visual reminders

Rating: 8/10 (17 July 1999)

I've had friends tell me, "I saw TTRL, it was boring, hardly any action." That still didn't deter me. I watched it and I could see where they came to that conclusion. If you are expecting a constant assault of combat action, think again. What I believe you get is probably a very realistic impression of what it is like to be in the Army, to be by yourself yet with others, and scared to death during WWII. I watched it with my wife, and she asked me a lot of questions, since I used to be in the Army before I met her. With all the camera shots and lack of dialogue, I explained to her that that is what it is really like. You lay around a lot, hot and sweaty, and all you can really see is the grass around you, the bugs, the dirt, and the sky. I can only assume accuracy to a certain level, since I never had to face battle. You get a lot of time to think while you wait, and this movie showcases that thinking time.