A newly formed Film Institute for Conservatives!

http://www.afrfilmfestival.com ^

[Burkeman1]

Correct, I don't. Other than some Boston bar fights. I still don't see how a film celebrating glory, honor, and patriotism, on the battlefield is inherently "Conservative"? Don't get me wrong - "We Were Soldiers" is a great and moving film. But I don't see a "conservative" message in it at all.

[Mike the lurker]

OK, which films do you think should be in a Conservative Film Festival?

[Burkeman1]

"Cheaper by the Dozen"

"Angels with Dirty Faces"

"Barcelona"

"Henry the V"

"Das Boot"

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.."WE WERE SOLDIERS".. was not a "Celebration of Military Victories" that you say it is. On the contrary, it was meant by its makers to be the Best Anti-War Film ever made, which I believe it is.

...At the Conclusion of WWS the losing Lt. Col. AN, portrayed by Communist Vietnam Actor and now FreeMan DON DUONG, proclaims his own long term future Military Victory after 10 more years of Fighting there.

...On the Day SADDAM's Statue fell to FREEDOM in Bagdhad DON DUONG, after his being persecuted as a Traitor inside Communist Vietnam just for his being in WWS, landed in San Francisco CA a FreeMan forever ...almost kissing the ground in the Process.

...There's lots happening here far beyond your view of what makes a Conservative Motion Picture and what doesn't.

.."WE WERE SOLDIERS".. teaches us much on the screen and in real life about the LOVE of FREEDOM which is the Core Conservative Belief.

[toddst]

Conservatism is not the open worship of military victories. Every society does that whether left or right.

First, there was no worship of military victory in "We Were Soldiers." Bravery and unity of purpose at great sacrifice is what I saw.

My guess is you have no personal experience with combat.

[Burkeman1]

Already answered this post.

[toddst]

The triple post was some sort of hiccup, not intended.

[Our man in washington]

Forrest Gump

Lord of the Rings

October Sky

High Noon

The Third Man

So many possibilities...

[fish hawk]

As an Indian I will say: if that Indian is a conservative all is fine but if he is a Liberal (most Indians are) then it is racist. (I am joking of course)

[Burkeman1]

So what do you want from me? No- I have not served in the military. Neither has one of my brothers. My Father did and hated it and said it was a waste of time and he was a volunteer. My Grandfather actually served in WWI as a driver of trucks (my father was not born until my grandfather was 55). ANd he said that WWI was BS and we were bamboozled into it and still didn't wan't to go to war when WWII came about.

[VOA]

I still don't see how a film celebrating glory, honor, and patriotism, on the battlefield is
inherently "Conservative"?

While I see merit in your side of this healthy discussion, I'll present
my short thoughts about why "We Were Soldiers" can be considered a "conservative film",
at least in relative terms to most of the dreck that slithers from Hollywood to the
silver screen.
I give a short list of concrete examples that (in my fallible opinion) should
qualify this film at least as a "conservative-friendly" film.

Exhibit A:
Vietnam-era portrayal of American infantry troops as something other than
doped-up baby-killers and rapists.
(Granted, those sad sort of events occur in any war...it was refreshing just
to see the "rest of the story" of stand-up guys keeping their commitment, even some of
them with months or weeks left on their hitch.)

Exhibit B:
Portraying a mid-level commander like Moore as not only a tough guy, but
a moral and educationally-accomplished warrior. When you see a religously-oriented
intelligent character positively portrayed in a Hollywood film...that's conservative.
Not the usual portayal of intelligent, religious people as dangerous nutburgers.
In the hands of someone else than Gibson, images of Moore and other soldiers in the
chapel wouldn't end up on the cutting-room floor...they'd wouldn't have made
it into the freakin' script!

Exhibit C:
The scene in which the injured soldier (with obious head wound) is being pushed in a
wheelchair by another soldier down the airport terminal corridor.
The way the nice lady and her kids recoil from the poor soldier...and the sign
at the end of the corridor "Baggage Claim"...not many film directors would
point a real finger at the US public and say it (without words)
"A lot of you people treated these good men like trash."
Not many Hollywood directors would like to point the finger at themselves either...
on this topic.

Exhibit D:
The scene with the clueless reporters landing at the end of the movie...
pirahnas in look of a good story over how the quagmire is shaping up...
and in great hopes of promoting that concept.
Compare those peckerwoods with Galloway who enters the story as a journalist commited
to being a non-combatant...but learns there is a time to stand and fight.
The other journalists were just after a story; like most conservatives,
Galloway was looking for, and found, truth.

Exhibit E:
Inclusion of the aspect of how Moore's hands were tied by rules of engagement given
the border aspects of the battle.
I was a kid when these events were going on...I had no clue that those
Democratic geniuses LBJ and McNamara had ham-strung our forces that early in the game.


Exhibit F:
And the respectful treatment of the enemy soldiers?
A fair tip of the hat.
Americans always give due to the tough guys, even when they are on the other side.
Japanese pilots who participated in the Pearl Harbor attacks were amazed to find
they were accorded respect at airshows and commemorative ceremonies in the USA...
treated like non-persons in Japan.
Honestly, I don't know if I'd call this a conservative value, but it does
seem that even the fairly conservative members of our armed forces
see this as part of "the rules of the game".

[TigersEye]

.."WE WERE SOLDIERS".. teaches us much on the screen and in real life about the LOVE of FREEDOM which is the Core Conservative Belief.

Amen! And amen to the whole of post #24. WWS's is a moving tribute to the men who fight for freedom but has no praise of war at all that I could see.

[toddst]

Excellent summary and response, especially about the journalist turned warrior. If only numbers of reporters and photographers in Vietnam had done the same, as opposed to always looking for a "America's failing and wrong" take.

[vikingchick]

Time for you to make a movie.

[toddst]

So what do you want from me? No- I have not served in the military. . . My Father did and hated it and said it was a waste of time and he was a volunteer.

Well, I don't know which war your father was referring to. However, if WW II was a "waste of time" what would have stopped Hitler from taking and holding all of europe? US participation saved millions of lives and preserved our freedom as well. Pretty conservative that, IMO.

[VOA]

WWS's is a moving tribute to the men who fight for freedom but has no praise
of war at all that I could see.

That's generally the way I saw it as well.
And as something of a chess game...with Moore going over the mistakes of
the French and even Custer, while his opposite number had to figure out how
to fight the forces of a super-power.

Regarding "anti-war/pro-war" films, IIRC, director/author Peter Bogdonovich
recounted a story about director John Huston from the WWII era.
Huston was at a cocktail reception when a high-level US military officer
approached with fire in his eyes (I think it was an Army general...maybe).
The officer than verbally attacks Huston saying something like
"I hear you're busy making some d-mned 'anti-war' movie; don't you know how
unpatriotic that is?!"

Huston was reported to laugh and say "General, when I make a 'pro-war' film,
I hope you will have me shot!".

[lonestar]

OK, which films do you think should be in a Conservative Film Festival?

No conservative car chases! No conservative robots!

For a good conservative start.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

...As Lt. Col. HAL G. MOORE kept saying to his men over and over again at the Battle of IA DRANG-1965:


.."That's just OUTSTANDING.!!!"

---

*See our "WE WERE SOLDIERS" Forum:

http://www.TheAlamoFILM.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=8

[Nightbird]

A Man for All Seasons
Zulu
Boys Town
Robin Hood (Errol Flynn version)
Rob Roy
Red Dawn
Eleni
On the Waterfront
Gattaca
The Apostle

[WarEagle]

The DVD is worth purchasing for not only a wonderful movie but the supplementary material. The director and screenwriter, Randall Wallace, was absolutely committed to getting it right. He only hired people who had that same commitment, and used the actual people (and family members of those killed) as technical advisers. This, I think, more than any other single thing, is what made the movie such a wonderful experience.