"Primitive War: A Cheesy yet Watchable Monster Mashup of Vietnam"
The new adaptation of Ethan Pettus's 2017 novel is an unapologetically loud and boisterous romp that defies reason and plumbs the depths of campy entertainment. By embracing its own absurdity, this film becomes a strangely addictive spectacle for viewers who revel in high-octane action sequences, gory effects, and – most curiously – dinosaurs.
Set against the tumultuous backdrop of the late 1960s Vietnam War, the movie's central premise is a curious mashup of covert operatives, scientific experimentation gone wrong, and a prehistoric invasion that threatens to upend the entire conflict. The US Green Berets are deployed to uncover the fate of missing comrades, only to find themselves facing an army of rampaging dinosaurs.
The film boasts a talented cast, with Jeremy Piven delivering a scene-stealing turn as Colonel Jericho, a character whose exuberance borders on ham-fistedness. Ryan Kwanten, better known for his stint on Australian soap Home and Away, leads the Vulture Squad with aplomb, if not much intelligence.
One of the film's greatest strengths lies in its sheer noise – a cacophony of gunfire, explosions, and ear-shattering sound effects that often overwhelm dialogue and music. The production team has opted for some delightfully on-the-nose musical cues, including Creedence Clearwater Revival classics like "Run Through the Jungle" and "Fortunate Son."
While the special effects leave much to be desired, particularly when faced with bright daylight, there's a certain cheesy appeal that makes the plastic dinosaurs look almost – dare it be said? – endearing. The film's central conflict is absurdly simplistic, but its enthusiasm is infectious, making for an undeniably watchable experience.
Ultimately, "Primitive War" is a curious beast: part action movie, part campy spectacle, and part unintentionally humorous romp. Love it or hate it, this film will leave viewers entertained – even if they can't quite explain why.
The new adaptation of Ethan Pettus's 2017 novel is an unapologetically loud and boisterous romp that defies reason and plumbs the depths of campy entertainment. By embracing its own absurdity, this film becomes a strangely addictive spectacle for viewers who revel in high-octane action sequences, gory effects, and – most curiously – dinosaurs.
Set against the tumultuous backdrop of the late 1960s Vietnam War, the movie's central premise is a curious mashup of covert operatives, scientific experimentation gone wrong, and a prehistoric invasion that threatens to upend the entire conflict. The US Green Berets are deployed to uncover the fate of missing comrades, only to find themselves facing an army of rampaging dinosaurs.
The film boasts a talented cast, with Jeremy Piven delivering a scene-stealing turn as Colonel Jericho, a character whose exuberance borders on ham-fistedness. Ryan Kwanten, better known for his stint on Australian soap Home and Away, leads the Vulture Squad with aplomb, if not much intelligence.
One of the film's greatest strengths lies in its sheer noise – a cacophony of gunfire, explosions, and ear-shattering sound effects that often overwhelm dialogue and music. The production team has opted for some delightfully on-the-nose musical cues, including Creedence Clearwater Revival classics like "Run Through the Jungle" and "Fortunate Son."
While the special effects leave much to be desired, particularly when faced with bright daylight, there's a certain cheesy appeal that makes the plastic dinosaurs look almost – dare it be said? – endearing. The film's central conflict is absurdly simplistic, but its enthusiasm is infectious, making for an undeniably watchable experience.
Ultimately, "Primitive War" is a curious beast: part action movie, part campy spectacle, and part unintentionally humorous romp. Love it or hate it, this film will leave viewers entertained – even if they can't quite explain why.
... I mean, I think the filmmakers really leaned into the absurdity of the premise and it's kinda weirdly entertaining? But at the same time, the special effects are super cheesy and it feels like a bunch of unnecessary stuff got added on just for shock value 
. The cast is talented though! Jeremy Piven is basically the only one who can make that ridiculous character work 
. And I get what they're going for with the sound design - it's definitely loud and in-your-face... but sometimes it feels like too much? Like, I'm enjoying the ride but my ears are gonna hate me afterwards 
. Overall, it's a weird watch that'll keep you entertained, even if you can't quite fathom why you're watching it 
i also loved how they used those iconic creep clearwater revival songs in the movie - it added to the overall vibe of just pure, unadulterated fun 
and Jeremy Piven's character is just cringeworthy 
, so at least they got something right. Still, I'm not buying the whole 'primitive war' vibe – it's just a bunch of stuff thrown together to make some noise and look cool 
I just watched the craziest movie - "Primitive War"! It's like a wild ride of a war film mixed with dinosaurs and campy fun 
. Would def watch again...or see how many times I can quote Colonel Jericho's one-liners 
but in a weird way it works? Like, who wouldn't want to watch dinosaurs roam around during the Vietnam War? 
but at the same time you'll keep watching because it's just so over-the-top. I guess that's what makes it kinda lovable in its own cheesy way 
and I gotta say, it's SO cheesy it's actually kinda fun 
. I don't know what to make of the film's weird musical cues, like Creedence Clearwater Revival songs being used for, um, "dramatic effect" 
and I gotta say, it was a wild ride 
! The dinosaurs in the movie were so cheesy that we all ended up laughing at them 
. The special effects could've been better, but who cares when you're having this much fun? My kids loved the action scenes and explosions 
.
? The dinosaurs are SO cheesy but in a good way, like they belong in a campy B-movie 
. And those sound effects? FORGET ABOUT IT!!! It's like the movie is screaming at you to have fun 
.
I mean, who needs photorealistic CGI when you can have bright green plastic dinosaurs stomping through Vietnam? It's like a trainwreck that you can't look away from – you know it's gonna be cheesy and loud, but somehow it just works.
. The cast seems to be having a blast too, and Jeremy Piven is definitely giving us some serious dad jokes 
. If you're looking for something mindless and fun to watch while you're doing something else, this might be the movie for you 
. But if you're expecting some kind of serious war drama or historical epic, you're probably gonna be disappointed 
.