Generation Kill
Jarhead

...

Everything else

You could made a pretty good case for The Hurt Locker, but probably not enough to supplant one of the two above.

5/3/2020 9:43:32 AM

Films like lone survivor and American sniper def did their due diligence, but they're some Hollywood parts mixed in it. The scene with the seals in zero dark 30, I've been told, is pretty realistic in terms of their life and how they go about raids.

5/3/2020 11:50:42 AM

Fuck American Sniper and fuck that dude in general.

Generation Kill >Black Hawk Dawn >> Jarhead>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Everything Else

5/3/2020 12:27:46 PM

For once I agree with bbehe.

I have no frame of reference for military life/war, but

Quote :

"Fuck American Sniper and fuck that dude in general."

5/3/2020 2:30:27 PM

Also, Hurt Locker was laughably bad at portraying what EOD does.

5/3/2020 2:45:23 PM

Those parts did seem kinda hollywooded up

But their goal was more to entertain and portray, kinda why it didn't .wow my list

[Edited on May 3, 2020 at 4:43 PM. Reason : ]

5/3/2020 4:42:58 PM

What about that Seal Team show on CBS? Is it anything close to what real seals go through?

5/3/2020 7:34:49 PM

Did it show them killing POWs and then writing tell all books?

5/3/2020 7:48:49 PM

*writing tell-all books full of easily disproven lies.

And getting pardoned by the president after committing war crimes.

5/3/2020 8:16:20 PM

Justin, are we becoming best friends in this thread?

5/3/2020 8:30:18 PM

In The Army Now is clearly the most realistic

5/4/2020 12:26:25 AM

Quote :

"What about that Seal Team show on CBS? Is it anything close to what real seals go through?"

The idea that Seals grow their beards out, BS with their buds drinking beer and shit and then head off on missions seems to be pretty accurate based on what I've been told. The fact that their missions are typically very dangerous is also fairly accurate, as bodies will frequently hit the floor when they get deployed. However, them getting involved in shoot outs and car chases in broad daylight, in major cities, I don't think that shit happens. Plus, a ton of the action in that series has a big dramatic touch to it since it is at its heart a TV action drama.

If you are interested in learning more about seals then I would suggest checking out Jocko Willink and his podcasts, or finding a buddy that served time in the Marines as infantry.


[Edited on May 4, 2020 at 11:59 AM. Reason : a]

5/4/2020 11:54:36 AM

Well, my biggest wonder with the show is that these guys will get deployed from a base in the US (not on any official lengthy deployment) and be back in what appears to be less than a 24 hour time frame.

I wonder if those are the types of missions they typically do. Fly into a country, do their thing, and fly back in the same day.

5/4/2020 12:35:40 PM

Quote :

"then I would suggest checking out Jocko Willink and his podcasts"

Nah, I'm good.

5/4/2020 2:01:47 PM

Quote :

"I wonder if those are the types of missions they typically do. Fly into a country, do their thing, and fly back in the same day."

In theory, that's exactly what they do. They are not meant to be long term undercover operatives. In and out is the name of a game. It's one of the reasons why they have a relatively high survival rate given the danger of most of their missions.

Like in Captain Phillips, for example, the situation with armed hostiles gets out of hand, they bring in the Seals to end it, and then they leave. They usually don't even stay for clean up if needed.

Can't tell you how many stories I've heard from active duty Marines that were basically sent to an area after the seals, and found nothing but bodies and people that were tied up.

5/4/2020 2:16:33 PM

https://terminallance.com/

5/4/2020 2:22:08 PM

I watched some Jocko video on youtube about "former SEAL reacts to military movie scenes" or something and he seems to know his stuff

5/4/2020 2:56:34 PM

I mean I'm assuming all former seals know their stuff. But I'll pass on the ones who go on Fox news (or any news channel) to criticize presidents. Also monetizing your exploits and politicizing your association with the seals is gross.

5/4/2020 3:21:35 PM

It's fox news. They have no obligation to present both sides of the story.

I personally think that there is a huge benefit to having a former seal go on record about their life and realistic duties in the service. I mean, both the Seals and the Marines have a huge propaganda machine working for them in films and the media. So, it benefits the younger generation, or people that are interested in joining, to hear a realistic, non glorified account of what their job was like.


[Edited on May 4, 2020 at 4:13 PM. Reason : a]

5/4/2020 4:05:15 PM

Yeah, just like Chris Kyle sniping looters from the roof of the Superdome!

Also, I don't expect Fox news to be unbiased, but I expect Navy seals to have enough honor to not use their platform as a political soapbox like your buddy Jocko.

5/4/2020 4:15:20 PM

He's a seal and clearly knows how to discuss his life in a very pragmatic way. If he goes on a rant on fox news, then so be it. It doesn't discredit any of his experiences over seas, IMO.

Now, when fox news anchors go on and on in diatribes of misinformation or things that are ultimately just false, then yeah, I certainly ignore every word out of their mouth. But, they're two different things.

5/4/2020 4:22:38 PM

There are a lot better operators than the SEALs out there...

5/4/2020 6:03:37 PM

PJs to the rescue.

I wasn't talking them up, just answering questions. This is a thread about military movies is it not?

5/4/2020 8:23:20 PM

^^ do tell. I have no dog in the fight, just curious

5/5/2020 10:30:21 PM

A-10 pilots are pretty bad ass, as well as the PJs.

Not getting the seal hate though. They do their job extremely well.

[Edited on May 6, 2020 at 11:16 AM. Reason : a]

5/6/2020 10:54:46 AM

^^

Biased, but I think PJs are up there on the list. Delta, USAISA, ANGLICO are also good ones.

SEALs just seem to have so many discipline issues recently and are not 'silent' operators with everyone trying to cash in on their experiences

5/6/2020 11:21:08 AM

The seals are like anybody else with a job to do. Some times, that job is to kill people. I think that it is a bit hypocritical to judge them on that, their job. Regarding the recent discipline issues, the navy has a strong history of handling things internally. It was trump that stepped in and made a shit storm out of what would have been a disciplinary action.

[Edited on May 6, 2020 at 12:51 PM. Reason : A]

5/6/2020 12:45:11 PM

Thought Black Hawk Down was really good. Never saw Jarhead.

Red vs. Blue in a "Scrubs is the most representative of emergency room" kind of way.

Quote :

"SEALs just seem to have so many discipline issues recently and are not 'silent' operators with everyone trying to cash in on their experiences"

So the entire Navy elite Sea Air Land class as a whole have discipline issues and are not silent operators because of the actions of people less than you can count on two hands?

Okay. I'm the son of a Marine so I'm required to say the Navy is the Marines' chauffeurs, but that's bullshit.

[Edited on May 6, 2020 at 3:08 PM. Reason : /]

5/6/2020 2:59:54 PM

I think it's more along the lines that these former seals who are now quasi-celebrities are indicative of a culture change in the program. I don't think anyone is saying all seals are like this, but it's a very vocal and visible minority and it stains all of them. I found this to be an interesting read: https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2019/08/23/for-seals-its-back-to-regulation-haircuts-and-uniform-inspections/
seems the issues with the seals are more than just a few guys you can count on 2 hands.

I think a large part of the blame falls on Navy leadership. They pushed for these Hollywood glamorizations of seals and then let these bad apples not just stay in the force, but be in leadership positions which allowed this culture to spread.

5/6/2020 4:12:38 PM

^^ I mean, I didn't say all SEALs are shitty, but it sure seems like there are systematic issues when you have top leaders getting fired, SEALs murdering Green Berets, the whole Gallagher shit show, etc.

Can you point me to any other group that had an operator, who was still active duty, get on Fox News and trash leadership?

5/6/2020 4:22:12 PM

Again, the Navy had disciplinary action set in place for Eddie until Trump came in and initiated a series of unusual chess maneuvers between the Navy and the White House. I don't see how that should rest solely on the Navy's decision making.

5/6/2020 4:31:24 PM

One of the most elite units in the military shouldn't have a clear pattern of fuck up. Period.

5/6/2020 4:41:28 PM

So, they are clear fuck ups according to whom? You?

Well, the pentagon still has them on speed dial for when shit hits the fan.

Quote :

"I think it's more along the lines that these former seals who are now quasi-celebrities are indicative of a culture change in the program."

Except that they aren't the only ones that open up about their jobs in the military. Do you know how many fighter pilots and former marines do the same shit? A lot of them do it specifically to clarify misconceptions in the civilian world and/or to educate folks. I don't think that it's a money grab. If you took the blinders off, you might even find some of it to be interesting.


[Edited on May 6, 2020 at 6:35 PM. Reason : a]

5/6/2020 6:23:37 PM

Quote :

"Do you know how many fighter pilots and former marines do the same shit?"

babyee clearly set the bar higher than any ol service member. He is comparing tip of the spear operators or elite special forces or w/e you wanna call them. I mean the post you're responding to cites "most elite units".

Quote :

" A lot of them do it specifically to clarify misconceptions in the civilian world and/or to educate folks. I don't think that it's a money grab"

That's generous.

[Edited on May 6, 2020 at 10:00 PM. Reason : Is Dan Crenshaw also motivated by a need to "clarify misconceptions in the civilian world and/or to educate folks"?]

5/6/2020 9:58:17 PM

since when is a fighter pilot a regular "ol' service member", the fuck?

ppl call me a troll. lol.... this board.

5/7/2020 1:41:36 AM

Quote :

" If you took the blinders off,"

i think you are the one with the blinders on here bub.

5/7/2020 2:36:34 AM

Why yes Banjo, I would considering getting charged with the murder of a Green Beret a 'clear fuck up'. Thanks for playing

5/7/2020 7:21:43 AM

Seriously, I don't know what kind of hero worship you have for these guys, but you should stop.

5/7/2020 7:25:15 AM

not hero worship. I have stated throughout this thread that trump should have just stayed out of it and let the Navy punish these guys and to make an example out of them to their peers, as intended. Not saying that they shouldn't be punished, or that such actions should be avoided due to how awesome these guys are. If anything, I am referring to the rotten apples argument and that it was the POTUS that shipped those rotten apples out to the market for everybody to see.

The seals do have a long history of getting shit done, and our country has relied on them to do their jobs time and time again. The missions that civilians know about is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what they have attempted and accomplished as a special forces unit.

Publicly, Trump made his moves under the disguise of rallying around our troops and war heroes, but he has been butting heads with the Navy for quite some time. I am sure that it was just a power move, seeing as how the Navy does indeed have a long history of handling such actions internally and without consultation with the POTUS.

5/7/2020 12:26:50 PM

The initial question that prompted this thread didn't include soapbox style arguments on whether special forces operators are decent human beings.

I mean it takes a certain kind of person to sign up for a job in which you know you will terminate human lives. It's one thing to enlist in the Army, Navy, Marines or Air Force and not necessarily know what kind of job you're going to have, or if you'll see active combat. It's another thing to sign up to be a SF operator. You know what you're signing up for and it isn't for everybody. Many of these folks already have Texas sized egos so it seems natural that when they're done, they'd want to talk about it to whoever will listen.

So can we get back to discussing what movies/shows closely resemble what life is like in the military these days? I've never seen Jarhead, looks like I need to put that on the list.

5/7/2020 1:39:43 PM

Quote :

"since when is a fighter pilot a regular "ol' service member", the fuck"

dude. you said:

Quote :

"Do you know how many fighter pilots and former marines do the same shit?"

I am a former Marine and I was very much "any ol service member"

Quote :

"I've never seen Jarhead, looks like I need to put that on the list."

Maybe I just have a special attachment to it because of my service but I love that movie.

5/7/2020 1:50:21 PM

Didn't know you were ex-marines. You should have a pretty good idea of what modern military life is like then

5/7/2020 2:22:39 PM

i second In The Army Now

5/7/2020 3:29:24 PM

Major Payne

5/9/2020 12:03:58 AM

5/11/2020 8:30:24 AM

I saw Jarhead for the first time recently. Thought it was funny how the movie built up the marines as these violent, brutal warriors and then they went out to the desert and sat on their ass while the Air Force did all of the work. A movie about combat and what men lose in deployment, without having to fire a single shot to get the point across.

I loved how they shot the Kuwaiti oil fire.

[Edited on May 12, 2020 at 9:44 AM. Reason : a]

5/12/2020 9:21:12 AM

Yeah that was kinda the point of the movie re:their role in Desert Storm. Good job picking up on it

Was based on a memoir from the real Swofford.

Jarhead: A Marine's Chronicle of the Gulf War and Other Battles https://www.amazon.com/dp/0743244915/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_4BQUEbGH43VJB

5/12/2020 9:40:03 AM

^ I heard stories about guys being sent shirts in deployment that said "my girlfriend's husband fights for your freedom" as a joke. Is that true?

It definitely seemed like a modern critique on war, infantry and the marines. The AF guys, despite doing heavy damage, were see as more civil and were joked about for "even having their own rooms."

[Edited on May 12, 2020 at 9:52 AM. Reason : a]

5/12/2020 9:49:27 AM

The opening scene of drone assassination in Angel Has Fallen is very impressive.

5/12/2020 9:51:37 AM

^ The AC130 scene in the beginning of Olympus has fallen was incredibly unrealistic. They would have intercepted that plane long before it got within close range of the capitol. Furthermore, the fighters wouldn't have lined up next to it like they did, but they would have lagged a bit behind in perfect firing range and would have fired much sooner than they did in the movie. That scenario would never happen.

Also, the guard doesn't use the F22 for intercepting aircraft but the F16, I believe.

5/12/2020 10:01:53 AM