The movie War Machine is an exciting military science-fiction thriller, which tells about the brutal adventure of a soldier, Staff Sergeant 81, tormented with his past and full of strong patriotism. The movie starts with his ugly experiences in Afghanistan, where he loses and gets wounded in attempts to save the convoy of his brother. Riddled with a traumatic past and PTSD, 81 enlists in the exclusive 75th Ranger Regiment, and despite his mental health issues, he proves to be very competent and strong. His inner struggle is depicted with an unpolished sincerity, which gives the movie a rich emotional streak in the middle of its hectic action scenes. The novel emphasizes that trauma and sacrifice create an identity of a soldier and preconditions the appearance of a hero who has to fight not only human but also alien evil that menaces not only a single individual but the whole planet.
The story finally makes a sharp turn in to science fiction as the team finds a mysterious alien machine on a training situation. This seemingly invincible machine, which has the ability to destroy them with mortal force, starts pursuing them in the wilderness, which puts the soldiers into a desperate struggle to survive. The movie is outstanding in the creation of tension, the scenes of the action are visceral, and the images are filled with fright and wonder. The alien danger is turned into the potent metaphor of the unknown foe both internal and external that challenge the human strength. The themes of ingenuity, teamwork, and the dauntless spirit required to confront the unknown develops as the team discovers the weaknesses of the machine and confronts them.
In the end, War Machine is a message of hope, sacrifice and perseverance. It highlights the power of trauma and how even the shattered army members can come out to meet the greater forces. The story of how the protagonist grows to be an unwilling recruit and a leader who discovers the secret vulnerabilities of the alien menace is compelling and exciting to read. The combination of realism and science fiction in the movie makes a powerful story of how mankind struggles not only with alien robots, but also with the evil inside of us.
