Rating: 
Summary: There's no excuse to not fulfill your dreams!
Review: Here was a guy who overcame the most harsh and unfair treatments in his life to achieve his life long dream. After watching this movie and learning about his story, I am going to feel ashamed when I don't give over 100%. I also like the fact that Brashear isn't the type of black person, who in those days, preached hatred and intolerance against all whites the way Malcolm X did. Unlike Malcolm X, he didn't let bigots keep him down. He was not a bitter or man filled with contempt, despite all he had to go through. I admire someone like that. If only we all could be like that! I highly recommend this to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Want to know what America is really about???
Review: I don't know where to begin with this movie. Carl Brashear's story is one of the most powerful commentaries on ordinary men doing extraordinary things. After watching this movie, you'll feel emboldened to do anything. This movie is similar to Apollo 13 in that it captures that spirit of rugged individualism that makes America great. In terms of cinematic performance, Cuba Gooding and Robert De Niro turn in some of the best performances of their careers. This will be a classic with a timeless message for future generations.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but nothing new
Review: This is a good bio and De Niro and Gooding, Jr. are fine in their roles, but there just isn't anything new here. If you know nothing about Brashear - after the first 15 minutes of this film, you will be able to develop a remarkably accurate scenario for the rest of the film. Enjoyable, but directed with such predictability that that the sentiment seems overblown and the man's accomplishments seem diminished. Too bad - because the real man was probably mighty inspiring.
Rating:
Summary: Good message, Good man, why add the fluff?
Review: First I'd like to say that the movie was entertaining and the acting was great. What made the story interesting was that the main character was attempting to become the first black Navy diver, not that the subject of Navy diving is itself interesting enough to make into a full length feature. It is the stuff of one hour documentaries on the History or Discovery Channel. But here we have the conflict of the old boys school and the civil rights movement and a man with a goal, to become a Master Diver in the U.S. Navy. It is perhaps a sad commentary on the American viewing public that in order to sell a movie that had at its base a fascinating story line; the movie had to include a lot of embellishment. While I don't know the actual facts as they happened and perhaps no one has the memory to tell the tale completely; I do know "acting" when I see it and I do notice the "dramatic elements" thrown in to make the story more "Hollywood". Those elements were a disappointment in an otherwise good movie. I think the strongest statement the film makes is about fathers. Mr. Brashears father tells him as he is about to board the Navy bus that no matter how hard it is going to get, and it will be hard he tells him, that he better not quit and he better never come back. I don't know how much truth and how much fiction was included in the story version of the relationship between the Brashear father and son, but in the end I think it makes the strongest point of the movie. It it isn't as important, in the long run, whether one is white or black, rich or poor, what matters is how strong the influence of your father was and if he was indeed a "Man of Honor". This movie is a good inspirational story, and one that teens thinking about their futures could gain some enthusiasm from, which brings me back to my original complaint; I wish that the movie had followed the real story faithfully and told it like it was. I think it would have made a better movie to not have the cardboard characterizations that were included in many of the roles. Even with my complaints I still recommend this movie, it is entertaining and there still lies a powerful and true message.
Rating: 
Summary: Very inspiring and great acting.
Review: This is the story of Carl Brashear's career as a US Navy Diver in the bad old days of the 1950-1965 time period, when black men were pretty much not wanted by the US Navy except as cooks or valets. But Brashear is simply the best, and he overcomes this dreadful prejudice. That is what this story is about. Cuba Gooding Jr. does a powerful job portraying Brashear. De Niro's performance as the racist southern Master Chief is so realistic it almost has to be seen to be believed. His eventual friendship with Brashear is inspiring, and is the best part of the movie. Most of the other characters in the story are minor, but in this case that's OK. This is a really fine movie that will shame us all but also inspire us to do better. I usually prefer movies that portray America and the military in a better light (because mostly they deserve it) but occasionally a movie like this one is necessary to help us see the darker side of things.
Rating:
Summary: Men of Honor; Lessons for everybody!
Review: In recent years I have shyed away from black enterainment because of inferences of racism seemed to become an excuse which is not needed in today's world.
Why watch this movie, though one of the cental themes deals with racism and prejudice? It is the strength of the character having enough ambition and character, not to let this get in his way. The character so demonstrates the quatities needed for sucess. Also noted, is the characters honesty while in the midst of prejudice to take a look at himself and work toward improvement so that he may become a diver. If we take a look at ourselves we would have probibly hung up the towel along some point and not make the ultiment sacrifice of a leg and possibly our family at achieving the goal of master diver.
Great acting, character interrelationships, production and scoring combine to make the movie a must see and must purchase. Recogmended for all.
Rating:
Summary: no quit in him
Review: This was a fascinating portrayal of a good man's unbelievable willpower, and a flawed man's battle with himself, his limitations, and his honor. One of the best things about the movie was watching the character 'Master Chief Billy Sunday' (De Niro) grow as a person. I really enjoyed the scene where 'Master Chief Billy Sunday' made the determination not to contribute to a man's death just to preserve the navy's status quo...or his own. The best scene in the movie was when 'Brashear' (Gooding, Jr) finally completed his assembly. This is a movie everyone needs to see because it portrays a man who absolutely "ain't got no quit in him" in a period when society expected nothing more then his giving up and giving in. It also portrays a realistic struggle of a man that has to overcome not only his own prejudices, but must battle personal demons. The irony is that he succeeds in conquering both, due in large part to his unconventional relationship with a man that that he never even considered being friends with. I didn't miss the underlying message that today's military leaders have a lot of paper knowledge, yet when it comes to respecting their traditions, they are apathetic. And when it comes to real war-they don't know their carcasses from a hole in the ground.
Rating:
Summary: An Honorable Movie
Review: The title Men of Honor was chosen perfectly for this movie, for the acting by Robert De Niro and Cuba Gooding Jr. was certainly honorable. In the time of racial discrimination between black and white, Carl (Cuba Gooding Jr.) has something to prove. He wants to become a Master Diver, something only white people had been able to do. Through all the taunting, and all the discrimination, Carl never quits. He works hard, and works to be the best. Everyone tries to make him quit, but Carl is not a quitter. Robert De Niro is the diving coach, basically, and he tries to send Carl home. But he learns a lesson or two, as many audience members will probably learn. It isnt the color of someone's skin that makes them special, but their talents and who they are inside. Men of Honor was a powerful movie, with excellent acting and directing. I give it five stars, and would give it more if it was possible. This movie is not for little children to see, but teens, preteens even, and adults will surely find this movie enjoyable, and worth their time.
Rating:
Summary: Good Drama
Review: Men of Honor is a drama about the first African-American and first amputee to become a master diver in the United States Navy and the obstacles he had to overcome to get there. Cuba Gooding Jr. plays a young black man with a ironclad self-discipline and a mountain of self-respect who comes from a dirt-poor farm in the south. He has a great desire to succeed and prove himself and not follow in his father's footsteps as a farmer, so he joins the Navy. Robert De Niro plays the role of the man who trains him. He is a Navy lifer, an old, hostile, alcoholic misfit who can't do anything else. His only self-esteem comes from being a Navy master diver.
Set during the time period of the late 1950's through the 1960's, the movie was inspired by the true-life story of Carl Brashear. The story, acting and cinematography are excellent, with just enough action and suspense to add up to excellent entertainment value. Hal Holbrook plays an extremely racist senior officer. Charlize Theron (The Legend of Bagger Vance) plays De Niro's wife. Aunjamue Ellis plays Carl's wife, Jo, a medical doctor. The only flaw I can see in the film is that De Niro acts out such a demonstrative, volatile, and angry character that it takes all the attention away from the cool, calm, self-controlled character played by Cuba Gooding Jr.
Rating: 
Summary: Tries too hard
Review: This movie tried too hard to be inspirational. I like a movie where the inspiration creeps up on you, instead of getting shoved in your face.
At times it was slower than slow, and I just wished they'd get on with the movie. I'm not too big a fan of Cuba Gooding Jr., and although his acting was okay, he didn't help make the movie any better for me.
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