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November 09, 2005

The "Ward Churchill School of Screenwriting"?

"I turned to my friend during the movie and said, 'I have always wanted to see my book on the big screen and there it is; I just didn't get credit for it,' " said Mr. Turnipseed, who served as a truck driver with the Marine Corps for about 90 days in 1991.
I mean, how could you possibly screw over a Marine named Turnipseed? That's just un-American.

Posted by tree hugging sister at November 9, 2005 11:15 AM

Comments

I have mixed emotions about the movie all together. I mean, basically someone getting disillusioned with war because they don't get to fight? Wah!

The Marines I've heard from here really didn't like it.

The part at the end that says something like ... These are not my stories but all Marines' stories is bullsh*te. Did all Marines write a copyrighted novel? No? Then the dude has a case. I hope it turns out well for him.

Posted by: Cullen at November 9, 2005 12:27 PM

I read the book, it was one of our eBooks actually so I got it for free - it's pretty good, but it becomes more and more apparent as you go along that much of it was steamed-up during writers-workshop sessions, and the epilogue thing or writers' bio kinda reveals that turn towards the Big Embrace of College Liberalism as well. Go along to get along and all that.

Posted by: -keith in mtn. view at November 9, 2005 01:16 PM

My cousin married a Turnipseed. HAHAHAHAAAHAAA.

Seriously. His wife's maiden name is Turnipseed. And no, that joke never gets old. She hates us.

My brother said Jarhead was really good, but then he's 22. I am leery of ALL war movies nowadays, ever since Hollywood decided THEY were the arbiters of what is "accurate" in depicting war.

Posted by: Lisa at November 9, 2005 01:18 PM

She's obviously lacking in character, Lisa!

As far as Jarhead the movie: 23 year old Ebola (after having read the book and upon seeing the first trailer) said, "Great! I had to listen to him whine all through the book and now onscreen, too? What a f*ckin' crybaby."

Major Dad, on the other hand, said the book was pretty accurate and voiced the truism "ALL Marines piss and moan." I will whole heartedly second that. We really have raised it (and swearing) to an art form.

Posted by: tree hugging sister at November 9, 2005 01:34 PM

That applies to all fighting services, THS.

So that only leaves out the Navy and Air Force.

Posted by: Cullen at November 9, 2005 01:45 PM

Cullen, BWAHahahahaha! (Okay, Army puke, I'll letcha have that one.) I stand corrected. ALL fighting services piss and moan and want to know when they get to kill something.

Posted by: tree hugging sister at November 9, 2005 02:22 PM

The book was accurate in that it showed how sitting around in the desert for six months waiting for a war to start just sucked and believe me it did! Not to mention when you are a low ranking enlisted guy doing all the crappy jobs. Then it ended in about 100 hours. We had a crewchief upon hearing it was over, throw down his helmet and exclaim "what a lame war". Only military types would understand.

Posted by: major dad at November 9, 2005 05:26 PM