tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post4550683824043489348..comments2024-03-28T10:44:41.756-05:00Comments on The War Movie Buff: #29 - The Deer HunterWar Movie Buffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-82367297015254724502021-09-07T14:37:04.365-05:002021-09-07T14:37:04.365-05:00I remember seeing TDH when it first came out in 19...I remember seeing TDH when it first came out in 1978 & I was 16 yrs. old. I thought that it was a pretty amazing film at the time & still do, & think the "Russian Roulette" scenes were among some of the best ever put to film.<br /> What was interesting was to watch this film again, a few yrs. later while I was serving in the US Army in a infantry unit. I remember watching this with a few other guys "one of whom was a Vietnam veteran of the 101st Airborne. This is only like 10-12 yrs. after the end of the war. We all liked the movie, but there were some glaring issues as far as the military aspects of the film.<br />Really they more of time line issues than military, per se. <br />You have 3 guys who enter the Army together & 2 of them <br />from the same home town, good friends, & they end up together in the same unit? Not to mention they just happen to make contact with another guy from the same town & a good buddy who shows up in the same area of Vietnam? Although 2 guys from the same small town being assigned to the same Army squad/platoon in Vietnam MIGHT not be unheard of, 3 simply strains believability for me at least. Obviously there wouldn't have been a story without this aspect, but still...<br />Another thing that was rather shall we say unlikely, & goes hand in hand with the time line issue is the De Niro character. For a guy who entered the Army at the same time as the other 2 guys, he sure is a fast tracker! In the opening scenes in Vietnam he is "apparently" a SF guy (although he could be a LRRP). It takes time to become a Green Beret. You don't just leave basic training, go through some crash course for a few days then go straight into combat. Granted, in the later stages of the Vietnam War, SF did lower it's requirements & to some degree abbreviate it's training schedule, due to losses & people rotating home the 3 guys timelines just don't jibe. But again 90 % of the people watching the movie probably don't know & could care less. I get that. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-64679789359294480072019-07-20T15:35:51.401-05:002019-07-20T15:35:51.401-05:00Not a fan of either. I do like R. Lee, usually.Not a fan of either. I do like R. Lee, usually.War Movie Buffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-51509448527180613652019-07-20T15:29:53.969-05:002019-07-20T15:29:53.969-05:00No.No.War Movie Buffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-15759526045339220482019-07-17T00:26:48.489-05:002019-07-17T00:26:48.489-05:00Can I get a honorable mention for "The Green ...Can I get a honorable mention for "The Green Berets"Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00825204787342714575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-89227281550902764202019-07-17T00:21:46.014-05:002019-07-17T00:21:46.014-05:00What, wait a minute, at least replace
Rescue Dawn ...What, wait a minute, at least replace<br />Rescue Dawn with The Green Berets. If you like P.Swayze as an actor I would nominate Uncommon Valor.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00825204787342714575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-65802066961032173882019-07-16T23:56:59.035-05:002019-07-16T23:56:59.035-05:00Cannot believe Sergeant Major Hafner, The Siege of...Cannot believe Sergeant Major Hafner, The Siege of Fire Base Gloria and Purple Hearts are not in your Vietnam top 10 movies! Long live R. Lee "Gunny" Ermey! Semper Fi!Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00825204787342714575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-87845373186969307572018-07-24T01:08:00.210-05:002018-07-24T01:08:00.210-05:00What to say---A part of my history !!!!What to say---A part of my history !!!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02586938881107578914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-51468510207322542942016-04-16T14:42:42.372-05:002016-04-16T14:42:42.372-05:00I'm no Jane Fonda fan, but the story of her tu...I'm no Jane Fonda fan, but the story of her turni g in an American soldier is a myth. Also, the hunting scenes were clearly no where near Pennsylvania. The mountains look more like the Rockies. We don't have mountains like that here in the eastAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11673681909241948508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-58371017697604005232016-04-16T14:42:30.013-05:002016-04-16T14:42:30.013-05:00I'm no Jane Fonda fan, but the story of her tu...I'm no Jane Fonda fan, but the story of her turni g in an American soldier is a myth. Also, the hunting scenes were clearly no where near Pennsylvania. The mountains look more like the Rockies. We don't have mountains like that here in the eastAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11673681909241948508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-6721024214887234542015-11-13T21:28:41.277-06:002015-11-13T21:28:41.277-06:00My Dad felt the same way. He was a F-105 pilot an...My Dad felt the same way. He was a F-105 pilot and had friends who were imprisoned. I feel your passion but must point out that the story of her turning over the message to the guards is not true. Go to Snoopes.com and you'l find that the hatred towards her resulted in some falsehoods that have stuck. War Movie Buffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-3589470404402662872015-11-12T02:03:12.271-06:002015-11-12T02:03:12.271-06:00I refuse to this day to watch Jane Fonda in any mo...I refuse to this day to watch Jane Fonda in any movie. She should have been prosecuted. Not for her protesting but for visiting North Vietnam during the war. She even went to the Hanoi Hilton and turned in an american soldier that managed to hand her a written note about the real situation and names of all Americans being held. Then she sat in an enemy anti aircraft gun for photo ops. Same gun used to shoot at American pilots. She's a low life. My Dad served 2 combat tours there. What she did was treason. 3xray20https://www.blogger.com/profile/17619915773641288310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-32345033436644866982015-07-01T18:50:54.777-05:002015-07-01T18:50:54.777-05:00I just refreshed my memory on this subject with an...I just refreshed my memory on this subject with an article in the April 1979 Commentary by Richard Grenier titled "A New Patriotism?" The theme is "The Deer Hunter" was a patriotic movie.<br /><br />Cimino definitely handled the question of realism badly. In a New York Times interview he claimed to have joined the army after Tet and to have been "assigned as a medic to a Green Beret unit." Totally false. Cimino was in and out of the Army Reserves years before Tet and was never in Vietnam. <br /><br />He claimed in other interviews to have experienced what was in the film and that the Russian roulette torture scenes happened. Cimino said he was "told" of it by "some guy." Cimino liked to pass of fiction as reality.<br /><br />Eventually, Cimino admitted "The Deer Hunter" was "not realistic."<br /><br />Yes, I believe the singing of "God Bless America" was patriotic. David In TNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15749838323613927456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-3511321517231989842015-07-01T15:12:40.852-05:002015-07-01T15:12:40.852-05:00Cimino handled the questioning of the inclusion of...Cimino handled the questioning of the inclusion of Russian roulette badly. He should have just said "artistic license" and left it at that. Where would the movie have been without those scenes? No where.<br /><br />I really don't have a problem with actors' ages not matching their characters. Like you say, I'd rather the actors do well than look the age.<br /><br />Do you think the singing of "God Bless America" was supposed to be ironic or patriotic?. War Movie Buffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-69469044598071912492015-06-30T23:36:26.916-05:002015-06-30T23:36:26.916-05:00At the time, Cimino (according to a review I saw) ...At the time, Cimino (according to a review I saw) claimed the Russian roulette scenes happened. He said "some guy told me about it."<br /><br />How often did steel workers with unionized jobs volunteer for the army? Only Savage (according to Lt. Col. Lanning in his book) looks young enough to be a Vietnam-era soldier. <br /><br />De Niro and Walken were 35. Steelworkers that age circa 1967 would have wives and 2-3 kids and would have already done their military service and may even be Korea veterans. <br /><br />On the other hand, De Niro and Walken act so well you believe their portrayals. <br /><br />I did like the final scene. I take it as his friends saluting Nick and getting on with their lives as best they can.David In TNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15749838323613927456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-61920837744965091192014-09-01T15:39:33.425-05:002014-09-01T15:39:33.425-05:00Funny, I felt the first hour of the film to be an ...Funny, I felt the first hour of the film to be an interesting character study. The realistic steel mill town, which I was born and raised near one rings true. <br /><br />I can't pick apart the war stuff, because I don't have the experience fortunately. But the soul of The Deer Hunter is definitely real to me. The every day people and the anguish of lives shattered by war.<br /><br />To each his own of course, but to say it's among the worst movies ever made? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-59555717322802355212014-06-25T23:00:26.293-05:002014-06-25T23:00:26.293-05:00I could have used some editing. I agree on that. ...I could have used some editing. I agree on that. I tend to be more upset when a movie is too short than when it is too long.War Movie Buffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-25334928663092216162014-06-25T21:50:32.686-05:002014-06-25T21:50:32.686-05:00I think The Deer Hunter was among the worst movies...I think The Deer Hunter was among the worst movies ever made. During the 1st hour, I just kept wondering: who in the world could have looked at that scene and thought, "Gosh, I just can't cut that! It is so perfect!" It wasn't funny. It wan't profound. It was over an hour of watching people who were drunk and had nothing interesting to say.<br /><br />To be sure, the military scenes were compelling, but largely inaccurate.Stephen Spencerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13301884569989243932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-1770321949020888872014-04-27T09:41:06.646-05:002014-04-27T09:41:06.646-05:00I feel TDH is a great movie, but not a great war m...I feel TDH is a great movie, but not a great war movie. I agree about Cimino seemingly not caring about a true portrayal of the soldiers' experiences. The roulette scenes are cinematic dynamite, but historical bull shit. And I hate when directors lie and say that kind of stuff was true. Just tell the truth - you wanted something special in the movie. It reminds me of Coppola insisting that Apocalypse Now was the real Vietnam! War Movie Buffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-43980558084116676922014-04-27T09:34:12.636-05:002014-04-27T09:34:12.636-05:00That is a good list, but in my recent March Madnes...That is a good list, but in my recent March Madness: Vietnam War Movies tournament, 84 Charlie MoPic won. Have you seen it?War Movie Buffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-45044375087595944772014-04-27T03:58:09.010-05:002014-04-27T03:58:09.010-05:00Your observation is very interesting. Cimino admit...Your observation is very interesting. Cimino admitted to not doing any research of any kind into the environment and events of the combat zone and instead relied on footage from the news on which to base the war scenes.Captain Mauserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11002353187277383268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-22057230301246220572013-11-26T05:56:37.665-06:002013-11-26T05:56:37.665-06:00Your review was quite good. I love The Deer Hunter...Your review was quite good. I love The Deer Hunter personally. If I would make a Top 10 Vietnam War Movie List it would be:<br /><br />1. Apocalypse Now<br />2. Platoon<br />3. The Deer Hunter<br />4. Full Metal Jacket<br />5. Born on the Fourth of July<br />6. Casualties of War<br />7. We Were Soldiers<br />8. Hamburger Hill<br />9. Good Morning Vietnam<br />10. Forrest GumpAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-85804285975554161972012-08-23T08:05:14.616-05:002012-08-23T08:05:14.616-05:00Great review, but I belong to the minority of peop...Great review, but I belong to the minority of people who did not like The Deer Hunter. It was a brilliant movie, but the Russian roulette scenes were very, very unrealistic. I am not denying the power of the scenes, but they have little to do with the Vietnam War, I just got the impression that they are simply symbols of the randomness of war. The first hour of the movie was an amazing presentation of the working class environment that produced volunteers for the war. The section of the movie set in Vietnam was so strange, as if Cimino did not know how to actually show the war. The section back in the US where DeNiro's character is unable to re-adjust to his former life was also excellent, I just could not take the middle section seriously, despite the intense nature of the scenes.historyonfilmhttp://www.historyonfilm.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-17513982359868763672012-08-21T23:24:00.783-05:002012-08-21T23:24:00.783-05:00I didn't really consider the order. Mine would...I didn't really consider the order. Mine would look quite different.<br />Platoon or Hamburger Hll (I'm never decided whether I go for realistic or great story)<br />We Were Soldiers<br />Full Metal Jacket <br />Charlie MopIc<br />Rescue Dawn<br />Deer Hunter<br />Apocalypse Now<br />My list looked different. Might have to reconsider.<br />Born on the Fourth..allaboutwarmovieshttp://allaboutwarmovies.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-33179850301260542062012-08-21T19:01:54.426-05:002012-08-21T19:01:54.426-05:00I disagree that it was very anti-war unless the fi...I disagree that it was very anti-war unless the final scene was mocking them.<br /><br />You would probably like Go Tell the Spartans. What did you think of the order?<br /><br />I was shocked when I looked up his movies and he has not directed anything of note since Heaven's Gate! That fiasco killed his career.War Movie Buffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-82735209068459071322012-08-21T00:40:12.346-05:002012-08-21T00:40:12.346-05:00I think it is very anti-war and I liked that they ...I think it is very anti-war and I liked that they showed the reasons for joining up were far from politically motivated often. I fin the opening focussing on that bleak city amazing. It didn't make my Top 10 Vietnam movies as far as I remember as I picked more combat driven ones. I haven't seen your no 9 but the others are all amazing movies, some of the best war movies in general, not only seen among the sub genre films. <br />It was one of those movies I had to re-watch because all I remembered was the Russian roulette scene. When I finally watched it again I was amazed how much more there is. <br />Come to think of it (you wrote Cimino left his talent there) I can't come up with any other movie he has done. Will have to investigate. allaboutwarmovieshttp://allaboutwarmovies.comnoreply@blogger.com