Warfare

For someone like me, who has even the faintest and smallest experience of war, watching war films is the scariest thing I can imagine-especially when the story is set in the Middle East.

Warfare felt so real with its visuals, sounds, and atmosphere that it was as if I was right there in the middle of the battlefield.

On the giant cinema screen, every explosion hit me like a punch in the face, and the loud Dolby sound shook my heartbeat with every gunshot and scream.

From the first third of the film to the very end, I sat on my seat with my knees pulled up-frozen, motionless-like I was truly trapped inside those scenes.

When the film ended, it took me a few minutes to pull myself together. It felt like the war was still going on in my head.

Damn every war-seeker-of any kind, for any reason, under any pretext, with any intention.

True "edge of your seat." Think of the tension of the first 15 minutes of "Saving Private Ryan," but over an hour and a half. No spoilers, but I love the fact that the movie immediately drops you into the situation. We don't need to know why the soldiers are there, or what their objective/mission is, because that's irrelevant when the bullets start to fly. These are just soldiers going on a mission. Finally, as a patriotic American, I feel that before Congress & the President deploy any of our U. S. Service people into harms way, they and the CEOs of Raytheon, Blackrock, Vanguard, and Halliburton should be forced to watch this movie, as well as the first 15 minutes of Saving Private Ryan, before anyone is deployed. Also, the law should be passed that all of their children should be the first deployed, call it the "No Fortunate Son" law. I think we would have less wars if that happened.

A masterclass in tension and sound design. A visceral, gut wrenching, unrelenting war film experience.

This film absolutely deserves an Oscar nod for its sound design, my ears are still ringing, but in the best way possible. It's not for the faint of heart. Rarely has the raw horror of war been depicted with such intensity; I haven't felt this shaken since Saving Private Ryan. The theatrical experience is essential, this soundscape demands a massive screen. The gunfire alone rivals Heat in realism and impact.

Those expecting a conventional narrative should adjust their expectations. This isn't a traditional hero's journey, it's an immersive, boots-on-the-ground depiction of a team navigating a chaotic operation where, even when everything is done right, everything can still go catastrophically wrong.

Watching this, my respect for our military deepened tenfold. The courage it takes to step into such situations is beyond comprehension, and the professionalism of the operators is portrayed with remarkable authenticity. This film didn't just entertain, it inspired me to be a better leader, a better friend.

This is the film I wanted Civil War to be, and I wouldn't be surprised if Alex Garland felt the same. It offered a deeper understanding of PTSD and the brotherhood forged in combat. The emotional and psychological toll is palpable, yet never overplayed.

This is not just a film, it's an experience. I'm already planning to see it again in theaters. I'm genuinely curious if my heart rate ever dropped below 130 bpm. As a filmmaker who dreams of tackling a military story one day, I found this both intimidating and inspiring.

So. Well. Done.

It starts light. Almost like a joke.

Young soldiers, full of swagger, testosterone, and nervous energy, dropped into a foreign neighborhood with gear, guns, and no real plan. You think you know where it's going.

Then it tightens. Hard.

Alex Garland's Warfare isn't a typical war film. It's a mirror. A slow-burn portrait of occupation - show up, seize control, provoke chaos, and leave. It doesn't lecture. It just sits with you. Uncomfortably.

They're foreign soldiers holding civilians in their own home at gunpoint, surrounded by a community trying to push them out. Whether the locals are rescuers or rebels depends on your perspective - and Garland refuses to give you one.

There's no soaring score. No rousing speeches. Just dust, dread, a spectacle of force and the weight of presence. It's not about winning.

It's a loud reflection of the post-9/11 playbook: arrive with guns, destabilize everything, leave behind blood and rubble. Sound familiar?

Firstly the good bits.

The action is good, there's a real sense of tension and it comes across as a realistic account of what happened. It's well acted, well shot and gives you some idea of what it must be like to be in a dire situation.

It's a lot better than most of the films that have been released this year. There's no politics or judgment and stays clear of triumphantism or trying to glamorizing people getting hurt. Ultimately, nobody "wins" which is a good reflection of war.

That said, we never learn anything about the characters. The only insight is them all watching an Eric Pridz video together. It's hard to empathize with any of the characters because you just don't know them.

Despite the tension and gunfire, you never really learn anything about who it is they are fighting. From their garb, you would assume they are Fedayeen - but we never see any of them up close, much learn hear them speak. So it's hard to see them as anything other than shadowy figures firing guns. You also don't know how many there are, there's plenty of gunfire, but it could be 20 or 2000.

You also aren't told anything about the Seal's mission. They're providing security for another force who have a mission, but we never learn why. What the point of it was or whether it was successful.

If you aren't familiar with military parlance, then a lot of the dialogue, especially on the radio might not make a lot of sense.

It's a good film and worth a watch, but to be clear, this is not in the same league as Band of Brothers, Black Hawk Down, Generation Kill etc etc. If you haven't seen any of them, then I would highly recommend watching them instead.