Movie Review Thread

[econ21]

I watched We were soldiers last night on TV.

Overall, it felt authentic - as you might expect, being based on the book of the Colonel commanding the battle. The only bit that did not ring true to me was the last day - with the American bayonet charge at dawn being a lure for helicopter straffing of the NVA base. That felt a bit "Braveheart", where the seemingly doomed Scots suddenly revealed their stakes/pikes to the charging English cavalry etc. Strangely, my impression at the end - when they showed the list of US dead - was how few Americans died (60 or so?) despite landing on top of an NVA division of 4000. Even the cut off platoon seemed not to have been wiped out. However, the film did depict sufficiently impressive US fire support (helicopters, artillery, napalm) to help me understand that.

Dramatically, I thought the film was well done. Even Mel Gibson, who I do not warm to, was rather good - he looked old and grizzled enough to be the hard-ass Colonel. The stand-out sequence to me was the telegrams coming by taxi and the Colonel's wife taking over their distribution. That was very moving, with Madeleine Stowe doing an excellent job. The contrast between the sleepy American suburbs and the hellish jungle combat was jarring and brought home the strangeness of men dying in a war thousands of miles away from home. The supporting actors were also good - Sam Elliot and the chap playing the journalist. The Vietnamese were portrayed as humans, although not given depth. A depiction of the war from the side of the NVA or VC soldier would be fascinating, although we may not see it until the Communist Party in Vietnam has fallen or reformed itself out of recognition.

I missed the opening 30 minutes or so, when they introduced the characters, so if I had seen it, I probably would rate it even higher. However, I would include it among the small set of authentic and well made war movies.

[Fragony]

I....am.....gratefull..........to...have served.....my country..........gasp



MAN that movie sucked jumbo-jets through a straw

[econ21]

I....am.....gratefull..........to...have served.....my country..........gasp

Well, I could not hear what he said, but yeah that sounds a plausible record.

I admit, I was a little in two minds about the film, as it could be seen as rather flag-waving. But then I read on a BBC blog a comment by someone claiming to the son of Snake, the brave helicopter pilot in the film. He made the interesting observation that all the lines that posters claimed were sentimental, overly patriotic or banal were things that the real people actually said or wrote. It seemed a valid point to me. 7th Air cavalry soldiers in war time in 1967 (or whenever) probably were a patriotic bunch.

I remember a writer saying about the American Civil War: the language and sensibilities of the people at the time were so sentimental and archaic[1], modern day readers could not accept it and so it had to be changed. Maybe something similar is going on here? Euro-weenies like you and I find it hard to stomach the language and mindset of those American soldiers?

The recent British film Atonement based on a modern novel but covering Dunkirk has received the opposite criticism from some in the UK - that by giving the character's "modern" sensibilities, it falsely gives them a lot of namby-pamby new age sensibilities and self-doubt, and fails to portrary the Dunkirk spirit of the real participants.







[1]This is my favorite example of such language - it is pretty sublime:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

July 14, 1861
Camp Clark,Washington

My very dear Sarah,

The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days- perhaps tomorrow.Lest I should not be able to write again,I feel impelled to write a few lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more....

I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. I know how strongly American Civilization now leans on the triumph of the Government, and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and sufferings of the Revolution. And I am willing -perfectly willing- to lay down all my joys in this life, to help maintain this Government and to pay that debt...

Sarah my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me with mighty cables that nothing but Omnipotence could break: and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me unresistibly on with all these chains to the battle field.

The memories of the blissful moments I have spent with you come creeping over me, and I feel most gratified to God that I have enjoyed them so long. And hard as it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes of future years, when, God willing, we might have lived and loved together and seen our sons grown up to honorable manhood, around us. I have, I know, but few and small claims upon Divine Providence, but something whispers to me-perhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgar, that I shall return to my loved ones unharmed. If I do not my dear Sarah, never forget how much I love you, and when my last breath escapes on the battle field, it will whisper your name. Forgive my many faults, and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless and foolish I have often times been! How gladly I would wash out with my tears every little spot upon your happiness...

But, O Sarah! if the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you; in the gladdest of days and in the darkest nights...always, always, and if there be a soft breeze upon your cheek, it shall be my breath, as the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by. Sarah do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for thee, for we shall meet again...

Sullivan Ballou was killed at the first battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861

[Geoffrey S]

Couple of films need mentioning. Ran, for starters. Having told myself ages ago that I'd watch that movie someday, I finally did. And it is thoroughly worth every minute, every line, every expression. I've rarely, if ever, seen quite such a moving film and I recommend it to all, considering it among my most highly rated movies. Just free up about three hours and let it move you too.

Also, Dark City. I found it surprisingly good. It's flawed, and a bit too ambitious for its means, but there were many moments in which I found the genius shone through. Genuinely original, certainly worth seeing as long as you're willing to overlook certain issues.

Renaissance. Impressive CG, good music, and a decent plot. It's just not very original, and too rarely attempts to make good use of the tricks computer imagery can offer. Nice visuals though.

Malibu's Most Wanted. Well, bits of it. What I saw was rather funny to be honest, plenty of jabs at hip-hop culture.

[econ21]

I....am.....gratefull..........to...have served.....my country..........gasp

BTW, my hunch was right - the movie was authentic on those last words:

One reviewer, for instance, took umbrage with, among other things, the line in the movie where a dying Lieutenant Henry Herrick softly and proudly tells his buddies, "I’m glad I could die for my country." The reviewer saw this as offensively maudlin and false. But Sergeant Ernie Savage, who was there at Herrick’s side amidst the blood and gore, says it is true. According to Savage, "He was lying beside me on the hill and he said: ‘If I have to die, I’m glad to give my life for my country.’"

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/htherrick.htm

Wikipedia is quite good on the film - it agrees that the final bayonet charge was "overdramatised". Apparently fixed wing aircraft supported the attack on the NVA base, not the film's converted "attack helicopters".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Were_Soldiers

I still think it was a pretty good film. I'm keen to watch it again and may read the book.

[Decker]

BTW, my hunch was right - the movie was authentic on those last words:



http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/htherrick.htm

Wikipedia is quite good on the film - it agrees that the final bayonet charge was "overdramatised". Apparently fixed wing aircraft supported the attack on the NVA base, not the film's converted "attack helicopters".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Were_Soldiers

I still think it was a pretty good film. I'm keen to watch it again and may read the book.

Well, the heli support coulda been a budget issue or something of that source.

I watched We were soldiers last night on TV.

Overall, it felt authentic - as you might expect, being based on the book of the Colonel commanding the battle. The only bit that did not ring true to me was the last day - with the American bayonet charge at dawn being a lure for helicopter straffing of the NVA base. That felt a bit "Braveheart", where the seemingly doomed Scots suddenly revealed their stakes/pikes to the charging English cavalry etc. Strangely, my impression at the end - when they showed the list of US dead - was how few Americans died (60 or so?) despite landing on top of an NVA division of 4000. Even the cut off platoon seemed not to have been wiped out. However, the film did depict sufficiently impressive US fire support (helicopters, artillery, napalm) to help me understand that.

Dramatically, I thought the film was well done. Even Mel Gibson, who I do not warm to, was rather good - he looked old and grizzled enough to be the hard-ass Colonel. The stand-out sequence to me was the telegrams coming by taxi and the Colonel's wife taking over their distribution. That was very moving, with Madeleine Stowe doing an excellent job. The contrast between the sleepy American suburbs and the hellish jungle combat was jarring and brought home the strangeness of men dying in a war thousands of miles away from home. The supporting actors were also good - Sam Elliot and the chap playing the journalist. The Vietnamese were portrayed as humans, although not given depth. A depiction of the war from the side of the NVA or VC soldier would be fascinating, although we may not see it until the Communist Party in Vietnam has fallen or reformed itself out of recognition.

I missed the opening 30 minutes or so, when they introduced the characters, so if I had seen it, I probably would rate it even higher. However, I would include it among the small set of authentic and well made war movies.

Excellent review of one of the better movies on Vietnam(imo).

[doc_bean]

Spiderman 3 is horrible.