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This movie fire-works
by Yahoo! Movies User (movies profile)
Feb 6, 2007
5
of
6 people found this review helpful
"Born on the Fourth of July," Oliver Stone's second installment in his Vietnam War Trilogy, is one of the best and most disturbing war movies ever made. However, to be more specific, the film is actually anti-war. Unlike many special effects-ridden Hollywood productions, this movie avoids glorifying war.
The film chronicles the true life story of Ron Kovic (Tom Cruise, in an Oscar-nominated performance) from his patriotic childhood, to his anti-war adulthood. During his teenage years, when the Marines had visited his school, Ron voluntarily applied to serve his nation. But what happened next in Vietnam would change him mentally, politically, and physically.
During the war, Ron ends up getting shot at. His injury is very severe and causes permenant damage. In the Bronx Veterans Hospital, he is informed by a doctor that he will never be able to walk again. What's worse is that he cannot have children, either.
When he returns home, Ron isn't treated much like a war veteran. He gets a few pats on the back, and a few hugs, and some people even give him the finger, which isn't the respect that a war veteran deserves. Kovic's own brother is found to be an anti-war activist, and many other people who Ron had known to be so patriotic before, now fight to end the war.
This isn't the perfect movie. It certainly has its share of flaws. For one, the movie becomes awfully didatic at points, enough to annoy people who share different opinions on the Vietnam War. The cinematography is decent but far from perfect. My one real complaint is that Stone kept the scenes in Mexico in the movie. He could have trashed that and still had an excellent picture. My opinion is starting to sound very negative - it's not. "Born on the Fourth of July" is a movie that definitely has more strengths than weaknesses.
When people watch Oliver Stone's movies, they watch them from a political point of view. That ruins the entire film. The story is supposed to be what's good about the movie, not the politics. Many political conservatives bashed the film upon its release, calling it a propoganda movie. I cannot say that it isn't - Stone has definitely tossed in some of his own political beliefs into the pot - but the movie stills makes for a terrific experience.
The performances, the Oscar-winning direction, the dialogue, and the score are all great. Above all, I respect Tom Cruise's performance. In the 80s, Cruise was classified as a teen "heartthrob," and when it was heard that he was to portray Ron Kovic, many were skeptical. Moviegoers and film critics sharpened their pencils, ready to mock his work, but most ended up praising his harrowing performance. Here is a war movie that has no huge and epic battle scenes - it just tells a story, and does so beautifully. |
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