Best military movie of 1986

Rating: 8/10 (7 February 2006)

Of the three successful movies having a military theme released in 1986 this is by far the best. I am a 34 year member of the military having duty in both the Air Force and the Army and have been in combat. I have watched "Heartbreak Ridge" many times and continue to be impressed with how closely it mirrors military life. The only unrealistic theme is the open disrespect that Gunny Profile has for Major Powers. In the real corps no sergeant would do this no matter what his opinion might be, at least not in public. Nonetheless most scenes ring true to my experiences in the military. As I near the end of my military career and am looking at my last deployment in the next month or so, I am beginning to experience some of the same emotional conflicts so accurately portrayed by Mr. Eastwood.
As comparison, the two 1986 military movies receiving more acclaim, "Top Gun" and "Platoon", were much less realistic. "Top Gun" was a rousing good story, but as a flight surgeon with many pilot friends who agree, it was moderately unrealistic. Fighter pilots can have their wild moments but not in their aircraft. They are highly trained professionals engaged in extremely dangerous but necessary activities. A moment's inattention will end in disaster and they know it. "Platoon" is a complete flight of fancy with absolutely no relationship to reality, but then it was never meant to be realistic. It was a war protest movie made by people who have continuously demonstrated their contempt and hate for all things military that was intended only to degrade the military. It isn't worth watching. The only worse military movie than "Platoon" that I am aware of is "The Thin Red Line" which, in the attempt to denigrate American soldiers who fought in the South Pacific, actually was incredibly insulting to Japanese soldiers who frequently fought to the last man and NEVER groveled for mercy as the movie maker wants us to believe.