Calgary

I guess I was in the "movie" mode when I watched it. You could tell it was directed at americans but of course you could feel the pain in the story. Worth a viewing but not "excitement filled".

I was very impressed with this movie. It shows a behind-the-scenes look at what soldiers are facing in Iraq as well as the reality of returning home from the war. Shocking and disturbing, but well worth seeing.

Eye opening and riveting reality of facts that are not known to all. Great movie.

I think it was a little bold in terms of screenwriting (trying to do too much at once), it's still surprisingly sincere and has some great performances. This isn't a great movie or anything like that, but it's pretty effective. Effective also at capturing many frustrations regarding Iraq. I think the movie would have been better if it focused completely on one of the two messages it was conveying: the controversial military policy that no one knows about or the traumatic effect of war on young veterans. The biggest saving grace of this movie is that it's obvious that it DOES NOT have an agenda to make the current government adminstration look bad. Rather, it seems to have been genuinely made to advocate on behalf of the soldiers to dramatize a current injustice.

This movie opens a persons eyes to the realism of this war and the emotions of the soldiers during their tour and after they return home. It is well worth seeing and shows well on the big screen!!!

Nothing actually really happens in this movie. Overall I was disappointed to be honest.

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Absolutely magnificent film. Acting was terrific and the movie shows the true trials and tribulations of war. This war HAS TO STOP!! Too many young men and women are being led to slaughter and if they survive they end up with everlasting mental, emotional and physical damage!!

Overall, a pretty good movie. I hadn't heard of the Stop-Loss clause before and felt that Ryan Phillippe's portrayal of a solider being stop-lossed was solid. I felt the ending was pretty weak (was wrapped up a little too cleanly) and Abbie Cornish's character was unnecessary and poorly acted to boot. I can see this movie appealing to a younger female demographic due to the attractiveness of the male cast. Would recommend renting this movie instead of paying theatre prices.

This movie was very accurate about the impact that the war is having on the soldiers. I recommend you see it!

I was really surprised by this movie. It was thoughtful and had an interesting perspective on what the war in Iraq is doing to the people and the soldiers. Go see it.

This movie earns a solid 8/10 on my scale. It is a great movie, and I recommend you see it. Yes, there have been several post-9/11 movies that have failed to capture a wide audience (In the Valley of Elah, Rendition, Lions for Lambs, The Kingdom) I personally loved Elah (performances and story) Stop-Loss has now become my favorite movie on the topic of that "war". It is driven by a solid screenplay and directed masterfully by Kimberly Peirce. The acting is simply amazing. Ryan Phillippe delivers one of his greatest performances. Major kudos also go to Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Channing Tatum. The movie shows you not only what kind of situations that these soliders are put in over there, but also and more importantly the effect that it has on them. And Peirce tells the story in a very original fashion. This movie is top notch quality on a subject that seems to have become taboo. It may not be too popular to take a stance or question our involvement over there, but no matter where you stand on the issue you cannot overlook that men and women are sent over there, put in harm's way, and too often left to fend for themselves upon returning. A great movie, don't miss it.

A very eye-opening movie about a very real issues that is consuming our neighbours to the south. This war is consuming all of us... another Canadian killed...

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While the soldier returned to his home state of Texas, he thought his tour of duty in Iraq was over to be with his family and friends. Then he was ordered to return to Iraq but he refused and forced himself to flee. Real life issues like this comes with a price.

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This movie is a disservice to movie making. It also damages the potential understanding of a very important topic. Equipped with a significant budget the producers and director have managed to trivialize this topic using every commercial trick currently available. First we have extensive 'war' footage - tanks, guns, infantry buddies, death, blood, gore etc. - long and gratuitous. No original thought here. We've seen this sort of thing in every war/propaganda movie since movies began. There was even a picture of John Wayne pretending to be a soldier. Pretenders worshiping another pretender. Why not feature a real warrior if there has to be a 'hero' in the frame. After the explosions and the necessary tragic carnage we have the ticker tape welcome home and then the PTSD analysis. Next, small town family destruction resulting from the experiences. Then, almost hidden, the STOP LOSS theme. The entire point about the stop loss policy is lost in the gratuitous gloss of a wanna be war movie. Stop Loss policy is yet another nasty tactic used by the US in its prosecution of political invasions of sovereign countries. These invasions lead us to terrible destruction of all civilized societies. This trivial trash teaches nothing about the stop loss tactic used by the US military. It teaches us nothing about the trickery used to prosecute US invasions and it teaches us nothing about recruitment propaganda. I suggest a reading of Henry IV part 1 and beyond. Hotspur is more credible and articulate than this director will ever be.

Wow, that was better than I thought, those poor guys,.

It tells a lot about what really happens in the States. It makes Canada look good thats for sure. I thought that Ryan and Channing did a great job. Only disappointment was not seeing Ryan without his shirt, like they showed in the previews. I would go and see it again :)

A theme very similar to 'In the Valley of Elah'; meaning how mental / physical health is ill affected when coming home from war. It's not the main story line, but close to it. The acting is good but not great and so is the movie. Worth seeing and in my book, I give it 7½.

The message is strong... worth seeing in theaters, the actors are good (not exceptional), the special effects are well made and the plot is believable. I really enjoyed.

I find it hard to call this a great movie, but I strongly feel anyone with an opinion on the Iraq war should take the time to see this movie and consider the implications, not only of stop-loss or draft, but of withdrawing from the situations depicted in the early scenes. Obviously this is a highly relevant movie, and for entertainment value--it was reasonable. Nothing to write home about with respect to acting.

Was an okay movie good story line shows the said of the war you dont usually get to see and that the u. S. doesnt want you too see makes you hate the war and the way America treats its soldiers Heroes one minute criminals the next this movie will change the minds of alot of supporters of the war and Ryan was at his best in it!

A very good movie that shows what is happening in real life now.

I can appreciate this movie because it captures the problems that returning soldiers face upon returning from the middle east. Another benefit to the film is that it avoids falling into the lets just bash the Bush Administration and presents a good story. It's not a great movie but is definitely worth seeing in my opinion.

This is an amazing description of what some are going through in the American back door draft. Very disturbing.

This movie was nothing special. For a movie about a war happening today I expected better. While you are watching it, you are waiting for something exciting and big to happen. And nothing happens.

This movie was really the first war type movie, where I felt I could actually understand how the soldiers felt. This movie had action and got very graphic, but it was the soldiers friendships that got the most reaction out of me. Channing Tattum really broke through in this film, and I feel like this was the best acting Ryan Phillippe has done. I'm afriad this will be another great movie people will sweep under the rug, when it is one that everyone should be seeing.

An important film that questions the U. S. policy of "stop-loss" or forcing soldiers whose tours of duty are over to re-deploy to Iraq--basically a 'back-door draft, ' as one character states. Ryan Phillippe is very good as the lead, a decorated soldier who chooses to go AWOL when told that he will be stop-lossed. He is forced to make some difficult decisions. The film puts us into these soldiers' lives as they fight in Iraq and later, when they have difficulties in civilian life. Some important issues are raised, such as how much must a soldier risk for what is essentially an illegal war, as well as the plight of soldiers' families who also suffer. Well worth seeing.

The movie was Ok with a great message. It gave an inside look how war not only affect soldiers but their family. But somehow from the middle until the end of the movie the message got lost!