This was a huge disappointment.
Jarhead was to the current war what
M*A*S*H was to Vietnam, except it didn't take any kind of humorous approach, and was absolutely unforgiving.
Expecting action? It is a war movie, isn't it? Tough, you're out of luck.
Everyday I thank God for everything He gives me in the Corps. Hoo-rah.
Actual context: they're sitting and watching the oil fields of Kuwait burn. Then Jamie Fox says:
I mean, where else do you get to see stuff like this?
WTF? I'm pretty damn sure people sign up for the military for reasons other than seeing the freaking oil fields burning.
The movie was very well-made; it was much like a documentary. However, it was very much slanted: never once was Operation: Desert Shield or Operation: Desert Storm portrayed as anything but worthless. Why? Because some people were bored, and because people's wives and girlfriends left them.
I have news for you: if you don't expect that kind of thing to happen, don't go sign up. The military is volunteer. The main character said early on that he didn't have any other choice; well, no that's not accurate. He wasn't drafted. He did NOT have to go into the Marines. We've heard about it from EVERY WAR EVER. It happens EVERY TIME. This movie rubs salt in that wound, particularly for people who have been there.
I found the movie to be in poor taste (for that reason), and overall a very great disappointment.