Semper Fi

This TV pilot showed various males and one female character going through the rigors of Marine Corps recruit training. I can understand why no network wanted this trash for a weekly series. As a former Marine, I was very disappointed in the way the recruits were portrayed. It was very unbelievable in many aspects, including the order in which some of the training took place (In real training, recruits qualify on the rifle range before going to the gas chamber and rappel towers, unlike how it was showed in this movie). Considering the power behind this production, it was shocking to see these glaring errors. I mean, come on, only one recruit knew his general orders?! All of their recruiters should be fired! Nearly 90 percent of the recruits I went down to recruit training with knew all 11 general orders before they arrived at Parris Island for training -- including me. Steven Spielberg executive produced this debacle, and former Marine Capt. Dale Dye's involvement makes it even more amazing how poorly this was put together. Both Spielberg and Dale were together on the masterful Saving Private Ryan, yet there was no saving these privates-to-be. Despite my reservations about its accuracy, I rated Semper Fi a five out of 10 stars simply because it was fun to reminisce about being at Parris Island again and seeing the drill instructors, the squad bays, and other memories of my three months at PI. OOHRAH! To get a more realistic portrayal of boot camp at PI, check out Full Metal Jacket. It takes place in the 1960s, but it's much more accurate than this hokey mess.

I'm just watching this movie, but I don't really like it, especially after I read the other comments. I mean, come on! Who'd be entertained to see the training of US Marines, no matter how accurate it is? As the only plot for a movie, it's sadly weak. You can find anything almost this accurate and heroic, with some action, real actors, even historical background, so why make this? The only reason I can think of is to recruit people to the Corps, especially when I see the moments where the instructors get 'soft'. This is like saying: "Join today, behind the strong, brave, heroic outlook, we are family." So - my advise is: if you want to join, see it first, and get tuned on to the task. If you have no such intentions, you might as well skip it for something less real, with more action - you'll hardly find any entertainment here.

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.

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"

An unbelievable movie... the most true-to-life movie in terms of what life is like in the Marine Corps. A movie that anyone considering becoming a Marine should see... and one that all Marines should watch. In one word, the movie is... remarkable.