In 2005, Sam Mendes directed a moderately received military film called JARHEAD starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Jamie Foxx, and Peter Sarsgaard. Based on the memoir by Anthony Swofford, JARHEAD had excellent visuals thanks to cinematographer Roger Deakins and a muddled screenplay. Some remember it fondly while others just recognize the title.
Fast forward nine years and we are about to receive a direct to Blu-ray sequel to JARHEAD that shares nothing in common with the Mendes film aside from the title. JARHEAD 2: FIELD OF FIRE stars Jesse Garcia, Bokeem Woodbine, Esai Morales, Cole Hauser, Stephen Lang and Josh Kelly and seems to be a much more action-oriented movie than the dramatic original. Directed by Don Michael Paul (WHO’S YOUR CADDY?), JARHEAD 2 looks like a mess. Even if the first film wasn’t your cup of tea, there is a huge drop in quality here that is quite jarring (pun intended).
Battle-scarred and disillusioned by the war, Corporal Chris Merriman is put in charge of a unit whose next mission is to resupply a remote outpost on the edge of Taliban-controlled territory. While driving through the hostile Helmand province, a Navy SEAL flags down their convoy and enlists the unit on an operation of international importance: they must help an Afghan woman famous for her defiance of the Taliban escape the country. Without tanks or air support, Merriman and his team will need all the courage and firepower they can muster to fight their way across the war-torn country and shepherd the woman to safety.
I am a bit surprised that Universal put their logo so prominently on this trailer as I doubt anyone but those who frequent Redbox will likely watch this film, but I guess projects like this are the direction studios are headed to try and get as much as they can out of their catalog of existing properties.
JARHEAD 2: FIELD OF FIRE will debut on Blu-ray on August 19th.