothers, Saving Private Ryan, Hacksaw Ridge, Fury, Inglorious Bastards and the list goes on. There have been countless war movies made over the years drawing inspiration from numerous wars in history. However, I feel the Iraq war has probably been one of the most milked concepts for a war movie EVER.
- Zero Dark 30
- Eye in the sky
- Lone Survivor
- American Sniper
- Thank You for Your Service
- Body of Lies
- Green zone
Just to name a few, don't let me even get started on the less memorable ones. I think it's safe to say this concept has been beaten to death and can really be put to bed now. Unfortunately, Hollywood doesn't think so and patriotic Americans will support these movies until the troops come home and long after.
Needless to say, I didn't really have high hopes going into this movie but wanted to see how Netflix would execute on the concept.
The plot for Sand Castle
The movie is centred around inexperienced American private discovers the true cost of war when his unit is sent on a dangerous mission to repair a water pumping station in a rural Iraqi village. Our main character Matt Ocre is a young man caught up in something much bigger than he signed up for.
He joins the army to pay for his studies and hoped to remain inactive during his time before he is recruited to a goodwill mission to restore water supply to a local village.
Its a different take on a war movie and I think this unwelcomed goodwill mission can be extrapolated to the whole war, and this particular mission is a microcosm of the whole Iraq war. It leaves soldiers wounded physically and psychologically, especially when soldiers think they are doing good and getting punished for it.
Trailer for Sand Castle
Sand Castle is not a high adrenaline, fast paced, action filled war movies in fact the story moves at a rather slow pace for a war film but has a definite message to deliver and does so with finesse and realism.
The acting is very strong from each of the characters and the Direction does not overdo the story by muddling it with unnecessary and gratuitous violence. Of course t,here is a degree of "war time" conflicts and shows its affects on the soldiers who live with it during their tour.
To add to the credibility of the film, the writer (an actual veteran of the 2003 Invasion of Iraq) simply conveys his experience while serving there. I liked this approach to the Genra as it tells a story of a simple objective which becomes difficult due to the nature of war itself and the unfortunate casualties that suffer because of it.
It also shows the human cost to both sides, the U.S. Troops as well as the people caught up in the terrible circumstances of war. I felt it illustrates that perspective quite well.
The movie lets you feel the consequences of war on both sides as those on the ground suffer for the choices made by previous decisions made to disable the enemy. It really does show how senseless war can be and how good intentions aren't rewarded in a time of war.
My rating
I thought it was a serviceable war movie, It had good pacing, ok character development, pretty standard plot, decent acting but a lacklustre payoff. If you're looking for a war movie that has a bit more substance than just shooting insurgents for 2 hours, then you may want to give this one a shot.
I give it a 6 gun salute out of 10
Have a say?
Have you seen Sand Castle? What did you think of it? Whats your favourite war movie? Let me know in the comments
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