Movies that influenced your way of thinking.

I remember The Boyz in the Hood confirming a lot of what I already thought. And it's not a movie, but The HBO series The Wire, further confirmed a lot of what I thought.

Saving Private Ryan, at least the first 20 minutes of it taught me to thank veterans and respect my elders.
 
Sp00ks said:
I have worn out one box set and bought another. My wife and I watch it every year around D-day and the Pacific around the anniversary of Pearl Harbor.

I grew up in a military household. My father was a Marine Vet and served in Korea. He talked me out of enlisting and it's one of my biggest regrets although he was probably right. I talked him into watching the series with me once before he passed and other than picking out the Hollywood cinematics vs. reality, he enjoyed it. It gave me an even greater appreciation for our Vets and what they have gone through on our behalf. I give to quite a few Veteran based charities these days.

Even on his death bed he would never tell me exactly what he did, nor did his timelines match up with his paperwork. The movie also helped me realize why.....
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I had to think about this a little bit. I think I like the veteran interviews more than the movie. Those are meaningful to me and did influence my way of seeing WW2 vets. That company wasn't any different, any better, than any other. In fact Ambrose said that even though there were a few factors that made him choose that company, at the end of the day he could have picked any group of men in the army because they were so alike with caliber of men (paraphrasing). When he said that it really made me take a step back and see the vets in a different light.

It was the first movie that did that, had the proliferation of interviews. One really can't do that with WW2 vets any more, but I would love to see film makers make war films/series from Korea and Vietnam with veteran interviews.

So I would have to agree, this did influence my way of thinking.
 
GoWolfpack said:
You had better get started soon, because they're dying out quick too. A lot of Vietnam vets are nearing 80.
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I know. My dad would have been 85 this year; my uncle who passed away 2 years ago was near 90; my neighbor died three weeks ago, he would have been 80 yesterday.

So many great battles and events in which they can narrate and contribute.

Edited to add, I would LOVE to see a series regarding MAC-V, or the battle in which a Marine recon team was surrounded by over 100 VC, or the bridge at Dong-Ha, or...
 
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Chuckman said:
I had to think about this a little bit. I think I like the veteran interviews more than the movie. Those are meaningful to me and did influence my way of seeing WW2 vets. That company wasn't any different, any better, than any other. In fact Ambrose said that even though there were a few factors that made him choose that company, at the end of the day he could have picked any group of men in the army because they were so alike with caliber of men (paraphrasing). When he said that it really made me take a step back and see the vets in a different light.

It was the first movie that did that, had the proliferation of interviews. One really can't do that with WW2 vets any more, but I would love to see film makers make war films/series from Korea and Vietnam with veteran interviews.

So I would have to agree, this did influence my way of thinking.
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Then you should enjoy "Memoirs of WWII" on Youtube. I have really been enjoying "The History Underground", he has a Normandy series and follows the 101st and the invasion. He is tied to a Museum in Gettysburg PA.
 
Chuckman said:
I know. My dad would have been 85 this year; my uncle who passed away 2 years ago was near 90; my neighbor died three weeks ago, he would have been 80 yesterday.

So many great battles and events in which they can narrate and contribute.

Edited to add, I would LOVE to see a series regarding MAC-V, or the battle in which a Marine recon team was surrounded by over 100 VC, or the bridge at Dong-Ha, or...
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If you like interviews check out this. It is free on Vudu. Been watching a lot of free documentaries on there. It made me appreciate the French more as well.

Screenshot_20220216-172923_Vudu.jpg
 
I can't name a movie that influenced my way of thinking. But there is one that, when it was over, I hated to have to leave the theater and walk back out into reality.
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brud720 said:
Old Yeller and Where the Red Fern Grows. Love, loss family and dogs. Only time I've not been blessed with a pup or 5 is my time in the Corps.
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Can't believe I forgot about Old Yeller. First time I remember crying.

I never saw the movie, but I have read Where the Red Fern Grows many (12+) times.
 
"Saving Private Ryan"
Wife and I saw it in the theater, which had a lot of folks that appeared to be old enough to have been there and done that.
I just wanted to say thank you to all of them while the tears were still running down my face!
I also wanted to beat the living sh*t out of the guy that cowered down on the stairs.
 
Breakfast at Tiffany’s…


Sike!


Oh, there are so many…Blazing Saddles, National Lampoons (all), Spaceballs…they didn’t change my way of thinking, but taught me to turn my brain off a bit and laugh sometimes and enjoy the stupid things!
 
Ol yeller... a man handles his own shit... saw it when it was new and I was too.

Yep. That stuck with me. Took over a work center while active duty; 2nd day there my branch OIC told me one of my troops' discharge package was back from legal but since I was new they would handle it for me. I told her "No thanks, Major. I shoot my own dogs." ....Then had to explain it to her.

Eta- Starship Troopers the book also..
 
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