for the main criticism of the movie . the love story represent that wasn not a love story . those be two people distraught come together try to find humanity in anyone . the same thing happen with soldier and the russian boy . it add a feminine touch and but come on look at american movie . no where close to love story . there be no storyline represent do war have a storyline . i think that be a silly criticism . the storyline be this . they start with 400 men and the movie narrow down to show the life of about 10 men and how each do their part and die . death be the ultimate end to any story . just because there be no happy end doesn not mean it have no storyline . there be a horrid truth in this movie . i wouldn not necessarily call it anti war . it have a political statement of course and but the movie wasn not all about the politics . in fact and except for a few occurrence when the captain . show up and there be never a stifle air of nazi germany . they be far enough out of the reach of the main nazi party . the fat cat weren not gon na go into russia . maybe not completely accurate and not a hollywood hit and but it exhibit a fine knowledge of the common soldier ( i would say exactly of almost any nationality and war ) and what they must go through . it be a losing battle and of course the movie be go to be depress . and to the person who say that it be gutsy ( and silly ) to even portray german a victim represent there be victim on all side in every war ( any real soldier will tell you that ) . this movie be a fine balance between movie and documentary . a few problem with it when argue for just one and but it instill the best of both world . watch it a such . beware however because it be a hard movie to watch if not graphically and emotionally . i be wait til they make a movie about iraq . it will probably have many of the same theme and will be very controversial and i want to see who have the gut to do it first . ( jarhead doesn not count ) .