Rating: Summary: Fun, but highly inaccurate.... Review: While HEARTBREAK RIDGE is highly entertaining, and just plain fun, the perception of Recon Marines is piss-poor. Now, maybe I am the only one here noticing this because I myself am in a military organization, but Recon Marines are the USMC equivalent of Navy SEALs and GREEN BERETS....and these "Marines" don't know a left face from a slap-in-the-face. The everyday civilian viewer will find this flick alot of fun, and so will military folk -- but we notice these nagging mistakes. Aside from that, like I said, the movie is very enjoyable, and quite funny. I didn't know a Clint Eastwood movie could get this goofy . The final Panama Invasion battle is alright, albeit a bit flat. All in all, probably worth your time, if you can ignore the inaccuracies.
Rating: Summary: Top class entertainment. Review: Clint stars as a tough marine sergent who has to rip a bunch of recruits into shape. It isn't as good as some Clint classic's as The Outlaw Josey Wales and Where Eagles Dare, but is still one of the best films of the 80's.
Rating: Summary: A Classic. Review: I gave this film 5 stars not because of the quality of the film or technical brilliance (which is average) but because of the situations depicted and in particular the on-going unmatchable dialogue and one-liners that Eastwood delivers flawlessly. I loved this movie and watch it over and over. Example: (grundgy, aggressive, hulking cellmate) "Hey Jarhead, if you want to pop that puppy's can (referring to a young boy Eastwood is talking to) you don't have to grease him so hard." (Eastwood) "Well now, you sound like a man of experience." Funny movie with one of the best actors around (Eastwood).
Rating: Summary: very real acton, perfect cast Review: Clint Eastwood presents another fine example of his acting abilities. An ageing gunnery sgt. who is trying to find his place in a younger, newer military. The kind of movie you can watch over and over.
Rating: Summary: A funny movie with "Dirty Harry" flavor Review: This is a good movie for a lazy Saturday afternoon for some laughs and Eastwood machismo. An enjoyable movie, indeed.
Rating: Summary: Sure Review: Sure, this movie has some pretty hackneyed dialogue and plot devices; and sure, there are some inaccuracies and inconsistencies, but come on! This movie is one of the most fun to watch military movies I've ever seen. And some of the lines, I've had occasion to use during my military career. (Clint's succinct report to the regimental commander during the alert in particular.)
It is interesting to note, also, that the commandeering of the bulldozer actually did occur during Operation Urgent Fury, but the person responsible was actually Ranger Captain John Abizaid, now a 4-star general and the commander of USCENTCOM.
Rating: Summary: IT CHANGED MY LIFE Review: When I was seven years old, my older step-brother and I went to see The Golden Child at Post Oak Cinema (Enid, Ok) but then snuck in to see part of Heartbreak Ridge.
From then on I wanted to be part of that amazing organization. 10 days after graduating high school I found myself at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego. I served 4 years in the Marine Corps Infantry and then got out and went to college.
And it all started because of a B movie with a great leading man, a shaky plot and America's Finest. Ooh-rah!
Rating: Summary: "You Improvise, You Adapt, You Overcome, You're Marines" Review: This may not rate as one of Clint's all-time greats, but it still has enough going on to make most Clint Eastwood fans very happy. For me it was a good mix of themes of redemption, reconciliation, coming to terms with retirement, old ways vs. new, duty and perseverance mixed with generous helpings of comedy and classic Clint one-liners.
Coming towards the end of his career as a Marine, Tom Highway finds himself taking on the task of whipping into shape a rather hilariously pathetic collection of new Marine recruits. After numerous attempts to drive him off initially, he perseveres and gets them to a point where they can handle themselves in the Grenada invasion that serves as the movies' backdrop.
Tom also finds himself trying to reconcile and revive the relationship his ex-wife (Marsha Mason), and also trying to come to terms with a military full of young know-it-alls who have no concept of real-world experience (prompting the line "Does his mother know he's out running around playing Army?").
Some of the best comic moments are found in Highway's interactions with "Stitch" Jones (Mario Van Peoples), especially where "Stitch" gets his comeuppance after hustling Highway out of a meal and then leaving him stranded (havng to hitchike the rest of the way to his base).
One caution, the language in this film is pretty brutal, but if you can look past that , you do get a good solid Clint Eastwood outing here. Definitely worth having.
Rating: Summary: "IF THIS DOESN'T KILL US, IT WILL SURELY BREAK OUR HEARTS," Review: Is the legend behind Hill 931, Korea, 1951, according to this fierce Clint Eastwood tale. USMC Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Highway is Eastwood's most interesting character since Harry Callahan: mangled flesh, voice as raw as a wound, sarcastic and crude, considering he has the CMH won at Heartbreak Ridge. HEARTBREAK RIDGE could have been a throw away drive-in cliche fest, instead it's a great lesson of how pride changes attitudes. Only a great film veteran like Clint could get that much mileage out of the invasion of Grenada. I think the film is longer than the actual combat activities.
Rating: Summary: Does his Mama know he's out playing Marine? Review: Spits Gunnery Sgt Tom Highway to his fellow Sgt after his initial meeting with his milketoast Platoon office Lt Ring, on his return to an active Marine unit. There is a fair amount of formula and predictability to the story here, as Eastwood plays the aforementioned Highway, old, battle scarred, wise and more than a little grizzled - charged with whipping a bunch of misfits into an elite recon unit. His senior officer hates him, his ex wife is still bitter, and he's way to close to retirement for his own comfort, but you know he will somehow triumph in the end. It's interesting to note, that shortly after it's release, it was condemned by some in the military for it's portrayal of Marines, chiefly as being top heavy on bad language, so sensitive types be warned. There's plenty of Eastwood style quips to keep most amused alongside a fairly good, if straightforward story, laced with some action along the way. For me, however the power of the film is the subplot that runs in tandem with the main story, about a lifelong military man, coming to terms with the end of his career, and reflecting on a failed marriage, as well as many other life events along the way. Although this is handled "in character" with more than a large dose of macho dialogue, there's a subtle depth to the role, that is often thought provoking, and compliments the rest of the picture very well. One minor complaint would be making the minor skirmish that was the liberation of the island of Grenada into a lavish military operation, which is a bit of a stretch. But considering that (at time of production) this was the only real topical choice for a factual based War, so to speak you can be forgiving. Probably NOT one of Eastwoods best movies by any means, but hugely enjoyable and good for more than a few repeat viewings. Enjoy!
|