In 1994, Jim Carrey’s “Ace Ventura” introduced audiences to, well, Jim Carrey. The film was part mystery, but mostly comedy as we followed pet detective Ace Ventura’s attempt to solve the mystery of the abduction of Miami Dolphins mascot Snowflake the Dolphin.

Catchphrases such as “Allllrighty then” and “leh-hoo-zee-her” (“loser” elongated) became commonplace. Carrey’s energy and comedic presence made the film a hit and spawned a bad sequel, also in 1994. Carrey had done work in other films before, most notably “The Mask,” “Dumb and Dumber,” but “Ace Ventura” put him on the map.

The downside was that it typecast Carrey as an actor who could only play funny roles. There were attempts at making more serious films: “The Truman Show,” “The Majestic” and “Man on the Moon.”

It wasn’t until 2004’s “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” that Carrey was able to show off his acting chops. The film was a critical success and proved to many, myself included, that there was a whole other side to Carrey’s acting that we had never seen before.

He ran the gamut of emotions as Joel Barrish and Kate Winslet was able to step up her game resulting in the two making a very realistic couple. However, it left another thing to prove for Carrey: Show me this isn’t just a fluke performance.

As before, Jim Carrey had to prove himself again; this time having to show that “Eternal Sunshine” was not just a fluke of an acting job. With the release of his new film, “The Number 23” Carrey has shown that he can take on any dramatic role he chooses. He uses his humor to accentuate his dramatic role.

Carrey is a master of facial expression, and it really is an art form with him. He hits the right notes consistently with his expressions and mannerisms. His emotional approach to his characters not only makes them memorable, but brings an intensity that the audience can feel from the screen.

I hope that the film will re-ignite Carrey’s career and prove to audiences that he is an actor and not just a comedian. I know regardless, I’ll be watching his films.

“Jarhead,” director Sam Mendes biggest effort since 2002’s “Road to Perdition,” is the tale of one man’s experience as a soldier during the first Gulf War. The film is based on the 2003 book of the same name, which recounted Anthony “Swoff” Swofford’s (played by Jake Gylenhaal) experience as a Marine in Iraq.

The previews paint a picture of an action-packed war film, but the movie plays out in a documentary fashion. I have talked with a few soldiers, both current and former, who said the film’s depiction of the first Iraq war was incredibly accurate.

“Jarhead” itself is a good film that makes for an excellent character study of a soldier who is driven into relentless training and been so pumped up to fight for his country, only to be denied the chance to do his own job.

It reminded me personally of various soldiers I had known and met throughout my life. I was reminded in particular of a friend who I knew my freshman year in high school named Rhonald “Dain” Rairdan. We had a class together and would spend our lunches talking about all sorts of things; Dain had a great sense of humor and did the best Austin Powers impressions I have ever heard.

He moved away after freshman year but said he would try to come back for our senior year of high school. He never came back, but I had the phone number he had given me before he left.

I never called; I always thought there would be another time.

Dain Rairdan died on Jan. 26, 2005, along with 30 other soldiers when their helicopter crashed because of a sandstorm in Iraq. I heard about it on the news. I remember seeing on the news at school that a local Marine had died, and when they showed a picture, I knew it was him.
When I first saw the previews for “Jarhead,” I thought of Dain, too. When I watched the film, I thought to myself, “Dain probably saw things like this.”

The movie made me feel closer to him. It made my already high respect for any solider just that little bit higher. I think he is part of why I also liked the film. This is a film that shows the hardships soldiers face everywhere. What “Jarhead” demonstrates especially well is the mental and emotional aspects of war that it is not all blood and glory.

This film shows our history as a country, and it gives me a last glance at a fallen soldier, a silent goodbye and a chance to pay respects to a good friend.