Tweet

On October 17, 2014 the film Fury, featuring Brad Pitt and Shia LaBeouf, came to theaters. Fury is an American war film set during World War II (April 1945 to be exact), and is written and directed by David Ayer. What sets this film from other war films is that most are about important battles or events in history and Fury is about the brotherhood that was formed between the men who served.

The film was a smash hit with a $99.1 million box office in its first two weeks. The cast consists of Pitt as Don “Wardaddy” Collier, LaBeouf as Boyd “Bible” Swan, Logan Lerman as Norma “Machine” Ellison, Micheal Peña as Trini “Gordo” Garcia, and Jon Bernthal as Grady Travis.

This would be a great veterans day-off movie because it depicts the violence of war and patriotism. Although the film is very graphic, it’s necessary to show Norman’s coming of age and how he realizes that if he doesn’t take action, people who don’t deserve to die will.

The film begins as the allies make their final push into Nazi Germany. A U.S. Army Staff Sergeant in the 66^th Armored Regiment, 2^nd Armored Division named Don “Wardaddy” Collier commands an M4A3E8 Sherman tank named Fury and its five man, all-veteran crew: Boyd “Bible” Swan, gunner; Grady Travis, loader; and Trini “Gordo” Garcia, driver.

The tank’s original assistant driver/bow gunner has been killed in battle and his replacement is a recently enlisted Army typist, Norman Ellison. Norman has never seen the inside of a tank before or the damages of war. The surviving crew has been together since the North African Campaign and do not welcome Norman upon meeting him because of his lack of experience and he is reluctant to kill a captive German artillery man who is wearing a stolen U.S. uniform.

At this point it becomes clear that Wardaddy feels responsible for Norma and their bond will only get stronger throughout the film. Afterward they go to a small German town and there Wardaddy and Norman meet a German woman Irma and her cousin Emma. Emma and Norman start to form a bond.

The rest of the crew comes into the house and causes a scene. Shortly later the German release a bomb on the town killing Emma and some American forces. This triggers Norman into hating the Germans and is given the nickname the “Machine”.

The platoon of tanks receives a mission to hold a vital crossroads but after an intense face off with a German Tiger I, only Fury remains. All the other tanks and men have been destroyed. After hitting a landmine, Fury is immobilized. Wardaddy sends Norman to go to the mountains to keep watch. While on watch Norman sees a fleet of over 300 Waffen-SS infantry approaching toward the busted tank. All the men decide it’s not worth the risk and want to leave Fury behind.

Wardaddy has become too attached to Fury and considers it his home and refuses to leave without a fight. In World War II you fought until you either won or died. The rest of the men realize they feel the same way and choose the fight the 300 men approaching and set up an ambush. At first they hit the Germans hard but eventually become outnumbered and outgunned.

Fury helps us understand the passion and the sacrifice that these men put in to America safe.

SPOILER ALERT! Grady, Gordo, and Bible are killed and Wardaddy wounded. Norma and Wardaddy sit in Fury and share their last words with each other and admit that they are both scared. Wardaddy, choosing to let the Germans kill him stays inside Fury and allows Norman to escape from the bottom of the tank.

The Germans drop two grenades into the tank killing Wardaddy. A young German Waffen-SS spots Norman underneath the tank while inspecting for other troops but does not turn him in or kill him and the remaining Germans move on.

The next morning Norman wake up underneath the tank and then goes into the tank and sees all the men dead. He pays his respects to Wardaddy by placing his jacket on his jacket on his head. Norman hears people outside the tank and grabs Wardaddy’s hand gun only to see a U.S. Army soldier. Norman is taken to safety as he looks back at all the dead German troops and the destroyed Fury. For Norman it’s a story of coming of age and a story of loss for the other men.

This movie is a true representation of the ravages of war and the dedication put into fighting against Germany and their allies. This movie is a great movie for anyone. However, it is rated R and contains very graphic images that might be disturbing for some people. Overall Fury is a must see movie for everyone.

“Best job I ever had!”