Battle Scars

Seeing the blurb at the Redbox rental I took Battle Scars and hoped in fact I would get a film about veterans going through rehabilitation to civilian life in a modern setting. So many good films like The Best Years Of Our Lives, Till The End Of Time, The Men, and Coming Home dealt with that issue.

But Battle Scars is light years away from that. Our protagonist here is Zane Holtz back from Afghanistan where he was wounded in a nasty firefight. He's back home, but his brother drags him into his world of sleazy clubs and narcotics.

The brother Ryan Eggold is no prize. Worse though is David James Elliott the father and probably the only name you might know in the cast especially if you watched the TV series JAG. He's an a number one blowhard who was in the Gulf War in the Bush 41 administration. Never stops talking about his service and thinks that the PTSD that his son is suffering from is a lot of crap. Very supportive.

The film is sincere, but it really moves at a sluggish pace and the acting shows no direction at all.

Here's hoping a modern Best Years Of Our Lives Is Made.

I'm a recently retired 100% combat-disabled Veteran. I served for nearly 25 years, all Active Duty. I have a poop-ton of deployments to 4 COCOMs, 10 years in SOF and 2 in SMUs. PTSD comes in different forms and attacks without warning. This film does have several accuracies as well unreal depictions of it. The comaradie shown is true, 100%. There is no greater bond, no greater love, than the one born in combat. I love every single one of my foxhole brothers, and sisters. That said, seeing them die is what I have attributed my PTSD to. It's not just from seeing death, but other events I experienced. My physical injuries are less painful than the memories in my head. This film made me cry and there are literally ZERO sad scenes. As I write this my eyes are tearing up. The acting is terrible but the plot is what makes it worthy of watching. I'm not so sure a Veteran would say he/she enjoyed this movie or say it's real, but to some civilians it may give a perspective of what society looks like from a Veterans peephole.

You can tell they are really trying to get this right. They do a commendable job of it but it is not quite all there. It does come off a little like the trashy version of the Vet drama you are looking for. They want to tell the story of the modern vet returning home and all the issues that can come with that that they don't necessarily want to talk about. Especially one specific issue that doesn't get a lot of attention. Obviously they mix in some other, sort of unrealistic, plot points for added tension. I cant really hold that against them. While this is certainly not the great war drama of our time, I think it does a good job of showing some of the less obvious damage vets deal with after they get home. Its certainly not the greatest veteran drama but its definitely worth a watch.

Excellent movie and great acting. Post Traumatic Stress is real, but doesn't have to become PTSD. It's not really about war or PTSD, but about the challenge of coming hone to a world that doesn't make sense to someone who has experienced the reality of war and the reality of permanent injuries. Very realistic portrayal of Marines struggling with adjustment. David James Elliot is excellent, as well as Zane Holtz. Fairuza and Eggold are very good along with heather McComb portrayal of a complicated character. Highly recommend this movie to all. But especially those who have returned to a challenging world.

The film is more about a dysfunctional family and realationships. I thought the acting was pretty good. All the main characters hold thier own. I think the movie has more to do with the main character Luke's secret than anything else. The producers needed a way to explain it and marketing the film as a war movie was sure to bring extra eyeballs. Dont expect born on the 4th of July and just enjoy the film.