I didn't know the history of those photographs. That is a fascinating insight into the movie that will make me look at it differently the next time I watch it.
I understand what the director is trying to do in the scene, to juxtapose the b&w photos with the color shots of Barry Pepper experiencing them. However, it just feels a little cheesy to me,
A Lot of people tend to forget that big blockbuster films like this are actually based on real events and real people. Another thing this scene does, is remind people that this is a true story that happened to real men, by juxtaposing the scenes of the actor in the film playing the role of the photographer, and the actual photos taken of the real men during the real battle. It's not cheesy at all.
It is to remind us that this was real. That it really happened.
Judging from the responses I've received on this post I am not the only one to feel that way. You are certainly entitled to your own opinion and if it works for you, great.
That...more than anything you said in particular, probably triggered my final comment that you object too. It was n't really directed at you alone and personally, but to the "masses" that have such a shallow view of the film in general.
You gotta admit, there are hordes of individuals out there that simply cannot follow a plot if it requires more than the attention span of a gnat.
I do try to accept pure difference of opinion even if I have a disagreeing opinion...But I tend to come down hardcore on those expressing pure stupidity, ignorance, and a complete lack of common sense.
You know.. Conspiracy Theorists... Liberals... etc... Those types.
Not just limited to those, but those in general showing the same degree of lack of logic as those types.
Granted, your statement was nothing close to that and my remark was a 1 on a scale of 1-10 on when I DO go off on someone...
My apologies if you are not one of the braindead generation... Just an honest difference of opinion. But given the current state of people and their ability to think in general.. and all the positive responses reinforcing that opinion... sometimes the line... it gets blurred.
I just passed the half-century mark and I wore the same uniform that you have on in your profile picture.
Given that I am about 4 years behind you in the race to the finish.. I'd say you served in the mid to late 80's then?
I served aboard USS Halsey CG23 and USS Kitty Hawk CV63, Electronic Warfare Technician(EW)...
You?
I joined the Navy to see the world, only to discover the world is 2/3 water!
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daddymo
9 years ago
I agree with a lot of what you have to say. I've seen you go off on certain posters, most of whom I have felt warranted it.
I will humbly admit that I have never been on active duty. When I got out of high school I got a business degree and started a family. When I was about 30 I started feeling that I really needed to take action to give back to my country in some way. Active duty was out of the question for me so I did the next best thing, at least in my eyes. I did most of my time with Naval Special Warfare Group 2 out of Little Creek, training in several locations east of the Mississippi. I was serving during 9/11 but my unit was not called up, only the few who had SP experience.
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CGSailor
9 years ago
No offense if you're telling the truth, but you must forgive my suspicions. Anytime some anonymous person on the net makes some bogus claim of military, it almost invariably claims to be some Green Beret/Navy Seal special forces claim. The fact of the matter is that 99.99999% of such claims are bullsh!t.
I ran your response past someone whom I know to have a bit of experience in that area, and is currently still an Active duty Chief Petty Officer(E-7)...
Here is his response:
Seems kind of vague. NSWG2 is a command element, there are no operational elements Active or Reserve. Special Boat Units did have reservists, specifically in SBU-22 out of New Orleans and Mississippi. But all those reservists were prior Active Duty Crewman. I was in SBU-22 working with the TARs to administer the drilling reservists turn of the century. You couldn't join the Reserves into SWCC. You still can't. Im not sure if it was ever possible but for sure it wasnt possible 98 to present.
SBU-22 rotated almost all of its DETs to combat in GWOT from 2001-2003. If you were in SBU-22 on Sept. 11 you definitely getting deployed at some point. Either in PI or in Iraq. I went to PI with SBU-22.
Care to elaborate your vagueness and allay my suspicion?
I joined the Navy to see the world, only to discover the world is 2/3 water!
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daddymo
9 years ago
I don't blame your skepticism, and I have nothing but scorn for those who make these false claims. Looks like I am among the .00001% to make the claim and actually have lived it.
I was attached to NAVSPECWARGRU Two DET 309 out of Columbus, Ohio. I enlisted as part of the APG program and trained at the base in Algiers, LA (before it closed down in 2005). I was an SK3 and loved my job, as boring as it may sound. My unit regularly supported the annual SEAL capability exercise in Little Creek and we were always invited to the blast. Members of my unit attended Operation Bright Star although I did not. I would rather not put any names on the Internet, I'm sure you understand why.
I know many active duty sailors look down upon reservists, and I get it. We did not train or serve the same but wear the same uniform. However, I am proud of my service and like to think that in some small way I did give back to my country.
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dubyahsrobotminion
9 years ago
It would be a little less misleading is you said LOGSU2. Saying NSWG2 would be like CG saying he served in DESRON ??(I don't know which Commodore level command they were in) instead of saying he was on Halsey. CSST and Det 309 WERE part of LOGSU2. Prior to LOGSU2 NSWG2 still called its Logistics and Support Dept or LOGSU Dept. Now they will be part of NSWG11 for the Reserves. People won't understand what LOGSU and CSST is so you have to be more particular than just saying 'I was in NSWG2'.
You're taking a dump and they call GQ do you pinch it off or finish your business?
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dubyahsrobotminion
9 years ago
But having said that, its not the same life. Its not the Fleet and its not NSW. Same uniform or not. The reserves serve some function for the Army and Air Force. But in my honest opinion, its a waste of money for the Navy and Marines. The exception used to be the Seabees but the optempo of GWOT changed even that. Every weekend we get drilling reservists. Its like a paid vacation ( most of them by law still get paid by their employers) for them and a monumental waste of money for subsistence, per dium and travel funds. Just the reissue is CAC cards everytime they go active is a waste. And for what? So they can get a tour, put the uniform on and do something? I say do the time like everyone else or don't take the cred.
You're taking a dump and they call GQ do you pinch it off or finish your business?
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drtagnjr
9 years ago
You are more understanding than me. I find the entitled-feeling military and former military as glaring examples of what is wrong with class designation.
Having dealt with many service personnel on an individual basis, decent and less than decent people come from all avenues, civilian, NG, Reserve, and Active Duty.
Those that feel they and their opinion are somehow better based on service or, as in this case, type of service, are the weaker character parts of a really great organization.
Thank you both for your service. Equally.
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