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War movies that deal with the love of war and the nightmare of coming home
Posted on 10/9/15 at 10:19 am
Posted on 10/9/15 at 10:19 am
I just saw American Sniper on HBO. And I've just rewatched The Hurt Locker (Netflix). Both movies had scenes that dealt with the main character of the movie putting other soldiers in harm's way, by their actions. And both dealt with the soldier who loves the war and doesn't want to return home. And when he does returns home, he wants to return to the war. The first movie that I thought honestly dealt with these issues was The War Lover (starring Steve McQueen). In numerous movies you see references to the soldier who loves the war (Patton, for example). But I thought Sniper was honest in showing Chris Kyle's troubles in leaving the theater of war and coming home with it in his head.
As a buddy of mine always says when someone asks when he was in Vietnam, He replies, "Last night."
As a buddy of mine always says when someone asks when he was in Vietnam, He replies, "Last night."
Posted on 10/9/15 at 10:52 am to ElleEsseYou
quote:
I think now, looking back, we did not fight the enemy; we fought ourselves. And the enemy was in us. The war is over for me now, but it will always be there, the rest of my days as I'm sure Elias will be, fighting with Barnes for what Rhah called possession of my soul. There are times since, I've felt like the child born of those two fathers. But, be that as it may, those of us who did make it have an obligation to build again, to teach to others what we know, and to try with what's left of our lives to find a goodness and a meaning to this life.
Posted on 10/9/15 at 12:07 pm to ElleEsseYou
Deer Hunter
First Blood
We Were Soldiers
First Blood
We Were Soldiers
Posted on 10/9/15 at 1:04 pm to ElleEsseYou
Platoon isn't about that, but a number of characters definitely represent that side of the story.
Posted on 10/9/15 at 2:09 pm to theGarnetWay
Patton.
That was a man who was born for War.
That was a man who was born for War.
Posted on 10/9/15 at 2:10 pm to ManBearTiger
quote:
Deer Hunter
Perfect example.
Chris Walken went bat shite crazy
Posted on 10/9/15 at 3:05 pm to TXGunslinger10
In the Valley of Elah.. a powerful movie based on a true story.
Posted on 10/9/15 at 4:57 pm to ElleEsseYou
Apocalypse Now! covers it to a degree. At least in the opening monologue:
And in the somewhat remorseful, yet matter of fact statement from LTC Kilgore:
quote:
Saigon, shite. I'm still only in Saigon. Every time I think I'm going to
wake up back in the jungle. When I was home after my first tour,
it was worse. I'd wake up and there'd be nothing...
I hardly said a word to my wife until I said yes to a divorce.
When I was here I wanted to be there. When I was there, all I
could think of was getting back into the jungle.
I've been here a week now. Waiting for a mission, getting
softer. Every minute I stay in this room I get weaker. And every minute
Charlie squats in the bush he gets stronger.
Each time I look around the walls move in a little tighter.
Everyone gets everything he wants. I wanted a mission, and for my sins
they gave me one. Brought it up to me like room service.
And in the somewhat remorseful, yet matter of fact statement from LTC Kilgore:
quote:
Someday, this war's gonna end.
Posted on 10/9/15 at 5:12 pm to ElleEsseYou
quote:
But I thought Sniper was honest in showing Chris Kyle's troubles in leaving the theater of war and coming home with it in his head.
Another excellent film on the homecoming aspect of this is The Best Years of Our Lives. Not 100% on your point, but Dana Andrews' character does reflect a certain part of your OP theme - in particular, he had it much better in the war than he did back in the world.
Yes, it is dated and filmed in black and white. Yes, Dana Andrews' acting was just a little off-key with the rest of the film (but I think, in hindsight, he kind of just looks "not great" by comparison - and he does hold his own in some scenes with Frederic March - no small feat). However, brilliant film from beginning to end - capturing the physical, mental and emotional damage to soldiers returning from a fairly positive overall war experience.
Nice juxtaposition, too. Frederic March plays a middle-aged, well-to-do banker who serves as an infantry top sergeant during the war. Dana Andrews plays a kid in the prime of his life - literally from the wrong side of the tracks, who serves as an Army Air Corps officer and returns to his humble parents and trashy blonde bimbo wife. Harold Russell plays a fresh out of HS and into the Navy kid who loses his arms and has to deal with returning to his lower middle class home, the literal girl next door girlfriend and prosthetic hooks in place of arms and hands.
Harold Russell (because no Lieutenant Dan CGI back then, won the part, essentially because he was convincing enough and was actually missing his forearms/hands and used prosthetic hooks) won a competitive Oscar for his role the first (and only) I believe for a non-professional actor in such a category. He was also awarded a special, non-competitive award because the powers-that-be did not consider him a serious threat to win the competitive award - making him doubly rare in that he won 2 Oscars for the same performance.
Truly a great film - one of our first dramatic portrayals of PTSD and March and Russell deliver some of the most memorable and mesmerizing portrayals of veterans I've ever seen. Myra Loy is solid as March's wife, as well as Teresa Wright who plays March's daughter (and gets involved with Dana Andrews character, despite his being married).
This post was edited on 10/9/15 at 7:24 pm
Posted on 10/9/15 at 6:43 pm to ManBearTiger
Best Years of Our Lives
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