MovieChat Forums > Generation Kill (2008) Discussion > Last Scene of Last Episode? **May contai...

Last Scene of Last Episode? **May contain spoilers**


Just finished watching the GK mini series on my pay tv service. Loved the show. I loved the tempo and the situations these Marines often found themselves in. The sometimes silly orders and internal politics of the regiments and the personalities between the characters.

I am intrigued however by the last scene of the last episode. With the making of the mini-movie by one of the Marines and as they all gather around to watch it slowly one by one start to leave before it is finished. The only person left standing watching this mini-movie is the trigger happy Trombley (Whopper Junior). This home made movie scene put together is of pretty horrid scenes - as i guess there is not a great deal of "happiness" to be captured in an environment like this. But what was the significance within the show when each of these characters begin to peel away from viewing this short documentary of their time in Iraq?

Was it just because they are sick of the carnage? And that because they are living it they don't need to see it replayed back to them? Was it because the condensation of the horror in the movie was just too confrontational for them because it was a realisation of some of the atrocities they have committed on both civilians and military Iraqi's? Was it a silent protest at the injustices of war? It was also interesting that as each character left no one really said anything as to why they left.

And because of the carnage being shown on the movie - Trombley seemingly was attracted to the movie and couldn't tear himself away from the gore and horror of what was being shown.

I'd be interested in your thoughts on this.

Thank You

Jeff
Brisbane, Australia

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It seems there might be some significance to when certain characters leave. Fick and Colbert never watch the film, suggesting they see no glory in reliving what they just went through. Espersa, who only moments earlier explained his regret was shooting possible innocent people in the vehicle, leaves after scenes show bodies in vehicles. Manimal, who was devastated earlier by his wife leaving him, leaves when the camera focuses on the girl in her swimsuit.

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I'll copy and paste what I wrote in another thread about the last scene:

I can see how some might think this series is anti war based on the creative team behind the scenes, but that's too simplistic, and not at all true. It's not so much anti war as it is anti human. War is a by product of mankind and you can see similar themes and ideas in Ed Burns & David Simon's masterpiece, The Wire. They tell it like it is. Sure War is hell, but for the first time in a war film/series, they also show that War is exciting. The reporter and Godfathers last conversation in episode 7 and the look on the reporters face after his first combat experience highlight this. Then the poignant final scene with the video and Johnny Cash brings it all home. Everything from a month long invasion distilled in a 4 minute music video. As Soliders started leaving as the video was playing I thought "ok, whoever is the last person watching this video, is the person this show is really about". Trombley. The X-Box, MTV and silver plate generation. Generation Kill.

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My interpretation was more closely related to the earlier statement in the episode; "Killing isn't a sin if you don't enjoy it".

I thought the order of people who were leaving was some sort of showing of how much each of them enjoy what they did. - How innocent they are. - Notably trembly was last. and the title of the series is generation kill.

but this was just an initial interpretation, i haven't thought this through at all, and literally just finished the show 15 mins ago to ask the same question you have.

the other interpretations here seem very credible.

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