What Freepers Think of "We Were Soldiers"

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/profile?u=31485 ^ | 15 MAR 2002 | onedoug

[onedoug]

I think I may accompany my daughter to see We Were Soldiers, this weekend. Though a search didn't reveal any Freeper feedback on this film, despite all that preceded it. I'm very surprised. Anyone?...

Thanks.

[onedoug]

I might have mentioned that my daughter will be 27 this year, and has been to Vietnam herself, when she went back with me in APR 2000.

Thanks for all your input so far. And I'll sure echo what you said, Viet Vet in Augusta GA, about "waiting 33 years for a positive movie about Vietnam soldiers". I think it may have been worth the wait too.

This weekend.... You all have a good one as well.

[mommya]

The film is good - I recommend seeing it. I cried from nearly the beginning, but as you can probably tell, I'm a gal. It's graphic and realistic - so I wouldn't take someone too young to see it. (When I saw it there were three young boys, who appeared about 10 yrs. old, seated near us and near thier parents. I thought they were too young to be there, but who knows - this movie was about the reality of war and fighting, not some silly shoot em' up action flick - and maybe thier folks had spoken to them about it up front and wanted them to see it. - That's what I like to think anyway, as opposed to the parents plopping the kids down to whatever show suits thier fancy.) Now back to the movie - It sure is a different kind of Vietnam movie than I've seen in the past, and that makes me glad I saw it. I'm not that educated about the Vietman war, but my husband knows a bit and he explained to me that this event was at the very beginning, when we fought Vietnam military regulars and how the other Vietnam movies were set later and in whole different parts of the area, fighting the Vietcong(sp?) or Vietmin(sp?) The terrain was like more of a forrest than like a wet jungly place, like I had seen before, and the story was not told so much from the "grunt" (sorry if I use any terminolgy I should't - I admit I am ignorant) perspective, but from an officer's and a journalist who was up close in the battlefield.

I could go on and on about the particulars of the film, but I know that's not what you want. Do go see the film. It's totally worthwhile - and tell your daughter to bring some tissues.

P.S. - I'd just like to thank those who put thier lives on the line for our country and our causes - You all are the best - I would only hope that I could be as strong as you all if the situation presented itself to me. I feel so sad for your pains and losses - and I am so glad and proud that you are here today. Bless you.

[HiJinx]

You're going to need a lot of hankies during the show...don't be surprised if half the audience, or more, just sits there after it's over. Many people watching the movie are experiencing 'Nam for the first time, and many others are reliving it.

I suspect it'll bring back many memories for you, and I can only guess whether or not you'll want that to happen... It was intense, moving, and well worth it all 3 times I watched it.

HJ
SFC, USA(Ret)

[onedoug]

"...cried from nearly the beginning, but as you can probably tell, I'm a gal...."

Gosh, just the trailers have been misting me up.

I remember taking my daughter to see ET when she was young. She looked over at me at one point and asked, "Are you crying?"

"Yeah. A little," I answered.

I better pack some kleenex, eh?

Thank you very much. And Everything Good for You and Yours....

[Jefferson Adams]

Possibly the best film I've ever seen, at least in terms of the way it affected me. I was in shock for an hour after it ended. My wife and daughter were afraid I'd been in a car accident the way I looked when I walked into the house ;)

The combination of War Is Hell shock, humor (Sam Elliot especially, and Mel), and sadness is incredibly well done.

Absolutely excellent film, and apparently very true to the real thing.

[NormsRevenge]

I give it 2 Thumbs UP Al GoRe's Nose

I don't tear up much being a macho Marine but the Yellow cab scene when the LT. bought the farm, it touched me in a way I don't like to admit

I was 17 when I enlisted and wanted to go to 'Nam but ended up offshore a few hundred miles on the Rock, Okinawa standing by

MY Prayers to all those who left and never returned, who fought and did not run, who volunteered and were drafted and did not shirk their duties.

To all of today's members of our forces fighting and dying for freedom and peace TODAY, God Bless and Keep You All

SEMPER FI

[HiJinx]

You may think you're ignorant, but I think you're a lot smarter than you know!
Your post was very well stated, and your ending is something all of our servicemen
and women need to hear, as often as we can tell them...

Have you visited the USO Canteen FReeper Style, yet? Mosey on over, I think you'll find quite the home, there!

[KC_Conspirator]

I suspect it was because his attitude towards and respect for the military was different from that of other reporters. When he says that the military would benefit by giving reporters more access, I think he may be erroneously assuming that other members of the profession share his class and integrity.

Exactly. Lets take another Vietnam media correspondent like Peter Arnett. Arnett was like most reporters; anti-war and arrogant. Hell, years later he even culminated his pathetic career by producing a cable special about the use of nerve gas on our own troops. So packed full of lies and the reporting so shoddy that the network had to retract it and fire Arnett.

Another is Sydney Shanberg, who reported on the Khmer Rouge takeover of Cambodia. They even made a good movie about his expereince. Even though his native friend was left behind because of his bad decisions, he at first denied the genocide the communists were committing. After that failed, he then acknowledged the communist genocide in Cambodia, but then blamed the USA for making the communists mad because we bombed them.

I could go on an on about the media during that time, but the thread would be too long.

[F16Fighter]

My teen son accompanied my wife and I to see it...I found it more patriotically more sentimental than 'Saving Private Ryan.'

It is essentially a story of dedication and a gritty determination of soldiers in the name of brotherhood and duty despite the idiocy of a lack of a coherent plan, goal, or consideration to the safety of American Armed Forces by the morons running the show at the time.

As an aside to this critique, actress Madaline Stowe was a bit distracting -- she did her best impression of Lily Munster with long Halloween-wig type jet black hair, Cher-like plumped-up lips, and a make-up job right out of a morgue.

[RAT Patrol]

Bring kleenex.

[Thud]

I was trying to figure out why she was so familiar.

... Madaline Stowe was a bit distracting -- she did her best impression of Lily Munster ...

[onedoug]

Interesting point, well worthy of consideration. Thanks.

[NormsRevenge]

Reality ... I agree, don't coddle yur kids...

One day when you are not there, how will they know what to do if they have never seen things that are not good and that they should not participate in or fight for or against.

The Commie Socialist Fascist Agenda Driven Enemies of this country want your kids dumber then dirt.. Its how they stay on top.

[onedoug]

Have I ever asked if your screen-name is any reference to the F-105?

[Thud]

Nah, it was the name of the world's clumsiest cat.

"Have I ever asked if your screen-name is any reference to the F-105?"

[onedoug]

Gottcha.

Thanks to you and everyone who fed-back to this post. I'm looking forward to the movie.

Have a great weekend.

[onedoug]

Thank you all.

My daughter and I saw it yesterday.

Inspirational, and very stirring. A little over the top with the telegram bit. Greg Kinnear just didn't do it for me. Sam Elliot was good. And Vietnam is greener than Georgia. I wish there might've been a little more connectivity concerning Army structure and doctrine. I think I would've liked it better if it were tighter. I'm glad we got to see it.

"For Garry Owen and Glory...."

Never Forget!

Thanks again, everyone.

[RetiredArmy]

Saturday, I got to see "Soldiers." Man, was it heavy. It was an entirely fantastic movie. If I EVER hear another anti-war, liberal, socialist, EVER say something against one my fellow fighting brothers again, I will jack-slap them. I don't care who gets pissed off and they can charge me if they want to, I do not care. After watching that movie and starting to read the book, I have will just not stand by and listen to the crap again. I got spit on in the Atlanta airport and called a baby killer back in 1971. I punched the guy out and a security guy pushed me on down the hall and told me to get lost, he would handle it. I left, but to this day regret I did not go back and punch him again. The crap the left publishes about our military turns me purple with rage. I will blast anyone of those worthless punks who ever say this dirt against one of our people again. I have had enough of it.

[ladtx]

Great movie. As a former helicopter pilot in VietNam I have tried to explain what it was like to my wife and boys but usually all I got was blank stares. While not perfect, I felt it conveyed what it was like in the air and when we got on the ground. I can't speak for the ground-pounders, but I suspect it was pretty close to the real thing also. My only complaint was the Chinook at the end, wrong model.