Gallipoli - More than Just "War is Bad," Right?

Okay, so I just rewatched Gallipoli (yeah, the director escapes me right now, sorry). Everyone always boils it down to a simple anti-war message, and sure, that's there. The senselessness of the whole campaign and the tragic loss of life are undeniably front and center. But I think there's a deeper, almost unspoken critique of blind faith in authority and the romanticized idea of heroism that gets glossed over. Archy Hamilton, particularly, is portrayed almost as this naive ideal, a kind of pure symbol of Australian youth and athletic prowess, and it's precisely that purity that makes his eventual fate so gut-wrenching. The movie isn't just saying "war sucks"; it's asking us to question what we value and why we send these people to die for…what, exactly? What really struck me this time was the stark contrast between Archy's almost spiritual connection to running and the cold, mechanical brutality of the military machine. The early scenes with the running and the expansive Australian landscape feel almost dreamlike, a stark contrast to the claustrophobic trenches and the incessant booming of artillery. The running is freedom, individuality. Military service, as depicted, is the exact opposite: conformity, obedience, and ultimately, meaninglessness. And the officer class come across as borderline psychopaths, detached from the reality on the ground. I think Weir (or whoever directed it, lol) cleverly uses Archy's unwavering belief in duty – a belief directly tied to that romanticized ideal of heroism – as a device to highlight the utter futility of the entire offensive. The final shot, Archy running towards certain death, isn't just a tragic moment; it's a condemnation of the very system that demands such sacrifices without any real justification. It's easy to see it as just "He's a tragic hero," but I think it's meant to sting more than that. It's a waste. A deliberate, avoidable waste. Anyone else get that vibe? Or am I overthinking it? Maybe I just need to stop watching war movies late at night. But that final scene...it just rattles me, you know? Especially when you realize how many Archy Hamiltons there are in every conflict.