Review of Lions for Lambs (2007) by Somu K — 28 Jul 2010

I suggest viewing Beyond Good & Evil: Children, Media and Violent Times (2003) before viewing this movie. For me, the characterization of all of the characters were made more clear with this prior knowledge. As a Derek Luke fan, I viewed the movie with no intention of the political debates in mind. Tom Cruise who advocates for America as righteousness displays a hunger for "winning" in the way that war is a game. His strategy or New School Thinking is nothing new. WIN WIN WIN!

Fuck that.

And still my heart bleeds. For all the soldiers. For all the "to be" soldiers. The men and women who honestly believe that they are providing democracy and fighting for causes by risking their lives. And I am angry at every military advertisement, at the fucking news and everything else I have no control over. And we are told daily- that we are victims... that we are good. And for what?

Good movie yields great thoughts.

Watching it more than once? good idea.

I hate with a murderous hatred those men who, having lived their youth, would send into war other youth, not lived, unfulfilled, to fight and die for them; the pride and cowardice of those old men, making their wars that boys must die. -Mary Roberts Rinehart, novelist (1876-1958).