Semper Fi - Treu bis in den Tod

Being in the Marine Corps I happened to catch this movie on the Armed Forces Network. Since I had been through boot camp I wanted to see how accurate the movie was and compare it to Full Metal Jacket, the greatest Marine movie ever. As I watched memories of boot camp returned and I found myself identifying more and more with the characters. The actors portray the recruits and drill instructors so well that until the end credits rolled I believed I was watching an actual platoon and actual drill instructors. If you are interested in how civilians become Marines and want to see an accurate portrayal of boot camp this movie is for you. I would recommend it to any military buff or any Marine fresh out of boot camp or retired for twenty years, it will bring back memories both good and bad, and remind you of why you chose to become one of the few, and one of the proud. Semper Fi.

This is one of the most accurate depictions of USMC Recruit Training ever put out by Hollywood. Other than "Full Metal Jacket" (which put a out an accurate portrayal of Boot Camp from the late sixties) you will not find a more accurate portrayal.

I went to Boot Camp in 1990. This portrayal depicted training during the turn of the Millenium, but it still brought back a lot of good and bad memories. The Crucible which was accurately portrayed in this teleplay was the only thing that I did not experience--the Crucible did not come into recruit training until after October 1996. In my platoon we had someone who tried to kill himself, and we had another who decided he couldn't take it anymore and ran--both depicted real well in this TV movie.

As for the Drill Instructors, I second some of the comments that they were too fake. A DI cannot be faked accurately, no matter how good an actor is, (unless of course they were a DI before like R. Lee Ermey of Full Metal Jacket fame). But I credit them for carrying themselves well (i.e. Mannerisms. One of the actors portraying the DI's, Buddy Joe Farnsworth was a former Sergeant of Marines, but obviously was not a DI).

This was scheduled to be a regular series on NBC. It's a shame they canceled this series before it even got off the ground because it would've been stories about enlisted personnel (instead of officers which shows like JAG is about), which is seriously rare both in the movies and TV. The majority of shows and movies which the officers are the main characters are great, but they (Hollywood) needs to do more work about the men and women that officers lead---the enlisted force! Semper Fi could've done that.

EDIT (05/24/2021): while I still have a lot of praise for this movie, looking back, it would not have lasted long as a series. Why do I say that? Only Marines would be able to understand the plight of the characters. While I appreciated the accuracy of the movie, a little artistic license wouldn't hurt it too much. Think the military drama JAG; many liberties were taking in that program that it lasted ten seasons, both military members and the general public at large enjoyed it. Semper Fi would have a larger audience if a little artistic liberties were taken.

I have seen just about every Marine Corps movie there is, and none of them come close to the technical accuracy of this film. Every detail from the diddies to the customs and courtesies are included. Each day in the film is just as it is in training. Watching the movie was like watching a cameraman following another company around on the depot. The Drill Instructors are a hundred times nicer in the film, but the structure of training is exact. I would recommend it to anyone thinking of joining. I really don't know how anyone could consider joining any service other than the Marine Corps. No one upholds the pride and Esprit de Corps that you see in all Marines. It helps explain why Marines are the best. And enforces the age-old fact that there is no fighting force greater than a US Marine. From an admin clerk to a heavy machine-gunner, we all went through the same initial training together. And that's exactly what you see in this film. I wish they had enough money to make ten movies about different training cycles in the forces like this one.

Semper Fidelis, Cpl Michlitsch United States Marine Corps "The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war"

My husband, who is a Marine, said this show was true to form. I would like to see the complete series. I have talked with a few of my neighbors and they all agree that it was was a very good movie and they would also like to see a series.

While this seemed like an accurate movie of the Marine boot camp, I am guessing that my Marine friends would not agree. It was still kind of fun to watch.

Unfortunately, the writer used several hackneyed plot devices that really distracted from any story. For example, do we really need a love interest sub-plot? Please! I'm sure that people join the Marines to escape all kinds of personal situations. Why not focus on some original ones?

Better than watching 'Who wants to be a millionaire', but I would not go out of my way to see this movie.