Jarhead Trailer

Wow, the cinematography looks INCREDIBLE! I think one of the most important parts that stuck out to me were the colors, and alot of untraditional framing/movement in the camera. Something about the look of it seemed totally new to me, like something I have never seen before. Cant wait for the release.
 
the fires are very very familiar :) but from where.....??ah je! I remember. I saw them in my AE today....
 
Yas Kassana said:
I don't know if it's liberal leaning or very Gung-Ho crappy tripe like we were soldiers. Besides, the greatest war film ever made is The Thin Red Line. I remember when i first saw it - i hated it. After a second viewing it all clicked in place. What we need
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We Were Soldiers was 'Gung-Ho crappy tripe' ? Are you lame or something?

This is one of the greatest battles in American military History; not to mention the FIRST ENGAGEMENT between North Vietnamese troops and GI's. It was also the first time that helos were used in a combat situation (and we have never looked back). This was an insane 4 day battle that preceded not only the entire Vietnam War but a subsequent 35 day battle that forced the NVA back to Cambodia. BUt you know that much from the movie don't you?

This battle and the subsequent movement of troops into the area by Westmoreland was a huge deal. Did you know the 1st Battalion was outnumbered practically 8 to 1? Think about that; These soldiers repelled the attack of an extremely disciplined enemy force five times their own size. The part in the film when Hal Moore was first off the helicopter and the last soldier to leave the battlefield three days later? Fact. That really happended.

Here are some stats:

Strength: 4,000 to 495

Casualties: 1037 NVA dead and 365 wounded, 234 US dead 242 wounded

Total Losses: VC 2,402, US 476

Here's some more 'tripe' for you:

ON the cover of the orginal book by Hal Moore and journalist Joe Galloway (the one I own) there is a soldier; this is Rick Rescola. This guy was killed in the South Tower on 9/11; he was last seen (and photographed) holding a megaphone and directing his employees out of the tower.

I felt This film was a re-freshing balance between showing the 'patriotism and terrors' of war. I do not at all feel as if this was some Gung-Ho Patriotic Tripe as you so eloquently put it. I also feel it stands on its own in this new world of SPR, BHD and BOB films setting the benchmarks. There isn't too many good Vietnam films (war films at that) as it is nor are there that many. This is sadly a forgotten war.

Not every war film has to be about the tradegy and loss and reality of death and combat. Sometimes, it's okay for soldiers (and America) to be proud and honor the fallen and victorius for there are truly some great glorious moments in military history.

Gung Ho Patriotic Tripe? Yeah; this was a recruitment film for sure.
 
i got a war movie in mind but its about war that could or couldnt happen but it interesting idea. i would like to tell you john sometime.
 
ill send you the tagline synopsis and stuff the script has been written so many times this is like its 16th draft lol. i finally got it copyrighted though hooray!
 
spidey said:
ill send you the tagline synopsis and stuff the script has been written so many times this is like its 16th draft lol. i finally got it copyrighted though hooray!
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Hey spidey, could I take a peek possibly? Would be really interested.

I know what Yas Kassana means about We Were Soldiers. It seemed to be trying really, really hard to be sincere, but just seemed false to me. That montage with Barry Pepper taking photos was completely crap IMO for example.

It didn't seem to ring true like Platoon, Schindler's List or parts of SPR. I think it is crucial for the director to understand the situation to really make a war film work. Stone is the obvious example in Platoon, which I find breathtakingly honest filmmaking.

I found Thin Red Line to hardly be a war film really... it is a weird film, I liked it, although it does linger a bit. It seems to be more about philosphy than war.
 
That's what i'm trying to say - Of course i need someone from the UK to understand me. I'm talking about the making of the film, it was just so full of cliches and just really really cheesy and overly sentimental and much too 'america **** YEAH' for me. I mean I even thought the only reality of something that is close to what what war is the first 20-30 minutes of SPR, then after that i think Spielberg went to sleep and let Walt Disney to the rest of the movie. Didn't mean to insult you John, it's just my opinion. Next i'll clarify my answers within the context of an argument. Has anyone here seen Salvador? Talk about great indie film making!
 
Salvador, is that the one with James Woods? If so, I saw it way back and from what I recall it was incredible. I saw it with my sister and we couldn't stop talking about it for hours.
 
It is true of Saving Private Ryan; the opening and end battle sequences are the glue that hold this film together. I also don't mind the sequence with Ted Danson. What I wish about SPR was that it was a bigger platoon or real sized squad; although a squad normaly consists of 8 to 12 soldiers (sometimes as many as 14) which there was in this film; I felt it could have worked better with more atmosphere. As much as I persoanlly love SPR I totally see it's DISNEYAGE vibe.

Now onto this comment:

"... overly sentimental and much too 'america **** YEAH' for me. "
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This is an interesting insight. In fact, in the book the prologue makes mention of the following:

"The time was 1965, a different kind of year, a watershed year when one era wa ending in America and another beginning..."

"..we were proud of the opportunity to serve that country just as our fathers had served in World War 2 and our older brothers in Korea...."

"....we were members of an elite experimental combat division trained in the art of air mobile.."

"...we went to war because our country asked us to go, becasue our president ordered us to go, but most importantly because it was our duty to go"

"We were the children of the 50's and John F Kennedy's stalwarts of the 60's. He told the world Americans would "pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship" in the defense of freedom."

"Among us were grizzled sergeants who fought in WW2 and who had suffered the frozen hell of Korea (NOW THERE'S A FORGOTTEN CONFLICT)"

My point is that there seemed to be a kind of '**** Yeah' mentality in the beginning. This is the first engagement were talking about here; not in the middle of it when it was a politcal catastrophe.

The film isn't as gritty as SPR's opening sequence but I find the battle sequences pretty engaging (alot more engaging than The Thin Red Lines battle sequences which I found to be almost sleep inducing. I feel it an underrated film and it's too bad that sentiment exists. I found it to be an older fashioned war film and those soldiers '**** yeah' mentality still exists; they are very proud of what they went through (based on what I have read in the book)

Not exactly sure what you mean by "...needed someone from the UK to understand you"? What? You guy's don't have patriotism in your country? War is hell. BUt not everyfilm has to take us into the depths of Tigerland or Full Metal Jacket.
 
John_Hudson said:
Not exactly sure what you mean by "...needed someone from the UK to understand you"? What? You guy's don't have patriotism in your country?
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Not really... just a bunch of "Chavs" (see here for definitions) who think football (soccer) is what patriotism is all about...GRRRRR...!

I was a patriot, but there isn't much left to be patriotic about these days. :angry:
 
Hey Spidey, yeah brotherhood of war is awesome. John you said

'alot more engaging than The Thin Red Lines battle sequences which I found to be almost sleep inducing. '


SPR battle scene were untouchable. I would argue you can't really compare any war film even to the extent ANY film with the TTRL. Thin Red lines battles scenes weren't supposed to be adrenaline rushed, it was an anti-war film, mallick(in my opinion the greatest director that has ever lived) was trying to convey a feeling of numbness and distance for the audience - he succeeded.
As for patriotism in the UK - well i love my country and wouldn't change it for the world. But patriotism in here and in europe is something that is condoned, it's too close to hitlers fascism. I mean it depends John - how do you define patriotism? my definition of patriotism is not flag waving allegience. i felt more patriotic when i was protesting with the millions millions of people protesting against our countries actions in the Iraq war.
 
Interesting question and statement from both of you:

"...there isn't much left to be patriotic about these days"

Ain't that the truth.

and

"...how do you define patriotism?"

It is hard for me to put into words; I think on this subject, the films '**** Yeah America' attitude works for me for this very reason and the reasons I listed above. I feel the pride and I think the film (although and even with the corny montage) is trying to do just that

I browsed around and found this fairly exhaustive account on the subject:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriotism
 
Yeah, thats what I'm saying. I see 'what' they were trying to do even if I dont like it. Its campy, corny and over the top but can see what they wre saying
 
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