One of the Best….Who Agrees?….SPOILERS
-
porterbuilt — 20 years ago(March 01, 2006 07:08 AM)
It's definately one of those movies that effects some people differently. I knew I wasn't alone on this. The message it sends speaks volumes. Also in 1983 it was very possible that POWs were still alive which makes it more realistic. I wonder if Hackman or some of the others actors are as proud about this movie as we are.
-
robin-lange — 20 years ago(March 07, 2006 09:21 PM)
I will have to agree here. It is a great movie, realism thrown in at every angle. As for the Viet Vets, let it not be said that it was all for nothing. It wasn't. Here in Asia, most have not fallen under the communist jackboot because of what was going on up in Vietnam at the time. The US military presence in the region was a very large factor that contributed to keeping us in Asia free. My only wish is that, politics and beep aside, some of us had gone in and did our part, but in all probability I think this would be the case if we had another "Vietnam". To those who didn't come home when they should have, it is indeed a tragedy when the country that sent them abandons them. They would all be dead by now, but really, something should have been done then to secure their release. The whole war was indeed a tragic event, but it did some good as I said earlier. To the Viet Vets, and to the families of those who never made it back and those who came back in coffins, I salute you.
For those who are keen to know more about this POW/MIA tragedy, please read, "Kiss The Boys Goodbye" by Monica-Jensen Stevenson and "The Men We Left Behind" by Mark Sauter and Jim Sanders. There is also a good factual documentary "We Can Keep You Forever". -
Goggles-1 — 20 years ago(March 24, 2006 10:01 PM)
I was born in '82 and watched this movie every day before elementary school. I watch it every time I see it on TV and will never get sick of it. I have a theory about how seeing movies when you are young is different than when you are older and biased. E.G. my dad likes Uncommon Valor but always laughs at the cheesy lines or fake aspects, whereas I feel like I am emotionally connected to the flick and could talk about and watch it constantly. Either way I'm slightly drunk and its great to see people feel the same way about this flick as I do. "If you ask me,I don't think my bread's quite done."
-
Paynebyname — 18 years ago(February 21, 2008 03:25 AM)
I think this is a a great film. Good direction, music by James Horner, action and characters.
To have not one but two great MIA/POW films (this and First Blood:Part II) out there is pretty cool in my book.
www.paynebyname.com -
sockscats — 16 years ago(September 15, 2009 03:35 AM)
I think this is the best of the going back to Vietnam movies, better than the Chuck Norris films. In no way is it one of the best films even of the 80s.
The direction of the film is very mediocre and one of the problems with it. The acting is a bit lame at times.
I have some issues with how Vietnam vets were perceived at that time. Seems that every movie portrayed them as introverted hippy nuts who yelled in their sleep and heard voices. They were used by both the left and the right in different ways. There was this whole oppressed brother thing like their bonds were somehow deeper than other war vets. Please. -
kajunite — 16 years ago(September 15, 2009 12:01 PM)
I respectfully disagree with your two points regarding the Vietnam veterans. I must point out that what you perceive as 'hippy nuts' were just a product of the times. The differences of society account for your interpretations here. I do remember the WWII veteran and they were plagued with problems that were great to them. I have a great concern for our returning veterans today because they DO have it harder than we did. I served only one mandatory tour in Vietnam but these guys today are sent back time and time again. Their hell may be even greater than the Vietnam veterans.
It was not that my fellow Vietnam veterans had deeper war wounds and bonded tightly because of it. It was how we were treated before going; during our tour; and especially after our return home. The VFW (at first) would not allow us to be members of that venerable organization because 'Vietnam was a police action and not an American war'. The early petitions for the Medals of Honor were (at first) rejected for the same reason. The political structure denied funding for a lot of things in the VA because they did not want that heavy expense. We had war protesters; draft dodgers; and rioting in our streets and the returning soldiers were spat upon by these factions. This was the first war America ever lost and it was the longest. And then there were thousands of our American friends simply left behind with just over 1900 still there today.
Yeah we bond and we stick together. We also support one another and reach out to the veterans of today to help them to deal with the issues we have had to fight. The Vietnam veteran is one of America's greatest resources, tried and true, so we are a unique brand of Veterans, but America is better today because of us. Welcome home, Vietnam veterans! -
hswitzer — 16 years ago(September 21, 2009 02:34 PM)
Deinately the best of the "lets go back to Vietnam and rescue some POWs genre. It has the Braddock films and Rambo so outclassed it's not even funny.
propaganda=on IMDB, apparently any movie with Americans as the good guys -
sic_slipknot_maggot_freak — 16 years ago(September 25, 2009 04:48 PM)
Watched this again last night and it gets better every damn time. This movie is great. I likes my action films made like this. You get a band of guys going into some dangerous place and some of them don't make it out alive. You get all upset when a character dies in a movie like this because you become somewhat connected with the character. Great acting all around. I love it when Wilkes asks Rhodes, do you want me to buy it or borrow it? Rhodes says, Steal the beep I am moved to tears every time I watch this movie. Especially in the end when Rhodes finds out Frank is dead. Long live Sailor and Blaster!!!
"it would be a privlege if you walked out of here with me."
"i know it would" -
Wild_Green_Goose — 16 years ago(October 20, 2009 04:50 AM)
I just watched this movie for the first time last night wow.
On the surface it apears to be an action movie but i found it to be a very emotional and touching story. One of the best vietnam films (if you can call it that technicaly) made.
"And just like the movies, we play out our last scene." -
Ghombie — 16 years ago(January 28, 2010 11:45 AM)
I do not believe the story that Vietnam Vets were "spat upon" when returning home in uniform as a regular occurance or an organized effort by any protester group. Its an urban legend. I believe that incidents of spitting AT veterans may have occured in rare cases but there are no factual accounts of it happening in the news, nor any police reports of subsequent beatings of the spitters by the spit-ees. As if a seasoned combat veteran would not lash out at an assault by some deranged hippie with extreme prejudice. If it happened so much as is claimed then at least one vet would have struck back even if they would be court martialed for it. That event would generate a police report that could be verified. NOT EVEN ONE REPORT! And it keeps getting repeated as fact, but I dont buy it, no sir!
Give me a break, its just propaganda for pro war minded people and groups to villify all war protesters past and present because some drugged out hippy defiling a combat vet is so much easier to hate and emotionally charge people up with than a concientious protester of a war with a valid argument. I love how the Swift Boat Vets attacked Kerry's service with nothing but a bunch of bullcrap and so many people bought it whole hog. Meanwhile Bush had his cushy ANG gig that he barely even showed up for and the same people say "SO WHAT!". Its just too stupid to even talk about but I guess thats the point. Stymie your opponent with astonishing statements and posture of brutal illogic and stupidity. Just because they were scared by nonsense just like this spitting on MYTH that keeps getting propogated as a fact. Well I dont believe it ever happened and until some definitive proof can be shown that it did happen and with a planned organized effort and it happened that way even once I wont ever believe it. I dont care who says it happened be it a vet or a friend of a vet or a foaf of a vet. If you were a soldier and you were spit on you should have broken every bone in their face and stood trial for such a cowardly act, if authorities saw fit to try the soldier with a very understandable violent response to a personal assault. It would have been a stand against depravity in US culture and would have been a historical moment that would be remembered this very day because someone could cite it here to counter my argument but they cant because there is no evidence because it likely didnt happen anywhere near the amount that this urban legend suggests, not even close. A man should know if a fight is worth the sacrifice and not let people assault him just because he's scared hell get thrown in the brig for it by some dbag superiour officer. These guys were returning from a warzone, the thought of a reprimand or trial concerning their treatement would give them pause, really? Sorry, it just doesnt add up. But hey, I like to think for myself and think critically instead of just taking someones word for it and gettin all werked up over it, haw!
All stories of the spitting on returning vets type are secondhand or personal recollections from vets that are difficult or impossible to verify. I do believe that anti war protesters who were also vets (like John Kerry was) were spit on by frustrated Americans who couldnt understand the treasonous act of using the first ammendment. People who are ruled by fear are capable of doing quite alot of damage as the last 6 or so years has demonstrated.
Ghombie
= Ghost Zombie -
-
meme-29 — 15 years ago(February 09, 2011 10:05 AM)
first, I love this movie!!
Second, re the Vietnam v. other wars including now: I think today's soldiers will be much better off even with multiple tours. They know about PTSD now and counseling is not scorned and is greatly offered. Also, WWI, WWII, Korea & Vietnam were still a lot of "hand to hand" combat, which has to be much more physically & psychologically damaging. Nowadays, most of the fighting is from farther away with technology. Not saying the IED's are not horrible and the fear of them great. But not every soldier is expecting close up hand to hand, kill or be killed, fighting.
Also even if some Americans are against today's wars, they don't treat the soldiers badly as in Vietnam. Back when President Bush was in and so many were so foaming at the mouth against the wars (why has that changed with Obama in?? hmmm) I never heard of soldiers being treated badly upon return. Except for that stupid religion that boycotts funerals and they DON"T COUNT! beep
JMO