film studies

Rating: Null/10 (4 June 2010)

The Russian Roulette sequences played pivotal roles in the movie. They marked a change in the characters and are a metaphor for the changes and adaptations one must face in life. The three are faced with a choice when captured as POWs, play the game or die. Mike takes the stage and changes to the leader and the fighter. He pushes both Steve and Nick to play the game. Nick who was gung-ho at the start realizes quickly that this is a game of life and death. After Mike pushes nick through he ends up grazing his head with a bullet and is thrown in a Pitt await his death. Mike does the same for nick only this time adding 2 more bullets in an attempt to catch the Vietnamese off guard and take them out. Nick like Steve cracks but pulls it together in the end in order to survive. Steve leaves injured ad crippled. Mike returns home without Nick thus breaking his promise. Nick finds he loves the game and plays on for the fortune fame and the rush. The game showed how three best friends with similar interests and needs are all shaped and altered by one event. Mike returns for Nick in hopes of fulfilling his promise He does just that only with a body bag. Nick is found playing high on opium mike tells him you only have one shot One shot to live and for a minute you believe Nick understands. But to Nick one shot means to pull the trigger ultimately ending his life. While to Steve one shot meant one shot to live again. When spinning the wheel of life and taking risks when must know when stop and live. Steve played to make it home. Mike played to save his friends. Nick played to have it all.