THE GREAT RAID - "Ted Kennedy, that is torture; you shut the hell up!" yelled in theatre

dfu | 8-27-05 | dfu

[doug from upland]

"The Great Raid" was a very enjoyable, stirring, and patriotic movie about heroic Americans and Filipinos in WW II. It was the most successful raid of prisoners in our history.

Some idiot at the end of the movie yelled out in the movie theatre -- "That's torture, Ted Kennedy; you shut the hell up!" Yes, that idiot would, of course, be yours truly. No wonder Mrs. DFU usually wants to avoid going to movie theatres with me and would rather rent them. I can't blame her. And during the last presidential campaign, she cringed when I demanded that the waitress remove the Heinz Ketchup and replace it with a bottle of W Ketchup. And let's not forget that she didn't want to ride in my car with all the magnetic stickers. Other than that, we get along wonderfully. Well, almost. She has warned me that if I am ever arrested at a FReep, she won't bail me out.

SEE THE TRAILER

From director John Dahl comes the stirring true story of one of the most spectacular rescue missions ever to take place in American history: "the great raid on Cabanatuan," the daring exploit that would liberate more than 500 U.S. Prisoners of War in the face of overwhelming odds. A gripping depiction of human resilience, the film vividly brings to life the personal courage and audacious heroism that allowed a small but stoic band of World War II soldiers to attempt the impossible in the hopes of freeing their captured brothers.

Once a tale shared across the United States, the long-lost story of THE GREAT RAID has been recreated with meticulous authenticity to pay testimony to the many different people, from U.S. commanders to Filipino soldiers to women aid workers to the POWs themselves, who played a part in turning this time of intense hardship and unrelenting danger into a moment of inspiration.

[TradicalRC]

Sadly the reviewers that didn't like the movie did so because it was too hard on the Japanese and "just brought up old stereotypes."

You mean like American soldiers always calling them "Nips"?

[TradicalRC]

I liked Three Kings.

[Spok]

The first and last half hour of the movie were okay, but the drawn out love story was annoying and distracting. "The Ghost Soldiers" was excellent-I have it on audio tape-haven't read the book.

[MayflowerMadam]

"And let's not forget that she didn't want to ride in my car with all the magnetic stickers."

Doug - I'll never forget the great stickers covering your car when we Freepers visited the Reagan Library last year. A sight to behold!

[Spok]

Too funny. That would make a great movie, maybe even a comedy.

[doug from upland]

When we left the Reagan Library to head for the picnic, a guy on the 101 had his kids proudly flip me off. My guess is that the girl was about 7 and the boy 10. Great dad.

[U S Army EOD]

Well the Germans thought it was funny. Can you immagine the change in plans these guys had to make. He told me another story of the Germans taking a water pipe line. They cut the water off and the Germans surrendered. They were out of water.

[SoCal Pubbie]

It was an okay movie but hardly portrayed the US in the best light, wouldn't you agree?

[Timmy]

Medved loved it. So did I. Your earlier posts only spoke of historical inaccuracies. Now you disparage the drama. Hmmm. what to think?

34% on the Tomatometer at Rottentomatoes.com. Obviously, I'm not the only one who thinks it a less than spectacular movie. Look, you like it. Fine. Let it drop.

[Timmy]

Thank you. I commend you for your discerning taste. I looked forward to the movie, which is probably why I was disappointed. I mean, I've seen lots of worst pictures, but I wanted this one to be really good.

[Billthedrill]

Aw, sheesh. I can see where this one's gonna end up. OKOKOK, I'm passing the hat around FR for DfU's bail. Anybody in? I gotta quarter...

[doug from upland]

A quarter? I guess I better not do anything to get arrested. I can just hear you guys --- DFU, we'll get you out if it takes 10 years.

[Feiny]

I still remember your comment during The Patriot.....it makes me cringe every time I think about it. That was horrible.

[doug from upland]

I made several. Refresh my memory.

[Feiny]

That is a very interesting story....Did the Germans let them go?

[Feiny]

I will do that privately.

[doug from upland]

Oh my goodness!!! And I didn't get kicked out of the theatre for that? Whew.

[justshutupandtakeit]

The chance of getting arrested at a Freep event is nill. The cops are on our side. So you're safe.

[Feiny]

I meant freep mail, you naughty DFU!

[U S Army EOD]

Sure they let them go, about three years later.