I feel that most of these reviews are unfair, and would point to the only soldier posting one who said it was a decent portrayal of the process. Perhaps they didn't follow the plot, judging from another getting upset that the protagonist was a cook, since we find out his full story later on, which explains that. I also wonder if it upset people because it doesn't follow the normal clichés of who the strong are, those unstated truisms that have been created in military movies made in the US. It is true that the hero is not some muscle-bound superhero, so what? It's not about fighting powerfully, it's about fighting smart.
I thoroughly enjoyed this film, for a non-soldier it felt realistic in a way most military films don't to me. It isn't pretty - but it shouldn't be. The acting is good - what others are talking about I don't know, I may not know many soldiers, but I was brought up in theatres and I know acting - we're not talking awards here, but it's solid work. The script is passable, there are some plot devices that could have been left out - it is by no means a perfect film, but well worth the watch.
I thoroughly enjoyed this film, for a non-soldier it felt realistic in a way most military films don't to me. It isn't pretty - but it shouldn't be. The acting is good - what others are talking about I don't know, I may not know many soldiers, but I was brought up in theatres and I know acting - we're not talking awards here, but it's solid work. The script is passable, there are some plot devices that could have been left out - it is by no means a perfect film, but well worth the watch.