Friday, December 21, 2007

Citizen Soldier

By now everybody’s seen the magnificent, sweeping piece of propaganda by the US Army, Army Strong, which has been playing in theatrical previews for the better part of a year.  No matter your feelings on the message of Army Strong, you can’t deny the film’s power.

Conversely, the National Guard’s sister offering, Citizen Soldier, is a laughably shallow mashup of bad ideas and pathetic pandering to (an adult’s perception of) youth.  Its crimes are many.  I could list them all here, but that would ruin the fun—watch the film right now.

I can hear the PR firm storyboarding out this multi-million dollar venture:

“We need to make this thing epic.  Epic.“

(long pause)

“Muskets.“

And later:

“How can we humanize the invasion of Normandy?“

(long pause)

“Marriage.“