Why Despicable Me’s Gru is just a warrant officer with better branding
If Gru wore a uniform, it wouldn’t have stars or stripes. It would have a coffee stain and rank that no one really understands.
Your Military
Why Patrick Star is the blue falcon of Bikini Bottom
Patrick Star is every lovable mess-up squadmate who cost you a weekend because he couldn’t keep his mouth shut during formation.
How a good PAO could spin Peter Griffin’s unapologetic havoc
The military, to be sure, has managed to explain away far worse than Peter Griffin.
Why Homer Simpson is a government fixture familiar to all troops
If you’ve spent time in the armed forces, you’ve had a Homer in your unit. He's not a comedic exaggeration. He’s a federal fixture.
Why Master Chief shunned the red tape of realistic military promotions
Halo's Master Chief has single-handedly turned the tide of interstellar wars. Yet despite his legendary exploits, his rank has remained static.
Why troops secretly relate to SpongeBob’s ‘I’m a Goofy Goober’ spiral
For all its absurdity, SpongeBob’s “Goofy Goober” breakdown in “The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie" has become an unlikely touchstone in military circles.
‘My Dead Friend Zoe’ is a veteran’s ghost story that refuses to fade
Authenticity is the film’s greatest strength. It doesn’t lean on clichés. Instead, it sits with discomfort — awkward, hilarious and harrowing.
How Battle Brick Customs carved out a space for military collectors
The company produces kits based on real military vehicles, ranging from World War II tanks to modern U.S. Army Humvees and Special Forces boats.
The subtle genius of the ‘chess scene’ in ‘Saving Private Ryan’
Captain Miller’s revelation humanizes soldiers and exposes the tragic irony of war.
Silence to violence: What the bridge scene in ‘1917′ says about war
A re-watch of "1917" reveals much about duty and sacrifice, but the bridge scene is its violent awakening. It tells us that war doesn’t wait for clarity.
Why the bar scene in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ is more than just nostalgia
The bar scene, while nostalgic, functions as a crucial pivot point that sets up character arcs, thematic depth and emotional stakes.
‘Warfare’ directors talk filmmaking process, capturing combat realism
Directors Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland discuss everything that went into creating one of the most realistic depictions of combat ever made.
Return to Verdansk: The realism evolution of ‘Call of Duty: Warzone’
Activision’s latest installment feels like a genuine return to form.
‘Warfare’ brings realistic carnage of Iraq War to theaters
Alex Garland and SEAL veteran Ray Mendoza's "Warfare" is as realistic and detailed a portrayal of Iraq War combat as anything that’s ever been created.
This sailor requested leave to get his wife pregnant. It was approved.
“My wife is planning on getting pregnant this weekend,” the 1967 liberty request read, “and I would sure like to be there when it happens.”
What surviving an IED taught me about being a stand-up comedian
An Army veteran-turned-stand-up comedian discusses the importance of laughter in the wake of trauma.
‘Antwone Fisher’ is the most important military film you haven’t seen
The story focuses on the internal war Fisher fights, a struggle some service members face long before they put on a uniform.
