Born on the Fourth of July (Special Edition)

Rating:
Summary: Re-"Born"
Review: "The Church blessed the war. Communism, the insidous evil.
They-they told us to go. Thou shall not kill women & children. Thou shall not kill women & children, ma. Thou shall not kill women & children. Isn't this what you taught us?" - Ron Kovic melts down in front of his parents in "Born On The Fourth Of July"

Oliver Stone's powerful film, based on the true story of Vietnam Vet., Ron Kovic, still packs a punch after fourteen years since its Christmas 1989 release and has the best performance that Tom Cruise has given in his entire career. Sadly, the film didn't sweep the Oscars like "Platoon" did, and, no, Cruise didn't win that year for Best Actor (that honor went to Morgan Freeman for "Driving Miss Daisy". Say it with me people, "What the *u*k!?!).

"Born" starts out in the late 50's as we meet a young, impressionable Ron Kovic who plays war with his pals in the backyard and has a sweetie named Donna. The film sets up the major characters & Kovic's family and then jumps to his Senior Year in High School, in the early sixties.

A visit from the local Marine Recruiter at his high school easily convinces Kovic and some of his buddies to join the Marine Corp., fully aware that they may be the first to head into battle, and the nightmare that would be Vietnam.

The film segues to the year 1967 & Kovic's first tragedy trying to come to grips with accidently killing a fellow soldier in the heat of battle & then his commanding officer telling him to, basically, forget what happened. In 1969, his personal hell begins as he is shot twice, one in the heel of his foot and with a second shot to his upper chest, severly damaging his spinal column, Kovic is paralyzed for life from the waist down.

With such a severe injury, Ron Kovic is sent home, but just as he has found that war is hell, the road home has its nightmarish twists & turns. Coming to grips with all that has transpired & with the ever changing world around him, Ron Kovic quickly learns its a long road home.

This is easily one of Oliver Stone's best films side-by-side with "Platoon". While "Platoon" gives us the sweaty, gory, backstabbing, hellish nightmare that was the Vietnam War, "Born On The Fourth Of July" gives us the other side of the nightmare, the war at home, in its all its unflinching darkside glory.

Stone's direction is top-notch. "Born on the Fourth of July" is shot with red, white, & blue hues (red for the battle sequences, blue for the tragic scenes and white for the dream sequences). The film doesn't capture the essence of the 60's & 70's, it embraces it (the scenes of Massapequa in the 60's is all Americana while the Massapequa of the 70's seems lost, trying to forget or demonstrate against the war. The town's innocence is truly lost). The Vietnam action sequences are filmed documentary guerrilla style.

The cast is absolutely outstanding. Tom Cruise is at the top of his game in this film. Rumor has it, this film destroyed his marriage to Mimi Rogers. Cruise spent a lot of time in the wheelchair, getting all the movements right & preparing for the role, so when filming began everything came second nature to him. Also, keep an out for small roles from Billy Baldwin, Stephen Baldwin, Holly-Marie Combs (T.V.'s "Charmed"), Vivica A. Fox (she's the hooker in the hospital ward at night), Michael Wincott ("Alien Ressurection" & "The Crow"), John McGinnley ("Scrubs" & "Platoon") & Wayne Knight (Newman from "Seinfeld" & "Jurassic Park").

As for this third DVD release for "Born On The Fourth Of July", I really wish it was a special edition, but, its not. This version combines the previous two (before this release, you had a choice between the 30 dollar Dolby Digital version, or the 30 dollar DTS version) with Dolby Digital & DTS audio with a commentary track by Oliver Stone. The only special feature is a NBC backstory segment that delves into the network's archives retrieving interviews with Stone, Cruise, & Kovic from the film's press junket in 1989. Its a half-assed affair with, of all people, Bryant Gumble hosting.

With "Born" ending with Ron Kovic speaking at the National Democratic Convention in 1976 & the film itself being released 13 months before the first Gulf War, it would be interesting to catch up with Kovic & to see his views on the war in Iraq, stem cell research, & how he feels the country is doing. Sadly, "Universal" doesn't share these ideas and the DVD presentation sucks. The picture definitely needs to be remastered. The audio is decent with 5.1 surround.

"Born On The Fourth Of July" is like the colors of the American Flag.
They don't run.


For Truth, Justice, & The American Way.

God Bless Our Troops & American Veterans.

Above All, God Bless America.

Rating:
Summary: the cruise begins !
Review: i agree with everyone who gives this movie 5 stars-- its brilliant moving & everyThIng a great film drama should be-- AS WELL AS being true and well written & heart felt in spades !!! cruise threw himself so whole heartedly into this role and with such brilliant effect-- i believe it was this film that built the foundation for cruise`s career to reach the pinnacle of the game that it has---- i dont think anyone has ever made more money in film than he has--- but this movie offered him a rare opportunity--that can make a career---the convergence of all the elements that make miracles happen-- passionate script heartfelt and true-- and a director in mr stone who totally empathized w kovic`s memoir of a war that mangled a nation and a man but brought out true heroism and a real change of character ultimately---if we as a nation havent seemed to have learned from the kind of revelations contained in this celluloid-- we as individuals can find solace and inspiration from it-- and in time perhaps a great shift will occur--as each soul finds the truth and beauty worth living for instead of dying for---and we fight the good fight----but until then we can thank the oliver stones and ron kovics and tom cruises and all their minions who care enough to commit themselves to create something like this !

Rating:
Summary: Oliver Stone grinds his axe fine
Review: I didn't want to like this movie. I'm usually resistant to any film whose director grinds an ax so relentlessly as Oliver Stone has been known to, and never so obviously as with this film. But I recently ran across the NY Times list of 1000 best films, and "Born On the Fourth of July" is listed there. While any such list is naturally debatable, it caused me to want to see more of those on the list that I hadn't seen, and a satellite channel was running this film at a convenient time. I must say, the excellence of Stone's craftsmanship, and of Tom Cruise's performance, wore down my resistance to his message, although it took almost half of this lengthy biopic to get past my defenses.

What we have here is the true story of a man whose birthday coincides with that of his country, a young man who was properly raised to love all things American. His patriotism led him to volunteer for the Marine Corps and the Vietnam war in the late 1960s, where everything he had ever believed was challenged in the strongest possible terms. The watershed events that finally moved him from traditional all-out American patriot to an American who loves his country but distrusts the government and opposes war, however, were events that mostly followed that famously horrifying war, and said events were often as horrifying in their own way as the things he experienced in Vietnam.

This truly is an excellent film, no doubt about it. Stone, a Vietnam vet himself, frames his story expertly, brings out superb performances from all of his players, and included Mr. Kovic (on whose autobiographical book this film is based) at every stage of the production. The pacing of the tale is smooth and understandable for its nearly 2-1/2 hour length, and the viewer never has a serious problem wondering where Cruise's character is coming from emotionally or intellectually.

"Born On the Fourth of July" has proven to be the capstone of Oliver Stone's career, and was the performance that took Tom Cruise from teen idol to respected actor. No wonder, as Cruise at times does more in this film with a look than he had been able to accomplish with pages of dialogue earlier in his career.

As with almost any 'Nam film, the gore of battle and over-the-top filthy language of its scarred survivors mean that viewing it is more of a cathartic experience than a pleasant one, but beyond that my only nitpick is that one scene has some vets listening to Don McLean's "American Pie" in 1968, three years before the song was recorded. With that minor caveat, the film has given me a lot to think about. While I don't agree with Stone's politics, there is no question that he, Kovic, and others have arrived at their perspective honestly and forcefully, and this film serves as a fine record of a time in our country's history when we fought a second civil war of sorts. Men like Stone and Kovic are the living casualties of that time, and they deserve our respect.

Rating:
Summary: An Oliver Stone Masterpiece
Review: Oliver Stone captures the feel and look of the era, and Tom Cruise nails his role as Ron Kovic. This film will hit upon every emotion you have...it is a brilliant film. Wish there were more extras on the DVD though.

Rating:
Summary: Stunning Achievement: Cruise's Best Role
Review: Oliver Stone gives Cruise his best role as Ron Kovic in "Born on the Fourth of July." Cruise forgoes his easy way out with a smile and shows (as he has in several other films) he really has acting chops.

It is impossible not to be moved by Cruise's inhabiting the life of Ron Kovic and to feel the pain, the displacement and abandonment Kovic - and thousands of other soldiers - must have felt. That Kovic was a patriot, a hero actually born on the 4th of July makes his outspoken acts of anti-war activism resonate all the more.

Those - like me - who have accused this actor of not being to act his way out of the proverbial paper bag should take a look at Mr. Cruise here. Watching his Kovic from idealistic young man, to disenchanted hero, to miserable self-pitying to inspiration and a voice the voice of realism for a generation realist will be nothing less than wowed. At each step, Cruise puts Kovic first and foremost and makes believable every emotion. There is more than self-pity when, knowing how he's going to spend the balance of his life he cries "who will love me?" It will break your heart and fill you with rage all at once.

The supporting cast, under Stone's direction bring alive a harrowing story - a true story.

The extras on this special wide screen version are not worth shouting about - but are worth noting. As is standard with many DVD's these days the director gives an informative narration during the film which is worth listening to, but (in my opinion) inteferes with the film (unless you watch it twice in a row).

Worthwhile and recommended.


Rating:
Summary: AN OLIVER STONE TRIUMPH!
Review: Oliver Stone is one of the most interesting directors of all time and this movie is definitely in his best top 5. Tom Cruise's portrayl of Ron Kovic is chilling to say the least. Anyone who is a fan of "The Deer Hunter," "Apocalypse Now," or Stone's "Platoon," will really enjoy this film. When I think of Vietnam themed movies, this one is on the top of my list. The movie I think it resembles most is "Coming Home," with Jon Voight, but I enjoyed this movie a lot more. It's not amazing that this controversial movie became so liked when it was first released at the box office. If you want to see one of the best directors and Tom Cruise's best work, this movie is for you. It didn't make the AFI 100 greatest movies probably because of "Platoon's" entry. Oliver Stone deserved his best director academy award for this terrific movie. I think this is definitely one of the top 5 greatest films of the 1980's.