Post: #1

Has anyone seen this movie?

For me, it was big eye opener about the true nature and costs of work.

I'd be interested to see if any of guys have seen the movie or read the book.

Post: #2

Just stumbled across the movie two days ago at the library. For me the big thing was that kid that stayed behind to start his own restaurant. Everyone gave him shit at first, but he came out ahead big time.

Post: #3

Right. He came out ahead because he realized how the whole Communist threat was bullshit. Rather than make himself
a peon to the games of wealthy and powerful men, he took care of himself. He ultimately came out ahead in the end. Ron Kovic
ended up in a wheel chair for life.

Post: #4

Anyone else see this?

Post: #5

It's pretty standard for that generations depiction of war.
Look at how before that they had movies like Green Berets with John Wayne racking up a kill count with the good ol boys while waving the flag of freedom.
Lately it's been a mix of the two - not the depressing movies about the pointlessness of violence like Born On The Fourth Of July, Platoon, Apocalypse Now, or the patriotic support the boys films. These days we have Black Hawk Down, The Hurt Locker, and Zero Dark Thirty - showing the good ol boys curb stomp the savage natives, but this time around they have feelings!

Post: #6

Which is more realistic?

I'd argue that Born-on-4th-July is more realistic about what war is really like. The movie
deals less with the war than the consequences that come after.

Post: #7

On that, I can't say. Been in a lot of dangerous situations, but none where bullets were flying directly at me. I'd imagine all have some truth to them.

Post: #8

(06-30-2014 06:52 PM)Osiris Wrote:  On that, I can't say. Been in a lot of dangerous situations, but none where bullets were flying directly at me. I'd imagine all have some truth to them.

This is a great movie. This is Oliver's Stone's best film and Tom Cruise's best role. Of course it is largely about the consequences of war. The subtle theme relates to how society and your family indoctrinate you to do their bidding. It took paralysis and severe emotional suffering for Tom Cruise's character to realize you need to live for yourself, not other people's expectations.

Post: #9

I want to bump up this thread because I think it's a true Red Pill movie.

It shows you how the system manipulates naive young men to "serve their country" when the only interests they're
"serving" is a politician's reelection, a contractor's P&L, and the Deep State's (ie Military-Industrial complex) power games. Then when
these young men come back from war, society acts completely callous towards their physical and mental injuries.

The people who truly got ahead were those who took care of themselves and didn't become the pawns of powerful and wealthy men. Kovic's buddy knew the whole Communism threat was being inflated from the beginning and decided to just focus on himself. In the end, he won. He became a successful businessman, nailed hot bitches, and didn't have to roll around in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

Born on the 4th of July ends on a happy note, but realistically I bet Kovic would give up all his anti-war activist fame to have his legs back. Even today, Kovic is bitter about his paralysis and how he was fooled.

The movie does well at showing just what life is like when you're paralyzed and how, in the long term, it just isn't worth it.

Post: #10

[quote='Fighting888' pid='894615' dateline='1417527089']

Born on the 4th of July ends on a happy note, but realistically I bet Kovic would give up all his anti-war activist fame to have his legs back. Even today, Kovic is bitter about his paralysis and how he was fooled.


There is a scene where Kovic dreams that he can walk. He looks a lot younger in the dream than he is. This represents a wish that he never went to war. This also represents a turning point for him and his change of heart regarding the war and his government.