Screw the critics! The film is a gutwrenching WAR movie! It's supposed to show mayhem and chaos, that's what war is..No need for character development. The director and camera bring you up-close in the trenches. In the blood, guts, sweat, dust, smoke, and violence that is war... And it's MORE war than science fiction. This could be in the streets of Kuwait City or Stalingrad, or Inchon.... Aaron Eckhart, Michael Pena, Michelle Rodriguez and Bridget Moynihan are extremely realistic. the entire cast is... As a vet of Desert Storm and Kosovo, I felt what these Marines were going thru.... This is a GREAT war film and an excellent science fiction. It blows away Independence Day as far as reality and authenticity goes.....Nuff said.