[Long Cut]

I saw this movie mentioned in The Wall Street Journal's Weekend section today. It revealed that, among other things, the movie depicts U.S. soldiers as illegal drug and arms dealers and slackers...this on the eve of the Berlin Wall falling (when one would imagine them to be a bit busy). Miramax, the studio producing, has already recieved protests from active-duty personnel. I thought they should recieve some more.

I know, I know, it's a comedy, but this same sort of "comedy", in the form of such shows as "MASH" and others, poisoned a great deal of goodwill towards the military and increased the ignorance of it and its sacrifices among many Americans. I've had enough of it!

THIS IS what Hollywood considers a movie worth releasing after two years of war and blood. I think it is beyond disgraceful, and I'm usually all for filmmakers having all the freedom in the world.

I do not advocate censorship, legal or otherwise, for this travesty. I do, as an active duty Sailor who faces a long deployment in a few short weeks, hope that it dies an ignominous death at the box office. Thank you.

[Long Cut]

Check it out...Hollywood's Heroes presents their view of REAL heroes...

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for the ping Long Cut.

Just the Poster for this movie PO's me. Based on the plot summary, I don't thinkg this is going to be a movie that is around for a long time.

[Radix]

Young people always seem to flock to just about anything that Hollywood will produce. Thinking persons however will avoid this sort of thing.

Hey, George Clooney had a bomb last year that you will not see the Media stress was largely boycotted because of his anti-American pronouncements. Similarly, the Dixie Chicks lost a few fans as well. There are other examples of such phenomenon.

Americans are not all as docile and stupid as the Libs would like to believe.

[snippy_about_it]

...I think it is beyond disgraceful...

I couldn't agree with you more Longcut.

Thanks for the ping SAM.

[Long Cut]

PING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Long Cut]

In the 1940's, how many patriotic, pro-military films were made? Even after WWII ended, for DECADES afterwards, movies and TV shows extolling the American Fighting Man in that war came in droves. Even comedies based on that war, such as McHale's Navy, Kelly's Heroes,and Operation Petticoat NEVER denigrated the individual Soldiers and Sailors they depicted, nor did they trash or slander them.

The Viet Nam war changed all that. The ONLY pro-war film made during that time, The Green Berets, was mercilessly trashed and laughed at by those self-appointed "sophisticates" of the time, who preferred to focus on its technical glitches and either laugh at or ignore its message. For the most part, American military men and their lives were depicted as dark, corrupt squalor.

The 1970s were little better: here again, the U.S. military was depicted as having two types of people in it; the drugged-out, half-crazy grunt only steps away from slaughtering a dozen people in a store, and the corrupt, money-and-power hungry (but usually bumbling) officer. Witness the aforementioned M*A*S*H* and others, such as The Last Detail or The Deer Hunter.

While the Reagan '80s saw some better works, they also saw the production od Platoon, possibly one of the worst slanders of the military yet seen. It was clear, however, that the bulk of the movie industry had to hold its nose to depict ANY positive portrayal of the military.

And now? We are in a war, an actual, shooting, ongoing world war, one in which our own nation was attacked and unarmed civilians murdered by the thousands. A war in which American troops are engaged in several regions at once;and by all accounts are performing as heroically and as well as any of their fathers and grandfathers. Great deeds of gallantry and honor are being performed even as we speak here, and America is wreaking havoc with our enemies all over the world. Yet, amid all this, AND amid the resurgence of flag-waving patriotism and military support in Middle America, Hollywood's Heroes see this as a fine time to release...THIS:

It should be a loud wakeup call to those selfsame Middle Americans who are the movie industry's most valued customers as to what that industry REALLY thinks of them and their values. And, of course, what it thinks of their children, husbands, brothers, sisters and other loved ones(who come overwhelmingly from that segment of society) who are right now rewriting the definition of heroism and sacrifice, yet again.

Look once again at that poster, at the young actor (Joachim Phoenix) with the cynical smirk in it. He is in his 20's, is healthy and fit, and has absolutely NO intention of ever donning his country's uniform in her time of war, or of even doing movies and shows to support her efforts or her troops. Instead, he takes a role that previous actors would have probably punched out a producer for even offering them. His smirk is not forced; nor is it faked...he (and MANY others like him) really think that way. That is, that they are better and smarter than those who currently are in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, and others too secret to mention. That he and his friends have it all figured out, and that those sons and daughters of America who fight for it are suckers and fools.

I guess this is why I am so incensed by this...I was just curious about this film, having read what I did in The Wall Street Journal. I might have passed it by completely; but that image of that FACE of his...when I have seen and trained hundreds of other, FAR MORE determined and honorable young people who even now are in Harm's Way, pushed me beyond my limits. i hope and pray that, with this thread and the word spreading it will accomplish, that the box office wipes that smirk off his simpering, cowardly, arrogant face, and off those of his employers, for a long, long time.

Thank You, from an American Sailor.

LC

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Hollywood bashing the military PING

Then we have what the Commander-in-Chief has to say about the men and women in the military.

Excerpt from the Remarks by President Bush in honor of Independence Day
United States Air Force Museum, Dayton, Ohio | July 4, 2003

"...Our nation is still at war. The enemies of America plot against us.
And many of our fellow citizens are still serving and sacrificing
and facing danger in distant places.
Many military families are separated. Our people in uniform do not have easy duty,
and much depends on their success. Without America's active involvement in the world,
the ambitions of tyrants would go unopposed, and millions would live at the mercy of terrorists.
With Americans' active involvement in the world, tyrants learn to fear, and terrorists are on the run..."

I want YOU
to e-mail a service person today!




Please Thank someone in the military for ensuring our Freedom.
Take a moment and Thank a Service Man or Woman.
Just Click on the graphic to SEND an e-mail.

[Yasotay]

Having been in the Army (and in Berlin during the "Fall of the Wall") during that time both as enlisted and an officer here are my thoughts....

- the Army (as with America) did have a HUGE drug problem BUT for the most part, the Army beat it (unlike America)

- like every institution, the Army has it's problems BUT unlike most organizations the Army will take steps to CORRECT it's problems

- the movie will be a poor attempt, with terrible timing, to be a modern Catch 22 ... and will do very poorly

[SouthernHawk]

These jerks are nothing but over paid PRETENDERS.

They wouldn't know the truth if it fell on them! Our Military deserves better.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

I'm one of those rare people who do not go to the movies.
I don't even rent videos. If it's not on TV I don't see it.
The only exception I made in the last 5 years or so
was when We Were Soldiers was released.
THAT was worth while seeing for many reasons.
I'm fed up with the bias that the media and Hollywood show.
Give me old classic sit coms any day of the week!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

“Operation USO Care Package”
Delivers Needed Items and Personal Messages to Service Members
Deployed Overseas
You, Too, Can Show a Service Member You Care

With thousands of U.S. troops deployed around the world, still actively engaged in Operation Enduring Freedom and the fight against terrorism, the United Service Organizations (USO) is offering a unique way for individuals and corporations to let our nation's defenders know we haven't forgotten them. “Operation USO Care Package,” sponsored by the USO World Headquarters and administered by the USO of Metropolitan Washington (USO-Metro), enables individuals to write a personal message and financially support care packages that will be delivered to service members participating in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Because of heightened security, individuals can no longer send letters and packages to 'Any Service Member.' Operation USO Care Package is approved by the Department of Defense, providing a safe, easy way for individuals and corporations to show their prayers and thoughts are with our men and women in uniform.

Corporations may also contribute to this program through financial contributions, items donated in bulk for the care packages, or through implementation of an employee participation program. AT&T is a major supporter of this program, providing a complimentary toll free number for individuals to call for further information (1-866-USO-GIVE) and donating thousands of prepaid international phone cards to be included in the packages for the troops. “Our men and women in uniform give so much to the country, we wanted to give something in return as a token of our appreciation that would allow their separation from their loved ones to be a little easier,” according to Paul McQuillan, Defense Sales Vice President, AT&T Government Solutions.

“These Care Packages help the USO bring a touch of home to our men and women in uniform,” said Edward A. Powell, President and CEO of USO World Headquarters. The care packages contain an assortment of items the military have specifically requested, such as prepaid international calling cards, disposable cameras, toiletries, and sunscreen. They also include greetings from the American public, transcribed onto official “Operation USO Care Package” post cards by volunteers and USO staff members.

“Operation USO Care Package will continue for as long as our country is at war,” according to Elaine Rogers, USO-Metro President. “This program is possible because of the support from individuals, corporations and organizations that donate funds to sponsor these care packages.”

Individuals and corporations can learn more about how to get involved and support “Operation USO Care Package” through donations of product or funds, by calling 866-USO-GIVE.

HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT OPERATION USO CARE PACKAGE?

• Individuals may donate $25, which goes toward sponsorship of an “Operation USO Care Package.” Personal greetings may be forwarded to our post office box with the contribution. USO will transcribe the message onto an official “Operation USO Care Package” postcard, available for preview here.
• Corporations may make a tax-deductible financial donation to support “Operation USO Care Package.” A $25 donation goes toward sponsorship of one care package. Each care package will recognize corporate sponsors.
• Corporations may donate items listed on the “Service Members’ Wish List” to USO-Metro, many of which may be branded with your corporate logo. These items must be sent in bulk from the manufacturer. Please call (703) 696-2628 for advance coordination of deliveries.
• Corporations may delegate an employee to serve as its “Operation USO Care Package” liaison. The liaison will communicate your corporate involvement and enlist employees to participate. Employee participants could sponsor an individual care package, which would include their personal message. Corporations interested in participating in this option or willing to match their employees’ support should call (703) 696-2628 for further information.

Please send all checks and personal greetings for “Operation USO Care Package” to:
USO-Operation USO Care Package
C/O Pentagon Federal Credit Union
P.O. Box 19221
Alexandria, VA 22320-9998

Due to the threat of anthrax following September 11, DoD suspended its practice of forwarding personal care packages and correspondence by the American public to “Any Service Member.” In its place, USO created a care package program. Through sponsorship of an “Operation USO Care Package,” an individual’s personal greeting will be transcribed onto an official postcard and included in the care package going to a service member.

MAKE YOUR DONATION NOW!

SERVICE MEMBERS' WISH LIST
Travel Size Personal Items*	Miscellaneous Items*
Disposable Razors	Playing Cards and Board Games
Toothbrushes	Compact Discs
Toothpaste	Current Movies on DVD
Tissues	Crossword Puzzle Books
Shampoo/Conditioner	Disposable Cameras
Shower Gel	Pre-paid Global Calling Cards
Sunscreen	Stationery and Journals
Baby Wipes	Sunglasses
Hand Lotion	Small Footballs, Softballs
Lip Balm	CD/DVD Cases with Zipper
Cotton Swabs	Individually Wrapped Snack Items
Sewing Kits	Shoe Polish Kits
*Many of these items may be imprinted with your corporate logo and /or the USO logo.

[speekinout]

My friends and I are all avid movie goers. We'll even see harmless trash if there's nothing worthwhile showing.
We will NOT be seeing this one. I hope it stays in the theater for just the half-week that the biggest bombs get.

[Clemenza]

BTW: This movie will probably bomb.

Now if only Affleck and Damon would make a few more stinkers and drop off the face of the earth.

[Neil E. Wright]

Greetings Shipmate;

Please Freepmail me your address so I can get a copy of our Support the Troops CD "With Love and Appreciation" out to you to take on your upcoming deployment.

Thank you for your service in the cause of FREEDOM. This old sailor SALUTES you!!!

My apologies to any I've pinged who already have seen this thread ... :)

---

±

"The Era of Osama lasted about an hour, from the time the first plane hit the tower to the moment the General Militia of Flight 93 reported for duty."
Toward FREEDOM

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

What Hollyweird should be DOING is basing a good movie on reality.. like this e-mail. Sometimes TRUTH is better than FICTION! Its has a some coarse language in it, but I'm not going to clean it up, because its real. See the REAL Iraq....Read on:

Forwarded Message From: ***** Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2003 11:39:56 EDT To:***** Subject: Spec Opns Email from Iraq COL**** wrote: Language may be a bit off color to some and it is long. However, it is well worth the read. I recommend it. Original message, which came from e-mail thread out of SOCOM (spec. ops command) in Tampa, it is from Army spec. ops Subject: FW: Message From Iraq It Ain't Necessarily So. Date: Tue, 01 Jul 2003, 11:09:09 GMT

Hey Guys, sorry it's been so long since I've sent anything but a quick note to you individually. However things have been pretty hectic since the end of hostilities and the start of the real war.

Despite what the assholes in the press like to say over and over about the Ba'ath Party and Feydaheen. 2) It isn't any worse than expected; 3) Things are getting better each day, and 4) The morale of the troops is A-1, except for the normal bitching and griping. My brief love affair with the press, especially the guys who had the cajones to be embedded with the troops during the fighting, is probably over, especially since we are back being criticized by them same RolandHeadly types that used to hang around the Palestine Hotel drinking Baghdad Bob's whiskey and parroting his ridiculous B.S.

I'm in Baghdad now, since SpOpComm 5 relocated here from Qatar. It looks, sounds and smells about the same but at least you can get Maker's Mark at the local OC. We came up in mid-June to help set up operation Scorpion and Sidewinder. It represents a major (and long overdue) shift in tactics. Instead of being sitting ducks for the ragheads we now are going after the worthless pieces of fecal matter. [OD NOTE: VERY understated!]

I'm no longer baby-sitting the pukes from CNN and the canned hams from the networks, but have a combat mission coordinating a bunch of A teams, seeking, finding and rooting out the mostly non-Iraqis that are well-armed, well-paid (in U.S. dollars) and always waiting to wail for the press and then shoot some GI in the back in the midst of a crowd.

The only reason the GIs are pissed (not demoralized) is that they cannot touch, must less waste, those taunting bags of gas that scream in their faces and riot on cue when they spot a camera man from ABC, BBC, CBS, CNN or NBC. If they did, then they know the next nightly news will be about how chaotic things are and how much the Iraqi people hate us. Some do.

But the vast majority don't and more and more see that the GIs don't start anything, are by-and-large friendly, and very compassionate, especially to kids and old people. I saw a bunch of 19 year-olds from the 82nd Airborne not return fire coming from a mosque until they got a group of elderly civilians out of harm's way. So did the Iraqis. A bunch of bad guys used a group of women and children as human shields.The GIs surrounded them and negotiated their surrender fifteen hours later and when they discovered a three year-old girl had been injured by the big tough guys throwing her down a flight of stairs, the GIs called in a MedVac helicopter to take her and her mother to the nearest field hospital. The Iraqis watched it all, and there hasn't been a problem inthat neighborhood since.

How many such stories, and there are hundreds of them, never get reported in the fair and balanced press? You know, nada. The civilians who have figured it out faster than anyone are the local teenagers. They watch the GIs and try to talk to them and ask questions about America and Now wear wrap-around sunglasses, GAP T- shirts, Dockers (or even better Levis with the red tags) and Nikes (or Egyptian knock-offs, but with the "swoosh") and love to listen to AFN when the GIs play it on their radios. They participate less and less in the demonstrations and help keep us informed when a wannabe bad-ass shows up in the neighborhood.

The younger kids are going back to school again, don't have to listen to some mullah rant about the Koran ten hours a day, and they get a hot meal. They see the same GIs who man the corner checkpoint, helping clear the playground, install new swingsets and create soccer fields. I watched a bunch of kids playing baseball in one playground, under the supervision of a couple of GIs from Oklahoma. They weren't very good but were having fun, probably more than most Little Leaguers

The place is still a mess but most of it has been for years. But the Hospitals are open and are in the process of being brought into the 21stCentury. The MOs and visiting surgeons from home are teaching their docs new techniques and One American pharmaceutical company (you know, the kind that all the hippies like to scream about as greedy) donated enough medicine to stock 45 hospital pharmacies for a year. > Safe water is more available. > Electricity has been restored to pre-war levels but saboteurs keep cutting the lines. And The old Ba'ath big shots are upset because they can't get fuel for their private generators. One actually complained to General McKeirnan, who told him it was a rough world.

The MPs are screening the 80,000 Iraqi police force and rehabbing the ones that weren't goons, shake-down artists or torturers like they did in East Berlin, Kosovo and Afghanistan. > There are dual patrols of Iraqi cops and U.S./U.K./Polish MPs now in most of the larger cities. >

Basra has 3.5 million inhabitants. > Mosul is a city of 2 million. > Kirkuk has 1 million. > How many and hundreds of other small towns have not had riots or shootings? The vast majority. > >

The six U.K. cops were killed in a small Shiite town by the ex-cops they were re-habbing. > According to a Royal Marine colonel I talked to, the town now has about twenty permanent vacancies in its police force. > Mick, he's a big potato eater from Belfast named Huggins and knows how to handle terrorists after twenty years fighting with the IRA. He sends his regards and says he'd love to have you here. Thinks you'd make a great police chief, even though the cops would be more frightened of you than the local hoods (then he laughed) > >

I heard one doofus on MSNBC the other night talk about how "nearly 60" GIs have been killed since 01 May. The truth is that 21 GIs have been killed in combat, mostly from ambush, from 01 May through 30 June, Another 29 have been killed by accidents or other causes (two drowned while swimming in the Tigris). > > The [MSNBC turd] is the same jerk who reported on the air that "dozens of GIs" were badly burned when two RPGs hit a truck belonging to an Engineer Battalion that was parked by a construction site. The truck was hit and burned, three GIs received minor injuries (including the driver who burnt his hand) and three warriors of Allah were promptly sent to enjoy their 72 slave girls in Paradise. Hell of a way to get laid. > >

A mosque in that shithole Fallujah blew up this morning while the local > imam, a creep named Fahlil (who was one of the biggest local loudmouths that frequently appeared on CNN) was helping a Syrian Hamas member teach eight teenagers how to make belt bombs. Right away the local Feyhadeen propaganda group started wailing that the Americans hit it with a TOW missile (If they had there wouldn't have been any mosque left!) and the usual suspects took to the streets for CNN and BBC. One fool was dragging around a piece of tin with blood on it, claiming it was part of the missile. > > The cameras rolled and the idiot started repeating his story, then one of my guys asked him in Arabic where he had left the rag he usually wore around his face that made him look like a girl.

He was a local leader of the Feyhadeen. We took the clown in custody and were asked rather indignantly by the twit from BBC if we were trying to shut up "the poor man who had seen his mosque and friends blown up." I told the airy-fairy who the raghead was and if he knew Arabic (which he obviously didn't) he'd know he was a Palestinian. I suggested we take him down to the local jail and we'd lock him and his cameraman in a cell with the "poor man" and they could interview him until we took him to headquarters. They declined the invitation. >

Guess what played on the Bullshit Broadcasting System that evening? Did the > Americans blow up a mosque? See the poor man who is still in a state of shock over losing his mosque and relatives? Yep. Our friend the > Palestinian. > >

Our search and destroy missions are largely at night, free of reporters and > generally terrifying to those brave warriors of Allah. The only thing that frightens them more is hearing the word "Gitmo". The word is out that a trip to Guantanimo Bay is not a Caribbean vacation and they usually start squealing like the little mice they are, when an interrogator mentions "Gitmo". No wonder the International Red Cross, the National Council of Churches and the French keep protesting about the place. They know it has proven to be very effective in keeping several hundred real fanatical psychopaths in check and very frankly would rather see them cut loose to go kill some more GIs or innocent Americans, just to make W. look bad. > >

We have about 200 really bad guys in custody now and probably will park them in the desert behind a triple roll of razor wire, backed up by a couple of Bradleys pointed their way, if they decide to riot. Maybe a few will get to Gitmo but most are human garbage that wouldn't take on your five-year old grandson face-to-face. The more we go after them and not vice-versa I think we will see the sniper attacks go down. Yeah, they'll get lucky now and then, but it's showtime, fellows. > >

Our first objective is to get the die-hards off the street (or make them too > scared to come out in them) and destroy their caches of weapons (we have > collected more than 227,000 A-47s and that is only the tip of the iceburg; > Curly bought nearly a million of them from our pal Vladimir), then cut off > their money supply, mostly from Syria and Lebanon.

We must continue to get > public services up and running, so the local families can get water, sewage > and garbage service; electricity, public transportation; oil fields and > refineries working and a dinar that won't halve in value every month. > >

It's going to be a long haul (remember it took 10-15 years in Japan and West > Germany) but if we don't stick with it, nobody else will, and we'll have > some other looney running the place again. > > This place has greater potential than Saudi Arabia (bunch of goat-herders > who struck black gold) or Iran (weird dudes who can't run a rug bazaar much > less a major country). > > Armageddon, here we come. Remember, it's located on the outskirts of > Jerusalem. > > Enough of that cheery speculation. >

The good news is that General Schoonmaker is going to appointed ChiefArmy > and the old man is coming to Tampa to run the SpOps desk at CentComm. He's > tops and will be getting his second star. To me it means that SpOps will be > more predominant in future operations and after 18 years as a GB maybe I'll > have a shot at a bird-level combat command. The old man asked me to come to > MacDill and be his ACS but I told him after I spent four months changing the > diapers of the media types, I wanted to go back to action. Hence, my > current gig. As the movie quoted old General Patton, "God help me, I love > it." I do. Nothing more satisfying than working with the BEST damn soldiers > in the world, flushing real human poop down the drain and giving some folks > a chance at trying freedom for a change. They may learn to like it and then > my great-great-grandson won't have to worry about some maniac trying to > destroy the planet. > >

My tour is over at the end of August, and I plan to return to Tampa, brief > the old man, then head to San Rafael and see my two sweethearts. I'd like > to visit my parents in Toronto and my brother in London, before taking on a > trip across the country. Just like any other family. It will charge my > batteries before I end up back in some other shit ... er, interesting and > challenging location. I hope to see most of you and ask for some advice, > not support. I know I've had that all along. Thanks. > > Now about that Maker's Mark. > God Bless America > Mark. > > "War doesn't determine who wins, war determines who is left" De Oppresso Liber - RLTW! Special Forces Association PO Box 41436 Fayetteville, NC 28309-1436 email: ***** Telephone ***** website: www.sfahq.org Fax ***** ------ End of Forwarded Message

[Long Cut]

If this outrages you, GO TO THIS THREAD. Hit the links there to the Drudge Report summary of this movie.

Prepare to have your blood boil...

A quote from the "star" of this waste of celluloid, one Joachim Phoenix: "I don't know why anyone would be offended..."

[Long Cut]

GREAT NEWS! The movie's a bomberoo!

Box Office Mojo has the wonderful news!

To summarize, it was a $15 million production, and to date it has made only fifty grand!

Thanks to ALL those who spread the word, and kept the faith!

[XtreMarine]

With respect to the real Buffalo Soldiers especially those who served in the 9th and 10th Cavs and men such as the Tuskegee Airmen, I am not crazy about this movie. Mainly the title.