Merrick here...

Sgt. Haughter wrote in with a look at THE MARINE, which recently screened at Camp Pendleton. I've been looking forward to this film since I first saw its trailer. You can read my thoughts about the project (and find a link to its trailer) HERE!

Sgt. Haughter says the film has "plot holes"...imagine that...but still delivers the goods. Here he is to tell us more...

I'm a friend of a Marine stationed on Camp Pendleton's San Diego base and saw the premiere of the movie on October 3rd. As far as I know, this is the only pre-screening of the movie that's come out.

The premiere itself was pretty cool. Some WWE guys and girls were out for it (Ric Flair, HHH, Carlito, and one girl Maria, who seems like a reason to watch the show for her alone). Cena, the director John Bonito, and Kelly Carlson were also all there. They all were great, signing autographs for fans on the red carpet and taking pictures. The crowd seemed to love Cena and he gave it all right back.

The movie itself was a good, throwback kind of movie. Cena doesn't get as much time on-screen in the middle of the movie as you might like, but Robert Patrick does a great job carrying the scenes that Cena isn't in. Patrick might find a new niche for himself playing a "Die Hard"-y kind of villain in future films. His character's badness, but pretty logical rationale in his ways, helps to make Cena's role as hero stronger.

There's some big holes in the plot (one twist involving the police is bordering on absurd), but the movie delivers what you'd want out of it. Cena's not all the way there yet as an action hero, but he does as admirable a job as any other first time actor can do in the material. He's not The Rock, but he brings a different presence to the screen than the Rock does. While The Rock is charming and sweet while being a bad ass, Cena just destroys people and plays the "man-on-a-mission" role well. He doesn't seem to relish in the violence around him, but he does what he thinks is right.

Kelly Carlson doesn't get to do much other than look pretty (one scene with her and John pre-coitus is pretty solid), but she's more of a centerpiece than a juicy character. Her role is more there to show what John's fighting for, which is a caring beautiful girl who waited for him while he fought in Iraq. The moments she and John have are great, but an action scene with her and a female baddie seems forced towards the end.

Overall, it's a good little romp. The movie delivers what it promises...I think Cena jumps away from more explosions than any other man alive could do. But the characters are defined and solid, there are some funny moments, and people die. Repeatedly. And things blow up. Repeatedly. That was what I had hoped for from the film and I actually think I got more out of the characters than I thought I would. Worth checking out when it opens next Friday the 13th.

If you use this, call me Sgt. Haughter.

Thanks for the message, Sgt. Much appreciated!