buggdoc Reviews

Gardens of Stone (1987)

Outstanding

[10/10 · 26 September 2019]

This and "Platoon" are for me, a Nam combat vet, the best, and the most realistic and moving of all the movies about Nam. This one accurately reflects much of what was going on in the minds of people stateside, military and civilian. At that time people of all types were going through a lot of emotions, self-examination and change.

I found entertaining "Apocalypse Now", "The Deer Hunter", and "Full Metal Jacket". But I doubt many Nam combat vets can find a lot in these films relating to their overall experience.

Coming Home (1978)

An entire cast that was much too old.

[4/10 · 26 September 2019]

The cast, from most of the stars to most of the supporting cast (e.g., almost all the patients in the hospital) are 20+ years too old for their roles. The ages of most people serving in Nam were the same as typical college undergraduates, 18 to 22. Had you seen 18 to 22 yo's going through this the perspective would have been VERY different. ... Ask yourself how different you were at 18-22 vs 40+. Would it be different if you were looking at near baby-faced youth instead of actors with age-lined faces? Youth with far less experience to fall back on? It is an illusion that there is anything to be learned here.