Emotions at the end
-
ma_marcil — 17 years ago(November 11, 2008 06:42 PM)
The end of the movie gets me every single time I see it too. It's just too sad, but at the same time very realistic. It could have been cheaply melodramatic, but thanks to the very convincing and gripping acting by Hackman and the others, and the very effective directing by John Boorman, the moment in the chopper made a very good film even better, and all the more genuinely poignant and moving. The song at the end of the movie was also just perfectly in tone with that scene, sad but hopeful at the same time.
Bill Foster: I'm the bad guy?How did that happen? -
American1 — 17 years ago(November 22, 2008 08:59 PM)
You're right. Sadly, the ending made the movie all the more memorable. All of the actors were perfect for this movie. I watched it in the theater in high school. I've shown it to my kids and they love it although they don't like the fact that Gene Hackman found out his son was dead. The embracing of Hackman and his wife at the end was touching. At least they had each other and some closure. Great movie.
-
doobienick — 16 years ago(December 21, 2009 11:36 AM)
The line was - "Boy you just opened a whole can of Whoop ass!!"
Wrong. Watch the movie again. As Sailor tosses his grenade over his shoulder, he tells Scott " Boy, you just BOUGHT the whole can of Whoop Ass."
I spend my money on dope, sex and cheap thrills.
The rest of it, I waste. -
Ed in MO — 16 years ago(December 28, 2009 07:07 PM)
I haven't seen this movie in 25 years but I still vividly remember the scene where Robert Stack tells the Colonel, "What they don't understand is that I would spend every nickel I have just to spend five more minutes with my son." Sometimes I look at my seven year old daughter and I think, "Hell yeah. Every minute I spend with her is more valuable to me than all the gold in the world."
-
Lunchbox-3 — 16 years ago(June 16, 2009 11:34 PM)
Not only does Rhodes not find his son, it occurs to me that four people died (the old man, his daughter, Sailor and Blaster) so that they could save four POWs. They didn't really gain any ground in that sense. It reminds me of that exchange in Star Trek III when David Marcus dies in the attempt to bring back Spock. Sarek tells Kirk "at what cost? Your ship your son" and Kirk replies "If I hadn't tried, the cost would have been my soul." That's what was eating at Wilkes and all the others to a degree, they didn't get a chance to even try to go back and save their friends until this mission.
-
-
daglesjunk — 14 years ago(September 13, 2011 08:36 AM)
What they could have done is add a line in after Rhodes finally learns that Frank died some time ago along the lines of "No..we found Frankhe's home now!"
I get the feeling that whilst Rhodes is upset at hearing his son died he's relieved that its finally over for him. He has closure. In a way he found him.
Certainly when you see him meet his wife at the end it looks like a big weight has lifted off her shoulders. -
Joxerlives — 13 years ago(January 03, 2013 01:41 PM)
I liked it because you don't get happy endings, it adds realism, for every man they rescue they lose one (although they free dozens of Vietnamese political prisoners). It does make me tear up when McGregor starts his 'It's good to see you Major'speech, Gene Hackman's reaction when he then adds 'Frank always said you'd come' is so powerful, knowing what his words signify even before he hears the rest. Truly great writing and well played by the cast
-
Joxerlives — 12 years ago(June 17, 2013 02:05 PM)
That's the scene that turns this from a good film into a great one. When the rescued POW turns to the Gene Hackman and tells him "It's really good to see you Colonel. Frank always said you'd come" It isn't a too twee Hollywood happy ending, there's triumph and there's heartbreak
-
gerardripley — 12 years ago(July 22, 2013 07:51 PM)
Agreed, that was a great scene which put a punchline and purpose in the story. As an early eighties movie, many of which I love, it helped the transition from the propaganda films of the mid 20th century to the realistic films we enjoy today. The campyness and cliches were still there and the cause had to be overblown for the story but for the time this was a nice flick; a couple of great actors with a bunch of TV stars and mediocre writing and directing was a real money making formula.
-
gerardripley — 12 years ago(July 22, 2013 07:52 PM)
Agreed, that was a great scene which put a punchline and purpose in the story. As an early eighties movie, many of which I love, it helped the transition from the propaganda films of the mid 20th century to the realistic films we enjoy today. The campyness and cliches were still there and the cause had to be overblown for the story but for the time this was a nice flick; a couple of great actors with a bunch of TV stars and mediocre writing and directing was a real money making formula.