The Men Who Stare At Goats

This was a film I was anticipating quite eagerly up until it's release, but it still managed to sneak into the cinema without my knowledge.
The film itself, directed by Grant Heslov, is based around the book of the same name by Jon Ronson, but the story has had liberties taken with it to make it more cinematic, as it is made clear during the film.
Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) is a reporter whose wife has left him for his editor, and things seem to be in a rut. A colleague's sudden death provides him with enough ammunition to go to Iraq and try to get war stories. Before he can get that far however, a chance meeting with a character he's heard about in a previous reporting (about psychic soldiers trained up by the US Army), Lyn Cassady,(George Clooney) gives him the opportunity to travel with this mysterious character and tell his story.
At first, Lyn is not very keen on the idea, but the two soon share a bond. This bond is tested when they meet hostage-takers and get kidnapped themselves. After this, Lyn divulges his secrets with Bob, and tells him tales of his old commander, Bill Django (brilliantly played by Jeff Bridges), the founder of the New Earth Battalion, formed to bring peace to the world.
What follows, is Bob's initial disbelief and sceptisism turn into belief and total trust in Lyn.
The two men share a journey trying to find Lyn's old teacher. When they do find him however, he is merely a drugged-up mule working for the high-ranking Psic corps leader, Larry Hooper (Kevin Spacey). As they try to break him out of the institution for the darker side of the psychic forces, they learn a great deal about each other.
The ending of the film, is a great up-lifter, with a great quote from Bob, who, with strains of "More Than A Feeling" by Boston in the background, finally believing in his ability.
The name of the film itself comes from an experiment that Lyn was forced to take part in to keep his place in the academy. He had to try and kill a goat with his mind. When he succeeds, he believes he has placed a curse on the whole battalion and leaves soon after.
The film, when looked back on, had some great moments to compensate the bad, but for most of the film, it can get very boring, as nothing much happens.
Maybe if another viewing was scheduled, and one really knows what to expect, then it can be enjoyed much more.
George Clooney was a great actor in this film, it has to be said, and McGregor, to a point, but the so-so American accent got quite grating after a while. Spacey's character wasn't fleshed out enough it has to be said, so the audience couldn't really get behind the two men to defeat his plans as he wasn't truly hated.
Overall, I believe this film is worth a 7.5/10 for some excellent, uplifting moments, and for the great use of the title track. By all means go and see the film, but don't expect a rip-roaring comedy to satisfy all of the family.