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Taking Chance.
By Kyle on 14/05/2009
I watched this movie today in my MCJROTC class. It is powerful and breathtaking.. I can say it's the first movie that's brought me close to tears. Being part of a Marine Corps program, I can say that it touched the hearts of everyone who watched it. After it was over, everyone was quiet.. nobody talked for the last 2-3 minutes of classtime we had. Here's the review on it.
Movies are memorable because of mighty moments. These are the scenes that pull us so close to the story that we feel as though we have crossed the invisible threshold that normally relegates us to being merely observers.
These mighty moments are at their best when they are so strong it is not a matter of whether we aren't sure if we will remember them or not. It is whether we know that we can never forget them.
Such a moment comes in the powerful HBO film Taking Chance. The made-for-cable movie airs at 7 tonight.
Kevin Bacon plays Marine Lt. Col. Michael Strobl, a career military man who volunteers to accompany the body of a dead Marine, 19-year-old Lance Cpl. Chance Phelps, as he is returned to his family for burial.
This is a duty that is not taken lightly. Every inch of the journey is designed to pay the deepest respect to the fallen hero. For those who travel with the coffin, this is one of the most important missions of their military careers.
The screenplay was written by the real Strobl, a retired Marine, and Ross Katz. It is based on the journal Strobl penned. Because this movie is based on real events, each scene rings with a deep honesty. That's particularly true in the scene that is the defining moment of this journey.
As part of the transportation, Strobl stands vigil while the body is unloaded from the airplane. Slowly, civilians – from the passengers on the airplane to airport workers – stop. Nothing is said. The message comes through their faces: a look of respect and sadness.
It's the moment that keeps this from being just another war movie and burns a message deep into our hearts.
Director Katz shows in this one scene that it doesn't take big explosions or complicated words to create memorable film moments.
Bacon turns in the performance of his career. His Strobl is a man who understands duty but must live with what he believes is a failing in his personality. He opts to accept a safe assignment on the home front rather than join his fellow Marines in Iraq.
Strobl is such a stoic character that it would have been easy for Bacon to fall into the trap of playing him mechanically. But there is never a doubt how emotional this journey is to him.
Had this movie been released in theaters, it would have all but assured Bacon an Oscar nod. He will have to be content with knowing he is the early front-runner for an Emmy next year.
It doesn't matter what your views are about war. Taking Chance is the best story about the people who go to war since The Best Years of Our Lives.
Movies are memorable because of mighty moments. These are the scenes that pull us so close to the story that we feel as though we have crossed the invisible threshold that normally relegates us to being merely observers.
These mighty moments are at their best when they are so strong it is not a matter of whether we aren't sure if we will remember them or not. It is whether we know that we can never forget them.
Such a moment comes in the powerful HBO film Taking Chance. The made-for-cable movie airs at 7 tonight.
Kevin Bacon plays Marine Lt. Col. Michael Strobl, a career military man who volunteers to accompany the body of a dead Marine, 19-year-old Lance Cpl. Chance Phelps, as he is returned to his family for burial.
This is a duty that is not taken lightly. Every inch of the journey is designed to pay the deepest respect to the fallen hero. For those who travel with the coffin, this is one of the most important missions of their military careers.
The screenplay was written by the real Strobl, a retired Marine, and Ross Katz. It is based on the journal Strobl penned. Because this movie is based on real events, each scene rings with a deep honesty. That's particularly true in the scene that is the defining moment of this journey.
As part of the transportation, Strobl stands vigil while the body is unloaded from the airplane. Slowly, civilians – from the passengers on the airplane to airport workers – stop. Nothing is said. The message comes through their faces: a look of respect and sadness.
It's the moment that keeps this from being just another war movie and burns a message deep into our hearts.
Director Katz shows in this one scene that it doesn't take big explosions or complicated words to create memorable film moments.
Bacon turns in the performance of his career. His Strobl is a man who understands duty but must live with what he believes is a failing in his personality. He opts to accept a safe assignment on the home front rather than join his fellow Marines in Iraq.
Strobl is such a stoic character that it would have been easy for Bacon to fall into the trap of playing him mechanically. But there is never a doubt how emotional this journey is to him.
Had this movie been released in theaters, it would have all but assured Bacon an Oscar nod. He will have to be content with knowing he is the early front-runner for an Emmy next year.
It doesn't matter what your views are about war. Taking Chance is the best story about the people who go to war since The Best Years of Our Lives.
By rachellove9 on 14/05/2009
That sounds amazing. I'll have to watch that. I once read a book about the guards of the unknown soldiers, it was truly interesting and amazing. One doesn't realize what our service men go through til you see it from their point of view.
By Kyle on 14/05/2009
http://www.novamov.com/video/49aa516384ab9
A link to the full video if anyone has time to watch. it's 77 minutes long, and I'd recommend watching it all the way through without stopping. It's amazing.
A link to the full video if anyone has time to watch. it's 77 minutes long, and I'd recommend watching it all the way through without stopping. It's amazing.
By Sonixpber on 14/05/2009
This actually sounds like a movie I would really like. And I don't watch movies often, I'm looking forward to this one.
By sgtswordfish on 14/05/2009
| QUOTE (Darth Magul @ May 13, 2009 08:52 pm) |
| I watched this movie today in my MCJROTC class. It is powerful and breathtaking.. I can say it's the first movie that's brought me close to tears. Being part of a Marine Corps program, I can say that it touched the hearts of everyone who watched it. After it was over, everyone was quiet.. nobody talked for the last 2-3 minutes of classtime we had. Here's the review on it. Movies are memorable because of mighty moments. These are the scenes that pull us so close to the story that we feel as though we have crossed the invisible threshold that normally relegates us to being merely observers. These mighty moments are at their best when they are so strong it is not a matter of whether we aren't sure if we will remember them or not. It is whether we know that we can never forget them. Such a moment comes in the powerful HBO film Taking Chance. The made-for-cable movie airs at 7 tonight. Kevin Bacon plays Marine Lt. Col. Michael Strobl, a career military man who volunteers to accompany the body of a dead Marine, 19-year-old Lance Cpl. Chance Phelps, as he is returned to his family for burial. This is a duty that is not taken lightly. Every inch of the journey is designed to pay the deepest respect to the fallen hero. For those who travel with the coffin, this is one of the most important missions of their military careers. The screenplay was written by the real Strobl, a retired Marine, and Ross Katz. It is based on the journal Strobl penned. Because this movie is based on real events, each scene rings with a deep honesty. That's particularly true in the scene that is the defining moment of this journey. As part of the transportation, Strobl stands vigil while the body is unloaded from the airplane. Slowly, civilians – from the passengers on the airplane to airport workers – stop. Nothing is said. The message comes through their faces: a look of respect and sadness. It's the moment that keeps this from being just another war movie and burns a message deep into our hearts. Director Katz shows in this one scene that it doesn't take big explosions or complicated words to create memorable film moments. Bacon turns in the performance of his career. His Strobl is a man who understands duty but must live with what he believes is a failing in his personality. He opts to accept a safe assignment on the home front rather than join his fellow Marines in Iraq. Strobl is such a stoic character that it would have been easy for Bacon to fall into the trap of playing him mechanically. But there is never a doubt how emotional this journey is to him. Had this movie been released in theaters, it would have all but assured Bacon an Oscar nod. He will have to be content with knowing he is the early front-runner for an Emmy next year. It doesn't matter what your views are about war. Taking Chance is the best story about the people who go to war since The Best Years of Our Lives. |
interesting, i'll be sure to watch the video and play reviews.
war movie that really owned for me was black hawk down.
next would be behind enemy lines but thats because its about fallen pilots.
then again, fly boys is great.
By WG_Aaron on 14/05/2009
Seen it awhile. Get with the program.
And yeah it did bring a tear to my eye.
And yeah it did bring a tear to my eye.
By Samurai-JM on 14/05/2009
mmmm... bacon... *omnomnom*
wait, what.
wait, what.
By Sithofwookie on 14/05/2009
So it's about a Marine that follows as coffin with another marine in it to a funeral?
By Jayson on 14/05/2009
you didnt even use an emoticon, it has to be good
By Big Al 002 on 14/05/2009
must see for me..really into movies about the military..
btw fly boys is about the first black ppl air force team or somethin rite?
btw fly boys is about the first black ppl air force team or somethin rite?
By Firelion08 on 14/05/2009
I've never had this movie brought to my attention before; and I'm always up for a good military story. I'll check it out when I get the chance.
You're in the MCROTC? That's cool.
You probably brought that up earlier, but I can't remember.
My step dad was in the USMC. We lived in K-Bay, Hawaii for a couple of years.
Once you get a taste of the military life, you'll always look at things a bit differently than a civvy.
You're in the MCROTC? That's cool.
You probably brought that up earlier, but I can't remember.
My step dad was in the USMC. We lived in K-Bay, Hawaii for a couple of years.
Once you get a taste of the military life, you'll always look at things a bit differently than a civvy.
By David on 14/05/2009
| QUOTE (Firelion08 @ May 14, 2009 08:20 am) |
| I've never had this movie brought to my attention before; and I'm always up for a good military story. I'll check it out when I get the chance. You're in the MCROTC? That's cool. You probably brought that up earlier, but I can't remember. My step dad was in the USMC. We lived in K-Bay, Hawaii for a couple of years. Once you get a taste of the military life, you'll always look at things a bit differently than a civvy. |
That is totally true. When I lived in Okinawa, I lived on an AF Base, and everywhere I've lived I've been around Marines. My dad attended the Naval War College in Newport RI (he's not military though) and my uncles were in WWII (One went to Europe, another who was a Marine helped take one of the key islands in the Pacific). The best was in Cameroon because I had such a close connection with the Marines...they beat me up and stuff.
But you really do have to see the service men and women in person and see what they do to really understand the military. And understanding the military really does make you look at things a little differently than those who don't.
I'll try and make the time to watch this, it sounds great.
@Rachel
When I lived in Cameroon I got my cable through the AFN (Armed Forces Network) so I saw all their military ads and stuff. They always showed something about the guys that guard the tomb of the unknown soldier and how it's such an honor.
By Mickey on 14/05/2009
Braveheart made me cry 
By Sithofwookie on 14/05/2009
| QUOTE (Maddness990 @ May 14, 2009 03:35 am) |
| Braveheart made me cry |
I like the part when they moon the enemies so they shoot them in the ass with arrows.
By Kyle on 14/05/2009
| QUOTE (1colonel1 @ May 14, 2009 03:08 am) | ||
That is totally true. When I lived in Okinawa, I lived on an AF Base, and everywhere I've lived I've been around Marines. My dad attended the Naval War College in Newport RI (he's not military though) and my uncles were in WWII (One went to Europe, another who was a Marine helped take one of the key islands in the Pacific). The best was in Cameroon because I had such a close connection with the Marines...they beat me up and stuff. But you really do have to see the service men and women in person and see what they do to really understand the military. And understanding the military really does make you look at things a little differently than those who don't. I'll try and make the time to watch this, it sounds great. @Rachel When I lived in Cameroon I got my cable through the AFN (Armed Forces Network) so I saw all their military ads and stuff. They always showed something about the guys that guard the tomb of the unknown soldier and how it's such an honor. |
I've read about the tomb of the unknown soldier.. It's amazing what they do for it. Never left unguarded, even through a hurricane.. true honor in those soldiers that do that.
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