No war film should ever be taken lightly. There’s always something new to offer in the midst of the carnage and chaos. Classic war films such as “Apocalypse Now” and “Platoon” have shown the psychological impact and the loss of innocence that comes from war. Other films such as “Black Hawk Down” and “Saving Private Ryan” display a brutal and realistic account of the fighting.

David Ayer takes all the classic traits about warfare in movies and compiles it into his new film, “Fury.”

In the last days of WWII, “Fury” follows a tank squad, as it fights against the last of the German army in the heart of Nazi Germany. At the same time, a new recruit is thrown under the bus with them and they’re forced teach him the hardships and carnage of war, whether he likes it or not. They face overwhelming odds with tank battles against the Germans and come face-to-face with the shocking realism of war.

Brad Pitt returns to the WWII genre as the star in “Fury.” This time around, he isn’t the hardcore, Nazi-scalping Lt. Aldo Rain from “Inglorious Basterds.” He’s far from it and has a lot more screen time. As the heavily scarred, Southern tank sergeant who refers to himself as Wardaddy, Pitt portrays a soldier who has come to cope with the reality of war. Pitt tends to steal most scenes when he’s with his tank squadron, but it’s when the war-stricken man is alone that the film is at its height. It reveals that even the most battle-hardened soldiers still have to endure the horrors of war.

Shia LaBeouf, Michael Peña, and Jon Berthnal co-star as Wardaddy’s tank squad. Each character is memorable in their own way like Boyd (LaBeouf) reciting bible verses before heading into battle or Gordo’s (Peña) powerful story about the dead horses during D-Day. But it’s Logan Lerman’s character, Norman, who takes the film in a whole new direction. Norman is gradually exposed to the horridness of combat, and it’s reflected in his facial expression and the way he acts towards his comrades.

The characters in “Fury” are noteworthy, but the script lacks in many areas, creating turmoil. At times, the film takes a break from the fighting where it begins to drift away from the main plot. These are boring segments without much importance that add little depth to the characters or the plot.

There aren’t awards in store for “Fury,” but it treads in familiar water with its relentless display of the loss of innocence and the psychological impact that comes from war.

Tomahawks: 3/5

*Not Recommended if you’re: squeamish, looking for an uplifting film