Rating: 
Summary: Tom Cruise comes out fighting
Review: True story depicts how high school student Ron Kovic (Tom Cruise) wants nothing more than to join the Marines and serve his country. Despite discouragement from family and friends, he enlists after graduation and is shipped off to Vietnam. While in combat he makes a horrible mistake, and his resulting lack of vision leads to his being wounded. Ron is left paralyzed from the chest down, and returns home in a state of bitterness. His body mends far ahead of his mind, and his resulting disillusionment with the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam war leads to his becoming an antiwar activist. Vivid recreation of the 1960's war movement with a stellar performance by Cruise. Every proud American should own this film, which is more rewarding with each viewing.
Rating: 
Summary: A Must See For All Americans
Review: Tom Cruise gives one of his all-time best performances as Ron Kovik, a young man who joins the marines fresh out of high school with ideas of grabbing his piece in history by participating in the Vietnam War and keeping with his families' tradition of military service. In Vietnam he discovers that war is not as it seems, that innocent people are murdered needlessly everyday and , he himself, is guilty of theses same crimes. While in Vietnam, he is wounded in a firefight with the Viet Cong, which results in paralysis from the chest down. He is sent to a veteran's hospital that is in deplorable condition, trying in vain to regain use of his legs. Eventually Ron realizes he is to be bound to a wheelchair for life, and he returns to his family's home. However, upon return he finds that things have changed and he believes his (and other veteran's) sacrifices have gone largely unnoticed and his personality becomes bleak and angry, as his condition haunts him and sends him into alcoholism and depression. Like so many other unfortunate veterans, Ron has returned home to a commuity that neither recognizes nor appreciates his sacrifices and, as often happened in that case, he lost his sense of purpose in life. With little visible support, Ron decides to get away and head to Mexico, where he will hit bottom but in doing so, he finds himself again and returns home to eventually find his sens of self. The movie itself it excellent but it is not for children, as it deals with an intense subject: the loss of innocence and the attempt to regain some sense of life in a world which seemingly does not acknowledge Ron's existence. Cruise's performance hits home and probably has struck a nerve with most veterans, as they realize how hard it must be to adapt back to society after taking part in a war that stripped him physically and emotionally. I wish teachers would show this movie to students in High School so they can have a deeper understanding of what war is like and the psychological effects it has, and always will have, on our veterans. It will awaken you to a subject that America has tried to sweep up under the rug: the heroes of wars past who went to a foreign country to fight for Americans and freedom, only to return home and find that we wouldnt extend our thanks and acceptance towards them. Too many times we feel that it is an expected behavior for a soldier to go and fight, but many today dont understand soldiers feel pain, Ron Kovik felt pain and you will share that pain in Born On the Fourth Of July.
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT
Review: this was a great movie, and I love the ending. The acting was great, the story was wonderful, and the sets/etc. were so believable. I am amazed at what a great job Tom Cruise did.
Rating:
Summary: born on the fourth of july- special edition dvd
Review: One of Oliver Stone's masterpieces, Born on the Fourth of July, is a gripping epic about a paralyzed vietnam vet Ron Kovic who must come to terms with a country, a war, and himself that he doesn't understand. Be pulled in by a powerful Oscar nominated performance by Tom Cruise, equal to his nominated performance in Magnolia. Follow him from a young gung ho teen who is pro war and pro america, to a disshovled vet who argues against the war and his contry's direction. The DVD technology only adds to this award winning film. A must have for true film buffs and fans of both Oliver Stone and Tom Cruise.
Rating:
Summary: Penetrating Look At The Afternmath Of Vietnam!
Review: To date, no one has evoked the turbulent realities of life during the sixties as well as babyboomer Oliver Stone. His heart-rending portrayal of the fate of a naive young man out to imitate the heroic exploits of screen icons John Wayne and Audie Murphy is a modern classic, a cautionary tale of the horrible consequences of blindly trusting the government to do what is is right by this young man and hundreds of thousands just like him. Kovics enlists in the Marines and volunteers for duty in Vietnam, thereby fatefully and tragically changing the arc of his young life as a result. While this true story based on the best-selling autobiography of disabled Vietnam vet Ron Kovics is first and foremost Kovics' personal story, it is also very much the story of the Vietnam war's aftermath, of its bounty brought home, and the movie quite accurately depicts its searing impacts on the lives of all the survivors of the war itself (whether direct participants or not) and the fractious, violent and sometimes bloody clash between the traditional true believers on the one hand and a whole range of thoughtful dissenters on the other against continuation of the war. Tom Cruise is superb here, and the uncensored truth of the times and trials and wracking search for a new sort of meaningful balance in his new life of permanent disability if a deep dark look at the realities of what the war did to millions of young men who wanted nothing more than to honorably serve their country. This is a terrific movie, and one that deserved all the acclaim and awards it won for everyone involved. Two thumbs up from this aisle seat for "Born On The Fourth Of July".
Rating:
Summary: Oliver Stone Does it Again!
Review: A whiny reporter at Stone's press conference during the opening of JFK once asked him about his being hung up on the 60s.When it comes down to making films about that generation, Stone delivers the goods!(Platoon,Doors,JFK,Born on 4th). This is a powerful and moving real life account of Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic, and should be viewed by all Americans.The film evokes the sense of polarization in America during the Vietnam War. Technically, like JFK, the film is also brilliant.Film is edited and photographed beautifully.John Willliams score is haunting and magnificent. Familiar character actors(such as Frank Whaley) that have been in other Stone films show up here.I think that this is Cruise's best performance.Willem Dafoe has a short scene with Cruise as does Tom Berenger(interesting that Stone chose these actors as they were the metaphorical fathers to Sheen in Platoon!).Excellent film!
Rating:
Summary: An eye-opener
Review: Another addition to our family library, which we keep filled with books that entertain and/or educate. This movie, however, is not for the younger kids nor for the weak of heart, but for older members of the family, especially kids who might have fallen for the "John Wayne is cool" view point of war (or in our day, perhaps Mortal Kombat is cool view point of life) OR the young pacifist who believes that those who go to war are bad. We're all so tenderly human, and that's what this movie shows. The reason some find this depressing, I think, is that it shows the loss of innocence of the man who wrote this autobiography, Ron Kovic, who goes to war during the Vietnam era longing to be a hero, and returns damaged emotionally and physically, and receives the welcome of a baby-killer. Note: When the book version of this movie was due to come out, back in the 70's, I was working in a bookstore. Long-haired ex-vets would come in, looking for the book and I (duh) didn't understand why they were so enthusiastic. The book was the first attention given to what the war experience did to those who fought in it, which later opened the doors for WWII veterans to be able to talk about the emotional horrors of war. I read the book, and years later watched the movie - either of these are incredible experiences - if you like Saving Private Ryan, you will want to watch this movie, too.
Rating:
Summary: Depressing
Review: This movie is a meaningful history and commentary on the Vietnam War and its veterans. But it is horribly depressing. If one wants to watch a disturbing, and I mean DISTURBING, docu-drama about the Vietnam War, then this is it. But it's NOT entertainment, and it's not for the sensitive.
Rating:
Summary: Effective!
Review: I think that this film is a great one! I'll tell you why! First thing it is Tom Cruise's best performance ever. Sure he has others but this one looked and was very real. Second it was Oliver Stone's best film he made (other than Platoon). Third it showed in great detail what it was like to fight for you country and your fellow American's and then be slapped in the face by some of them. But the most realistic part is that it shows one man's fall from innocence and his gaining of courage to face his fears and once again to be loved by a country that owes him an enormous debt! Grade:A
Rating:
Summary: truly awesome
Review: BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, along with PLATOON, is one of the greatest war movies ever made, for many reasons. Tom Cruise gave an incredibly emotional and honest performance as Ron Kovic. He captures the transformation from naive yankee doodle dandy to disillusioned veteran completely. Kovic's pain really comes through with Cruise, who spent a lot of time with Ron Kovic and at one point was even willing to undergo temporary drug-induced paralysis (it was deemed too dangerous) in order to immerse himself in the character and experience. Secondly, Oliver Stone's direction is truly awesome. The Vietnam War scenes are staged with a sense of primal fear and confusion of combat. I liked the opening shots in the beginning, although I read that was cribbed from Francois Truffaut. Nonetheless, Stone, time and again, is able to bring out the best from his cast. The supporting cast in this film is astounding, particularly Willem Dafoe as the embittered veteran Charlie and Frank Whaley as Kovic's childhood friend. Thirdly, John Williams composed a powerful musical score, with haunting trumpet solos by Tim Morrison and a theme that immediately evokes the sheer epic scope of this wonderful, if somewhat unevenly paced, film. Overall, it was a powerful emotional experience that I'll never forget.
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