Rating: 
Summary: The only true depiction of Army life I have seen on film.
Review: "Join the people who have joined the Army." That is the most honest recruiting slogan the Army has ever employed. What do most people get out of the Army? Friendship. Comraderie. A sense of belonging. "Gardens of Stone" shows these ties that bind, and I can think of no other movie that shows these as well, if at all. What is it like to be inside the uniform? This movie will get you as close as you can come without signing your name on the dotted line.
Rating:
Summary: Moves me!
Review: As a soldier in the Army, I saw this movie about 2 years ago, and it left me with tears rolling down my face. This movie touches the depths of the brotherhood that is developed within the confines of the service of this great Country, and tells it with dignaty and grace. James Earl Jone's outstanding portrayal of an well worn Sergeant Major, is done to his normal masterful self. James Caan's charactor is done in such a moving way, that makes me wanna snap a salute, and tell him how great of job he did and that he did the service good with his performance.The costume department deserves great addoration for the details. I could not find one uniform that did not conform to the Army Regulations that I live by daily. This is an outstanding movie for anyone who wants to know that soldier really do care!
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Vietnam Movies
Review: Can a movie that never actually goes to Vietnam truly portray the horror and tragedy of the war? This movie proves it can be done. Coppola's treatment of the Old Guard during the time of upheaval that was the Vietnam era brings home the true despair that both the public and some members of the military felt during the war. This movie sports several great performances. James Caan and James Earl Jones in particular stand out. Those two along with D. B. Sweeney, Angelica Huston, Joe Desjardin, Lawrence Fishburn, Dean Stockwell and Sam Bottoms make a great "war" movie without ever showing a battle. The characters develop the story and make this movie worth not just one, but several watches. There were several great Vietnam movies that came out in the 80's, but as much as any of them, this movie truly brought home the feelings of the time to someone who was not yet an adult during that time. This movie did not get a lot of publicity that Platoon, Full Metal Jacket and Apocolypse Now received, but it is just as powerful and entertaining as those movies. See this movie. It is very good. Now, where is the DVD?
Rating: 
Summary: Fantastic combination - Coppola, Caan & Jones
Review: Francis Ford Coppola is one of my favorite directors ever, and he has done another great job with "Gardens of Stone." I had only the tiniest fraction of an idea what this film was about prior to watching it, so I had no expectations going in. The film opens with a powerful scene; a soldier is being buried in Arlington, and Coppola spends long moments on the widow's anguished face; Mary Stuart Masterson conveys such depths of sorrow that tears welled in my eyes instantly, even though I didn't know who any of the characters were at that point, or understand how the soldier had died. Sadly, the relationship between Masterson and Sweeny didn't get fleshed out fully through the movie, and I wish it had been - it would have added another layer to Sweeny's character. The relationship that was most interesting in the story is that between James Caan and James Earl Jones; they play old war buddies and best friends, and they do an excellent job of it. Their facial expressions, body language, voice inflections, everything - they are truly outstanding actors. There are many moments of laughter in the film, followed by powerful and profound moments of sorrow, and Coppola balances them out very well. It's a film primarily about friendship, but also about love, respect, politics, living and dying. I really recommend it to anyone who enjoys military movies, but it's not *just* an Army movie. Truly exceptional.
Rating:
Summary: excellent vietnam era movie
Review: From the moment the movie starts it just grabs you. I have seen this movie countless times and everytime it moves me deeply. You feel as though every character was modeled after real people..that's how terrific the cast is. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone.
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Summary: The end product of political miscalculations
Review: Gardens of Stone is the end of the line for old generals and young privates of the Vietnam War. Before one embarks on a war or support of one, they should watch this film that gets to the heart of the matter, human cost. This movie is the story of the 3rd Infantry, The Old Guard. We see them on parade at WHite House functions and patrolling in front of the tombs of the unkowns but I think it is forgotten that they have a military mission as well. This mission is illustrated in the film, over and above the ceremonial. James Caan as a tired NCO meeting an eager young soldier. I got the feeling that Caan was seeing himself in this and was trying to prevent a needless tragedy. The young man meets a girl, they get married. He goes to OCS and Vietnam and returns to the Old Guard in a coffin. I think he was understanding what Caan was trying to tell him when he was killed. This is a difficult movie to watch as Caan attempts to win a woman with strong anti-war feelings. Caan is not exactly anti-war but I think he is speaking from a world weariness of having been in two wars and knows first hand, what this woman can only intelectualize. It is an interesting plot and one that is quite realistic. This is a sober movie, with a few light moments, but is in reality a realistic look at what life was like for soldiers burying their fellows at Arlington. A must see for anyone with an interest in the cost of war.
Rating:
Summary: excellent story of how the war changes people and values
Review: Great film with an excellent cast of people
Rating:
Summary: My review is somewhat biased.
Review: I admit that my review is somewhat biased, because I got to be an extra in this movie. I was a Military Policeman stationed at Ft. Myer when they filmed this movie and I got the chance to be in it and meet the cast.
The depiction of the life of the 3rd US Infantry (The Old Guard) conducting the funerals is fairly accurate. Overall, I think that this movie represented the Army fairly. Some minor details struck me, but they didn't detract from the enjoyment of the movie in any way.
As for the cast, my personal opinion of them varies as well, but I would like to say thet James Earl Jones is a wonderful man and in person, he's larger than life.
If anyone would like to delve a little deeper into this story, I would recommend the book by Nicholas Profitt, or I'd be glad to answer any questions you might have.
Rating:
Summary: My review is somewhat biased.
Review: I admit that my review is somewhat biased, because I got to be an extra in this movie. I was a Military Policeman stationed at Ft. Myer when they filmed this movie and I got the chance to be in it and meet the cast.
The depiction of the life of the 3rd US Infantry (The Old Guard) conducting the funerals is fairly accurate. Overall, I think that this movie represented the Army fairly. Some minor details struck me, but they didn't detract from the enjoyment of the movie in any way.
As for the cast, my personal opinion of them varies as well, but I would like to say thet James Earl Jones is a wonderful man and in person, he's larger than life.
If anyone would like to delve a little deeper into this story, I would recommend the book by Nicholas Profitt, or I'd be glad to answer any questions you might have.
Rating:
Summary: Truth...not fiction
Review: I served in The Old Guard from 1997 - 1999. During this time, thousands of our boys died in VietNam and were buried in Arlington Cemetary. The soldiers of The Old Guard delivered the dead to their final resting place, while the families wept and experienced the last rights given in ceremonial circumstances. This story tells the last chapter of the lives of those who paid the ultimate price for their country...whether it was right or wrong.
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