This is apparently the sequel to Grosse Pointe Blank, not that that film actually required a sequel. Mind you, while some of the actors are the same, and they play similar roles, they have different names. Actually, the way the film has been set up you could easily see how the characters are the same characters (though I was under the impression that Dan Akroyd's character was killed at the end of Grosse Pointe Blank). With what is revealed during the film as well, you can sort of see why the main character decided to go back to being a hired killer.
However, the film seems to be more of a criticism of the Iraq War, and while the movie is set in a central Asian republic that has been liberated by the US (using contracts to conduct the war and to set up peace keeping operations) it is pretty clear that it is supposed to be Iraq. The problem that I had with this film though was that it seemed to be all over the place and it didn't have any real plot to it, even though a number of reveals were made at the end.
I guess the whole point of the film was about how the corporations had pretty much taken over the art of making war, and while they aren't entirely correct with the suggestion that for the first time in history war had become privatised (the modern concept of the standing army is actually relatively new, and lots of wars throughout history have been fought using mercenaries), it does a lot of criticse the way the corporate world has infiltrated everything. The fact that gift bags are regularly being handed out is a case in point.
Another thing that is explored is how wars are being massaged for the media. One of the main characters is a journalist that wants to leave the Emerald City (which is basically the Green Zone in Bagdad), but is prevented from doing so because 'it is too dangerous'. However, the main reason is that the powers that be want to prevent the journalists from reporting on the atrocities that are being committed out in the regions.
The name of the corporation that is conducting the war is Tamerlane, which is a reference to Tamerlane the Great, a conqueror that took over the middle east and was considered one of the last, great nomadic conquerors. However, the reference is no doubt to the fact that they are a foreign power that has come to take over the regions. It is also interesting how all of the tanks have advertising on them, which is another reference to how the corporate world is taking over the role of the military.
However, this film wasn't really all that great. Sure, it is certainly being critical of the way modern wars are being conducted, or at least the wars that were staged in the Middle East (which have all seemed to have petered out now, since the conflicts are now moving over to the far East, this film is starting to feel somewhat dated). Honestly, in the end, there are better films that explore these concepts, and even though this is supposed to be a black comedy, I personally didn't find it all that funny.
However, the film seems to be more of a criticism of the Iraq War, and while the movie is set in a central Asian republic that has been liberated by the US (using contracts to conduct the war and to set up peace keeping operations) it is pretty clear that it is supposed to be Iraq. The problem that I had with this film though was that it seemed to be all over the place and it didn't have any real plot to it, even though a number of reveals were made at the end.
I guess the whole point of the film was about how the corporations had pretty much taken over the art of making war, and while they aren't entirely correct with the suggestion that for the first time in history war had become privatised (the modern concept of the standing army is actually relatively new, and lots of wars throughout history have been fought using mercenaries), it does a lot of criticse the way the corporate world has infiltrated everything. The fact that gift bags are regularly being handed out is a case in point.
Another thing that is explored is how wars are being massaged for the media. One of the main characters is a journalist that wants to leave the Emerald City (which is basically the Green Zone in Bagdad), but is prevented from doing so because 'it is too dangerous'. However, the main reason is that the powers that be want to prevent the journalists from reporting on the atrocities that are being committed out in the regions.
The name of the corporation that is conducting the war is Tamerlane, which is a reference to Tamerlane the Great, a conqueror that took over the middle east and was considered one of the last, great nomadic conquerors. However, the reference is no doubt to the fact that they are a foreign power that has come to take over the regions. It is also interesting how all of the tanks have advertising on them, which is another reference to how the corporate world is taking over the role of the military.
However, this film wasn't really all that great. Sure, it is certainly being critical of the way modern wars are being conducted, or at least the wars that were staged in the Middle East (which have all seemed to have petered out now, since the conflicts are now moving over to the far East, this film is starting to feel somewhat dated). Honestly, in the end, there are better films that explore these concepts, and even though this is supposed to be a black comedy, I personally didn't find it all that funny.