My son is a grunt in 1/1 who has been to Iraq and will be going back as a sergeant - squad leader.
In order to go there, he extended his tour of duty, so he effectively volunteered to go back.

He and a number of his buddies went to see Jarhead near Camp Pendleton and they liked it - a lot.

They think that it shows how real grunts feel.

The only people that'll end up liking this movie might be the Marine Corps lovers, either those in the Corps, out of the Corps, who wanna be in the Corps, and so on.

Or, to be more accurate, the only ones that'll end up liking this movie are "only" the aforementioned groups of people.

The reactions I've read so far, especially comparing it to Platoon, strike me as kinda funny.

My step-father did four tours in 'Nam in the Corps, and when we walked out of the theater when Platoon came out, he said it was the most realistic depiction he'd seen of the Vietnam War, at least where he saw it from (door gunner and crew chief on a CH-46).

So if the grunts are saying this film is accurate, in the same way Platoon was, I'd be inclined to believe them. Everyone I've personally heard express doubt about the veracity of the depiction in Platoon either wasn't there or if they were, weren't in the Marines.

I saw the movie about a week ago. While myself an Army Redleg, I do have many friends and soldiers that are/were Marines.
Reviews seem to be mixed. There are absolute inaccuracies. There would have been no naked bonfire party, shooting rounds in the air. Not allowed and wouldn't happen (the book described a "mad minute" of expending captured enemy rounds and that might be possible) and if that soldier had been shot in the head, the SSG would NOT still be in the Corps (plus on live fire exercises, I believe the weapon is set at 13 ft, so it is impossible if someone stands up to be shot). And although I think Swofford is a whining bi$#h, he does say/write quite a few things that ring true. The crudness, comaradarie, boredom, anger, fear, adrenaline, elation ect... are pretty accurate.
I also didn't see any real political tones to the movie. All war is bad, but it centered more on the soldier's personnal experiences.
If nothing else it brought up interesting questions from my wife leading to discussion. I would say it is at least worth seeing. Not great, but not horrible.
Rick

I was a Marine grunt in combat and I second the previous comments. Best Marine movie ever. Full Metal Jacket on steroids. Oooh rah.