Film Studies Response

Rating: 9/10 (13 December 2016)

4. Why does Mike go back to Vietnam to find Nick? I think that there are many reasons as to why Mike went back. For one, Nick was one of his best friends. Anyone would want to save the life of someone close to them. Another reason is because Mike made a promise to Nick that all of them would come back together, whether they were dead or alive. Mike felt responsible for keeping his promise, and wouldn't be able to live with himself if he didn't even try and thinks he could have done something to save Nick. As Mike was like the big brother of the group of men, that added to the responsibility factor that he felt. As though it was his duty and he wouldn't be doing his job if he didn't go back. Even though Mike was unable to save Nick's life, the fact that he traveled back to Vietnam at all, let alone put himself in another game of Russian Roulette to try and save his life, showed just how much he cared for him. Nick acted as though he didn't know who Mike even was when he saw him again. He was so far gone and there was nothing Mike could have done to bring him home alive. Nick knew what he wanted, and it wasn't to come back to America where his life would never be normal like it was before the war. But what it comes down to I think is the fact that Mike cared deeply for Nick and just really wanted him to come back and get better.