Fury (1/27/2015)

Rated R for strong sequences of war violence, some grisly images, and language throughout.

Starring Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Jon Bernthal and Michael Pena

Directed by David Ayer (Sabotage and End of Watch)

This one is a rough ride…but worth it.

April, 1945. As the Allies make their final push in the European Theatre, a battle-hardened army sergeant named Wardaddy (Brad Pitt) commands a Sherman tank and her five-man crew on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. Outnumbered and outgunned, Wardaddy and his men face overwhelming odds in their heroic attempts to strike at the heart of Nazi Germany.

It seems to me that tanks make an appearance in every war movie but rarely have they been the focus of those films. They are slow, hulking and claustrophobic; they lack the ‘glamour’ of planes, battleships or the vulnerability of the lone soldier. So you can understand why I wasn’t exactly running to the theater when I saw the trailer. It also has a running time of 2 hours and 15 minutes, again not exactly a selling point. But I thought I’d give it a try…and I am so glad I did. Fury is amazing.

The cast is stellar and their performances are outstanding. OK let’s be honest, Brad Pitt always delivers, but Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Jon Bernthal and Michael Pena are bring their “A-game” too.

The film starts with some intense action and then we are introduced to Norman. He’s very green and his initiation is quick and uncompromising. His first job is to wipe down the tank’s interior and scrub away the remains of his predecessor. Then it’s straight into action, where the true horrors of the conflict are seen…and felt.

And believe me you will feel the combat scenes, they are brutally graphic, offering a Saving Private Ryan level of the gruesome reality of war. Men are shot, burned, and shredded, but the most disturbing part is the matter-of-factness with which the other soldiers regard it all. “It’s just war!” they tell Norman.

Finally there is the director. Not too many people can direct a film as violent and disturbing as this one quite like David Ayer. Some of his other films are Sabotage and End of Watch…he also wrote Dark Blue and Training Day. Like those films, Fury is over-the-top, violent and almost every scene is cringe-worthy.

I certainly would not recommend this film to everyone, but if you enjoy war films like Saving Private Ryan and Lone Survivor, check out Fury, it’s “Theater Worthy.”

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
No, this one is very violent. Besides seeing so many men die, you also are hearing them yelling and screaming a lot – it’s very disturbing. Also there are several uses of the F-word.

CONVERSATION STARTER:

1. How would you describe Norman when we first meet him?


2. How does Norman change?


3. What changes for the better? What changes for the worse?

Read Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.


4. What does this verse tell us about Jesus?


5. Why does He never change?


6. Why can we be thankful He never changes?