Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this mature Iraq war drama definitely isn't for kids. Based on a true story, it deals with violent acts like rape and murder (including the shooting of a pregnant woman) and shows U.S. soldiers' boredom, fear, and tensions. The closing images of real Iraqi civilian corpses and mourners are especially difficult. Weapons include guns, grenades, and IEDs; other scenes show drinking, the effects of drugs, and cigarette smoking. Not surprisingly given the war-zone setting, language is strong and constant, with more than 100 uses of "f--k" and lots of racist and misogynist slurs.
Sexual
Content
Frequent conversations about sexual desire and activity (includes use of words like "p---y" and "boned"). Porn magazines visible in the troops' base camp. Rape scene shows some thrusting and gestures toward the camera -- no nudity, but explicit action. Uncomplimentary discussion of a dead woman's pregnancy.
Violence
Ongoing and upsetting violence throughout. A rape is central to the story. Several scenes show shooting and bombs exploding. Images of guns, tanks, and shoulder-mounted grenades. U.S. soldiers man a checkpoint where they shoot up a car that's transporting a pregnant woman to the hospital (some blood). Hospital scene shows blood and chaos. A sergeant is killed by a bomb (his bloody, detached leg flies into the frame and lands on the ground). A woman describes the rapists' brutal possible deaths.
Language
Very frequent swearing, including 100+ uses of "f--k" and multiple uses of "hell," "s--t," "damn," "ass" (some with "hole"), and "bitch." Derogatory words like "ragheads" and "hajji" are also used.
Social
Behavior
U.S. troops are angry, frustrated, and fearful; several are overtly racist and misogynist. A group of four soldiers rapes a 14-year-old Iraqi girl. She and her family are murdered; the primary villains never show remorse.
Consumerism
Not applicable
Drugs / Tobacco /
Alcohol
Soldiers appear drunk and high and smoke cigarettes frequently.