Flags of our Fathers

Theresa · **Mon Nov 06, 2006 10:19 pm Flags of our Fathers**

Excellent movie. It's not a war movie, but it is. I know that doesn't really make sense, but watch it and it will,

La Forge · **Mon Nov 06, 2006 10:36 pm**

I agree.

It can be a very confusing movie, by the way it is told, if you don't pay attention, but, it is a great movie, all the same. It is by far one of the best war movies (or movies about the war, in this case) that I've ever seen in my life, on the same level with 'Saving Private Ryan', although, both made me shed a tear or two.

I'm gunning that this movie is gonna win some Oscars...Heh.

teya · Commander Joined: 02 Feb 2005 Posts: 423

It's a film I wish my dad had lived long enough to see--because I would love to talk to him about it.

My dad was a Marine during the Korean War. When I was growing up, he had on his desk a miniature of the Marine memorial. He was a teenager during WWII, and obviously, the image meant a lot to him. As I watched the film, I found myself wondering if that image was what inspired him to enlist. And then I wondered how he felt at being assigned by the Corps to the PR machine as an enlisted PR man, rather than being sent overseas to fight. His job as a Marine became "selling" that war, rather than fighting it.

Did he have the same sort of reservations that these Marines did while on tour? We could have had one hell of a conversation, me and Dad.

The other thing that struck me was the whole notion of an iconic image which encourages the public to either support or not support a war. The photo mentioned as the iconic image of Vietnam was the execution--the guy's brains being blown out on film. I disagree on that one. I think the iconic image that turned Americans against that war was the little girl running, burned by napalm. *We* did that--to a child. I think it was a WTF moment for the American public.

Great film. Hoping to see, at the very least, Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Adam Beach), and Cinematography noms from Oscar.

Founder · **Fri Nov 10, 2006 6:36 pm**

IntrepidIsMe · **Fri Nov 10, 2006 7:42 pm**

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:TrangBang.jpg

That's the second picture she's referring to. It's graphic, just to let everybody know.

Theresa · **Fri Nov 10, 2006 10:20 pm**

Not that this is the place for it, but the two articles that I read, (because I'd not seen this pic that I remember), both state that the South Vietnamese requested the bombing. Yes, we did it, and we should take ownership, but I don't agree with shouldering the blame.

And back to the movie, I heard a rumor that even though it's still in theaters, it may be out on DVD before the holidays?

Founder · **Fri Nov 10, 2006 10:21 pm**

Theresa · **Fri Nov 10, 2006 10:23 pm**

It's more about the men in the photo. You get scenes from the battles, yes. A lot of Iwo Jima and Surabachi, but you also get them dealing with becoming instant "heroes", and how they felt about it. It was more personal than any "war" movie I've ever seen.

Founder · **Fri Nov 10, 2006 10:52 pm**

teya · Commander Joined: 02 Feb 2005 Posts: 423

[quote="Founder"]

Theresa · **Sat Nov 11, 2006 4:33 pm**

To this generation, though, something like that doesn't work as well, which is why you'd get the questioning. These days people want to know the story behind the photo, hence this movie.