okay here we go again

Rating: 8/10 (6 November 1999)

Why is it, the people who made this movie decided it had to be the 'Anti-John Wayne film?' Hell I have a copy of Sands of Iwo Jima, seems to be pretty bloody close except that when, say, Richard Jaeckel or Forrest Tucker get shot, their guts aren't all over the place. But same thing. Sarge Rock time in between some pretty gripping battle scenes. If you have scene 'Platoon' or 'Hamburger Hill', though, you Have seen it before, pretty much.
My problem with the Duke being singled out, is that EVERYONE made war films like him-including AUDIE MURPHY, who was Only our highest decorated guy in the War. Speilberg avoided fighting in Nam, and Hanks...he was popping zits when the draft was done away with Jan. '73. And the rest of the cast-Ed Burns, for example, are My age(33 or so-some younger...)who if they didn't go free Kuwaiti oil for Exxon, aren't likely to be vets either...

I am glad they made this movie, sure-my Grandfather's generation that fought in the war deserve no less. But to go after John Wayne is idiotic.

Why not go after, say, more Recent war films, that were bone-headed, flag waving and utterly unrealistic? , I think, if you want to be truly honest, targeting films that we all remember recently would be better.
But in all the publicity about this film, never Once did I hear 'Rambo' mentioned. Why is that? Is it because, Stallone, Chuck Norris and Gene Hackman are all Alive, and can Defend themselves Take the Die Hard films, or...Steven's little 'Kill a Nazi for Indy' series, where offing a few dozen German Stormtroopers is as easy as playing Pac-Man! And fun, Too!
Gimme a break. Who's being unrealistic and glorifying violence now? Die Hard II had so many bodies dropping, and so many cartoony violent scenes I half expected to see Wile Coyote come flying outta the plane sometime in the second reel....

Fine. Crap on the memory of a star who was the USA's #1 box office guy all time, like it or not, who is DEAD and cannot defend himself.
Even though we all know virtually ALL of Hollywood made the same kinds of films back then, even Jimmy Stewart, Lee Marvin, and Robert Mitchum, guys who SERVED in the war and loved the Duke...
Enough of my rambling. You like 'Private Ryan'?! Good! But is it a Documentary?? NO!!! It is a MOVIE! Enjoy it, but c'mon.
That's it from here.