Heartbreak Ridge (1986)

I have seen many war films in my time. We Were Soldiers, Platoon, Apocalypse Now, Saving Private Ryan, Enemy at the Gates, and Full Metal Jacket. Those are just a few of my favorites. Now I can add Heartbreak Ridge to the list. Clint Eastwood is superb as Gunnery Sergeant Highway. The film follows the format of most war films. Training, bonding, and finally combat. This film spends a large amount of time in the training and bonding phase and basically follows Eastwood at the end of his career as a marine in a super shitty assignment. Eastwood takes a bunch of misfits (led by Mario Van Peebles) and makes their unit the best in the division. One of the things I really enjoy about this film is the fact that Eastwood consistently proves that he is the baddest mother fucker around and will not take any shit from anyone.

Heartbreak Ridge shows what happens to an old marine that lived for combat and now has to take shit from younger superiors, underlings, and even an ex-wife. Rising above all the bullshit is Eastwood's performance as a sore-throated bastard that won't take shit from anybody (yes I said this already and YES it needed to be repeated). The film ends with the conflict in Grenada. Of course our heroes kick ass and take names in the final battle. Eastwood defies his stick in the mud superior and a general is proud of that action as a badass. Not much else to say about this film, but if you enjoy Eastwood and don't mind military films, then watch this film. It won't be the best war film you ever see, but it is quite enjoyable to watch Eastwood in one of his best (as far as not taking shit) roles.

"Just because we're holding hands doesn't mean we are gonna take warm showers in the wee hours of the morning..."

Guest Review of Angels & Demons

This is a guest review of Angel & Demons, by Anthony Davis (Oakwoodite and Twitterer, as well as a Mac specialist). Check him out here.

So I went to see Angels & Demons last night at Monaco (Huntsville, AL). I already knew that I would enjoy the atmosphere of the theater. The Scene Lounge always has a great feeling about. There's a level of sophistication there that doesn't feel native to Huntsville. I enjoyed a few drinks with friends and strangers before we headed up to Prive' (VIP balcony seating). A couple trailers played, though none of the blockbusters scheduled to release this summer. The only trailer that I did get excited about was for the Johnny Depp and Christian Bale movie Public Enemies. I believe that this is the type of movie that The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford should have been.

Now I must admit that I go into Angels & Demons having never read the book by the same name or having read The Da Vinci Code . Only understanding that it was the sequel to blockbuster The Da Vinci Code which I have seen. I also go into the movie knowing that the religious views of the Roman Catholic church differ from mine. But I simply wanted to see a good movie. I enjoyed The Da Vinci Code and had highly anticipated this sequel.

The movie starts of very quickly, not wasting time trying to explain Dr. Langdon's importance or the Catholic church's issues with him. Though the premise of the movie is clear very early in the film, unlike it was in The Da Vinci Code, you are left intrigued by the historical references and clues that Dr. Langdon follows. I've said before that this series is a more complex and clever National Treasure. Though there is no real action in the film, the pace and urgency in solving these clues helps to give you those highs that contrast the lows that are necessary for any film. The sets in the movie are impressive. Especially when you stop to think that many of the scenes were not shot in Roman Catholic churches because church officials forbade it after the controversy created by The Da Vinci Code. The use of CGI for some of the sets were subtle and well done. Director Ron Howard does a good job of keeping you engaged throughout the whole film. The traditions of the Roman Catholic church and the protocol of the Swiss Guard, who protect the Vatican, kept me very much interested throughout the entire film. Anyone who enjoys history and myth should enjoy this film. Even my friends who had read the book said that they enjoyed the movie. I give this movie 4/5 stars.