Some of America’s greatest films are Vietnam films. Apocolypse Now sealed its place in cinematic history from the opening shot. The Deer Hunter is an interesting look on how war affects PEOPLE. Platoon is a personal story. Hamburger Hill has a documentry Saving Private Ryan feel. I have not seen Full Metal Jacket yet
LOL this was inspired by the WWII topic
I have to say that even though I love most vietnam war films, I feel at the same time a frustration at the consistant anti-war message. If you think about it few vietnam movies have captured the good side of american soldiers during that war, and yet we hail those films to be incredible. I just find it funny how we seem to be falling apart at the seems and how we make huge satires on american decisions and then hail them as genious even though it insults the very thing we stand for.
what possible positive message can you make about a war that was as horrible as the vietnam war?
dude, the USA turned 3 countries into communist countries by interfering in other peoples affairs, although their aim was to stop communism.
they brought incredible horror to the people there, people still suffer from the results of the war.
what fucking positive thing is there about it?
i wrote a research paper about vietnam films, once i get it back from my teachers (hopefully with a good mark), i will publish it here.
there are some vietnam movies that dont have an anti-something message but i think thats wrong.
all those american films just glorify everthing, and there’s lots of patriotism and no telling-history, and thats just bullshit in my book.
i know a lot about Vietnam’s history AND the vietnam movies and believe me, there aren’t enough anti-war messages in those movies.
USA BOSS. YOU NOT. 
Vietnam did nothing good for anyone. It was a waste of human life. But its a decision our country made with good intentions. And as a member of the United States I fully support (may not agree with) any decision that our leaders (whom we have elected) make.
It is that rational that makes me angry when I see movies that show our soldiers surfing on beaches, when people kill inocent people, when that portray the US as a war hungry power animal. Did every US soldier do the right thing? Fuck no! But did every US soldier do the wrong thing? Fuck no! They did what their country told them to do, and that is why I sometimes become frustrated with Hollywood’s portrayal of the US during Vietnam.
You don’t want to be one sided… “anti american” is one thing (though I don’t know WHAT THE HELL defines that), but then seeing films like, gee i dunno, some of the world war II films, the audie murphy stuff, the green berets- that can be perceived as propaganda. What defines it though? And more importantly, when is that type of material justified, and encouraged? When is it inappropiate? I believe, in the case of Vietnam, you would be misrepresenting facts to show it Pro War. Who wants to see a Pro War film. Nobody likes war. War should be a last resort. How about in the case of this Iraqi War? Isn’t it the duty of filmmakers to show their viewpoints in their art? I feel most performers today do not even hold a candle next to some of the more political outspoken, Vietnam era performers.
War is never a good thing, and is in almost all cases is hell (unless you’re part of the Dirty Dozen!). But you know, sometimes some crazy bastard will start spreading his evil, or will attack us, hold our citizens as hostages, blackmail us…or something of that nature. We can’t allow that to happen. Anyone that screws with us like that shouldn’t be breathing my air. The world is over populated as it is. That having been said, I’m not for war, and I wasn’t for Vietnam, but when our country decides to go to war, I back them 100%. Period.
My favorite Vietnam movie of all time has to be The Deer Hunter. Its one of my all time favorite movies.
Going to WAR because you believe, one day, someone will attack us is obtuse. Perhaps, if our governement viewed the situation more clearly, they’d examine that the reformation lies within us. These are not just causes of war, and I believe it is our duty as citizens to understand and not become drons in our society. We cannot support any government 100%- that implies a certain level of infalliblity, which no government has proven it contains. The US government has/was/is/will do awful, hypocritical things, but we are better off because we have the society, the people that have the potential to reevavulate, change what is wrong. Some say we are in a new Gilded Age, so soon we should expect a Progressive movement, sans the racism.
I leave you with Whitman:
"…reexamine all you have been told in school, or in church, or in any book and your life will be a great poem and will have the richest fluency…"
filmstudent,I cant help but question some of your comments.like saying you support ‘your’ nations decisions even when you dont agree with them.Im not full of anti-american sentiment like many people are,but you cant be that naive that you think America went into Vietnam with ‘good’ intentions
and also,most of the major vietnam films are hardly anti-america.the deer hunter (which I think is a bad and very overrated film) portrays the vietnamese you see as being ruthless and inhumane.In Apocalypse Now,you are almost made to sympathise with the young,naive US soldiers who have been sent into that shithole.Yes,it does question Americas political/military decisions (although its more of a universal criticism on the people who make these decisions) but its totally reasonable to criticise them
take into account that most of the directors are American themselves too.everyone knows the Nazis were bad,but Americas leaders have always hidden the fact that they are quite often just as bad as those who they are always quick to point the finger at,and thats exactly whats these films are made for - to open peoples eyes
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and also,most of the major vietnam films are hardly anti-america.the deer hunter (which I think is a bad and very overrated film) portrays the vietnamese you see as being ruthless and inhumane.
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Its not a bad or overrated film. Its a masterpiece of American cinema. War cinema as well. Grave, how do you judge a film like that? Were you in Vietnam?
(sarcastically) Gee, I wonder if some of the Vietnamese were ruthless or inhumane, hmmm. Naww that couldnt be right.
Also, Im getting sick of the anti-American stuff, I respect peoples opinions about War etc, but I dont like hearing constant negative stuff about the USA from foreigners that dont live here, dont work here etc. This constant bitching and whining from people that dont even have any connection to the USA in any way. I dont appreciate that shit at all. It pisses me off to no end. Like the Dude says: “This agression will not stand man”. The people who are talking shit about us need to look at themselves and their own countries, and ask themselves if they want people like Hussein, Bin Laden around to wreak havoc in their countries. If we dont act NOW!, it WILL happen. I think everyone should be behind us, not bitching and criticizing us.
I say your either for us or against us. If your against us, well, it really sucks to be you because THE USA WILL ALWAYS RULE!!! WE ARE THE PEOPLE!! GOD BLESS AMERICA!! LAND OF THE FREE HOME OF THE BRAVE!!
Excuse me, I’m going to go have a big rare steak, an ice cold Rolling Rock, some apple pie and watch Rambo First Blood Part 2.
dude, nobody is anti your nation, your people, your ideals.
but if you think the US government represents YOU, then you’re full of shit.
its the rich-ass oil tycoon folks that run your country and they are the ones that are hated by everyone.
I LOVE THE USA! I LOVE IT!
but wouldn’t it be nice if it had a nicer system? one NOT run by rich conservative republicans with oil tankers named after them and wouldn’t it be nice if the money wouldnt go into the pentagon, but into healthcare, education and social security?
I dont wanna start a political discussion, but thats the point you get to if you shout out “either you are for us or against us” because nobody is neither.
peace out brothers and sistaz!
I think the Deer Hunter is one of the most overrated films ever,and I stand by that.I didnt say,or even imply that the Vietnamase werent ruthless,so I dont know where youre coming from here
The people who are talking shit about us need to look at themselves and their own countries, and ask themselves if they want people like Hussein, Bin Laden around to wreak havoc in their countries. If we dont act NOW!, it WILL happen. I think everyone should be behind us, not bitching and criticizing us"
I would have thought someone who watches so many films would be a little more openminded than this.I dont agree with the actions of the people you named,but Im not up for all this GOOD OL US OF A bullshit.The man you call President is just as bad as Hussein and Bin Laden,only hes more subtle about it
I say your either for us or against us. If your against us, well, it really sucks to be you because THE USA WILL ALWAYS RULE!!! WE ARE THE PEOPLE!! GOD BLESS AMERICA!! LAND OF THE FREE HOME OF THE BRAVE!!"
All I can say,is I hope this comment was a fucking joke
[quote]dude, nobody is anti your nation, your people, your ideals.
I LOVE THE USA! I LOVE IT!
but wouldn’t it be nice if it had a nicer system? one NOT run by rich conservative republicans with oil tankers named after them and wouldn’t it be nice if the money wouldnt go into the pentagon, but into healthcare, education and social security?
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Of course it would be great if we spent our money on important things like you mentioned. But we are not perfect, we have problems just like any other huge country. You gotta be realistic about things and not be so negative because things aren’t totally great all the time. Thats not reality.
I’m just saying I’m proud to be American.
Look GW Bush is spreading out our troops into 3 wars, N. Korea, Iraq and Al Queda, If we have LEARNED ANYTHING FROM HISTORY it is that you can only fight a war one one front at a time. That is the thing with people they ignore history an history bites them in the ass.
yeah.
i think we all mean the same thing here actually.
I fore one, am not proud to be german. we have on of the most democratic democracies now but I just dont feel as a german, I cant identify with my country, and I think being patriotic is not something you have to be.
I dont know one single german pro-war film.
but there are a gazillion american pro-war films, why is that? can’t americans see their own problems? thats what i am sometimes asking myself. you gotta have enough integrity to see your own faults I think.
and Vietnam was a BIG MISTAKE, to get back to the topic.
i mean, look at it: they wanted to stop communism from spreading. what did they do? they invaded Vietnam, Laos AND Cambodia, and failed with their military shit-tactics and TURNED ALL THREE COUNTRIES INTO COMMUNIST REGIMES, the one in Cambodia being the bloodiest regime in the 20th century… I mean… fucking A.
The problem is that Pro American, always becomes Anti (country insert). Patriotism is also a tool used by the government to manipulate the masses. I am not against showing love for your country, per se, but we should realize, for instance, the Bush administration fueled the Terrorism War, and attempted to justify the Iraq War, with patriotic overtones, but may not be right.
OK clarifying myself yet again. First off people got the impression that I called Vietnam movies “anti-american”. No, I think that most Vietnam movies are incredible works of cinamatic art (The Deer Hunter, Apocalypse Now). And I think its fine to criticize the government. Not everything we do is right (Obviously). But the people being ruthless was returned because the Vietnamese were ruthless, but the way the films are set up we don’t get that impression alot of times.
I also didn’t say that (r didn’t mean) you should agree with every one of your countries decisions, but I think that you should stand by your country.
yes TarantinoForum brings up the topic of the Cambodian Genocide…
“The Killing Fields” Illustrated this as well as the book "The Death and Life of Dirth Pran"
Who Can Ever Forget the camera shot of The Cambodian Man walking through the skulls? It is films like these that will hopefully prevent future atrocities!
—I dont know one single german pro-war film. —
Seb-- NOT ONE!!!
Maybe I’m not understanding you right… how about “Triumph of The Wills”…
This is what I love about films. You can experience, see, understand, feel things from places you would, have never gone! One reason to atleast find 8 Mile or Slam interesting-- a culture a person like myself has never seen.
This post has become a war debate…I just get back to the movies…
My favorite Vietnam movie is Apacolypse Now
followed by Full Metal Jacket and then Platoon
The new ones that are coming out (ex. We Were Soliders) are crap in my opinion. I didn’t like We Were Soldiers one bit. I thought the scenes that showed the enemies were too sterotypical. I’m sure the Vietnamise sat and bullshitted with each other, wheter than just going over battle plans, the commander telling them to attack, and them running in a screaming fit. Just my opinion.