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kevin bacon as LtCol Strobl

Cron

Cron

Yankee Uniform Tango
Based on true events, the film recounts the story of Marine LtCol Michael Strobl who escorts the body of a 19-year-old Marine PFC killed in Iraq, back to his family in Wyoming. Here's the actual article written by the LtCol, that inspired the movie.

I was pretty skeptical at first, but the trailer looks really good.

http://www.hbo.com/events/takingchance/


 
Flyboylance

Flyboylance

New VR FTS select
pilot
When I was still attached to my NROTC Unit, we formed up at the local airport to show our respects to a fallen Army soldier and saluted as the casket was passed and family passed by. Very moving experience.
 
HueyCobra8151

HueyCobra8151

Well-Known Member
pilot
Half of me is pissed that they use a fallen Marine as a prop in their quest to make money.

The other half of me is glad they can tell stories like these.

Can't decided which I am...
 
Cron

Cron

Yankee Uniform Tango
HueyCobra8151 said:
Half of me is pissed that they use a fallen Marine as a prop in their quest to make money.

The other half of me is glad they can tell stories like these.

Can't decided which I am...
Click to expand...

A valid concern. With that same logic though...are war films like "Saving Private Ryan", "Tora, Tora, Tora", "Platoon", et.al. made to honor the serviceman or are they exploitative? Personally I believe stories like these should be told. Ultimately they make more of the populace aware of the sacrifices their men and women in uniform make on a daily basis.

That all said I think "Taking Chance" was made with good intentions. I hope it will make some people open their eyes.
 
A4sForever

A4sForever

BTDT OLD GUY
pilot
Contributor
Cron said:
...are war films like "Saving Private Ryan", "Tora, Tora, Tora", "Platoon", et.al. made to honor the serviceman or are they exploitative? ....
Click to expand...

I think the first two were done to "honor" servicemen as much as Hollywood is capable of in addition to the more dubious Hollywood motive of making $$$$$ on the backs of others ....

I think Platoon was an angry diatribe against the Vietnam War by a disgruntled former GI/now Hollywood icon Oliver Stone. I don't think it did too much to "honor" servicemen ...

I think of "honor" and "overcoming the odds" for military men striving against the odds (at least to a degree) when I think of:

Blackhawk Down ...
Letters from Iwo Jima ...
Hell in Korea ... (let's see if you can find that one)
Band of Brothers ...
Bridges at Toko-Ri ...
The Lost Batallion ...
Gallipoli ...
Hamburger Hill ...
Lawrence of Arabia ...
Zulu ...
Rescue Dawn ...
A Bright Shining Lie ...
Three Kings ...
The Thin Red Line ...
The Killing Fields ... (not strictly "military", but it show you the face of the enemy)
La 317e section ... (French)

I keep trying to get my head around Tigerland ... but no joy, so far ...

There's more ... this is just a short list. :)

 
A4sForever

A4sForever

BTDT OLD GUY
pilot
Contributor
"Otto" said I should have included "Bat-21" ... and he's absolutely right.

Again ... just a short list. :)
 
Cron

Cron

Yankee Uniform Tango
A4sForever said:
I think Platoon was an angry diatribe against the Vietnam War by a disgruntled former GI/now Hollywood icon Oliver Stone. I don't think it did too much to "honor" servicemen ...
Click to expand...

On the flip side of the coin, the film did (and still does) have the effect of raising people's awareness about the conflict and of some of the difficulties faced by the troops at that time. Definitely did for me.

A4sForever said:
I think of "honor" and "overcoming the odds" for military men striving against the odds (at least to a degree) when I think of: [...] There's more ... this is just a short list. :)
Click to expand...

I'd add "When Trumpets Fade" to that list. The Battle of Hürtgen Forest was just a meatgrinder...

...and how about "300"? :) A few hundred Greeks fighting to the death, against hundreds of thousands of Persians?
 
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