Posted on Mar 28, 2014
Col Regional Director, Whem/Ssa And Congressional Liaison
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Ah yes, we've all seen them; "so, there you were" in a theater or a room full of service members or veterans, one minute everything's ok, then all of a sudden there it is... the over-the-top military movie discrepancy! So, what was that moment that stands out most in your mind? What are those associated memories or stories that come to mind? Did the base theater erupt into 'chaos' over an unkempt/incorrect uniform, improper language/jargon/ customs, or was there something that was just plain 'unsat' from a military point-of-view. lol Well, there's a ton of them out there, and I'm pretty sure that something should immediately come to mind, so what are we waiting for? Quick, pull up a keyboard, and let's get this thing started; thanks for all that you do, and... see you all in the discussion threads!
Edited 11 y ago
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Responses: 190
SGT S2 Intelligence Nco
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While not really a "military movie" the first Transformers movie from 2007 has a scene that always sends me into a faux rage where Jon Voight's character, the SECDEF, says that something is "classified above Top Secret."

Also, Josh Duhamel's character, Lennox, goes from being a Captain in 2007, Major in 2009, to a LTC by the third movie in 2011, which I think is just hilarious

I guess i shouldn't be to upset, these movies are about giant alien robots.
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LTC Paul Labrador
LTC Paul Labrador
>1 y
C'mon, when you save the Earth multiple times, that equates into BZ promotions, right? ;o)
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PV2 Senior Web Designer, Web Team Lead
PV2 (Join to see)
>1 y
Even though they aren't accurate I still love the Transformers movies and the cool a** cars they turn into!
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SSG Nicholas Wright
SSG Nicholas Wright
>1 y
The Auralnauts fixed Transformers 4 for you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRmRMnVULs8
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SSG Matt Murphy
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The Deer Hunter....the very dramatic scene where he turns on his captors in the Russian Roulette "game" and overcomes all of them. Then frees his mates and proceeds to float downstream on a log leaving all the weapons, food and "loot" behind.
Yea; smart move.
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LTC Dr Richard Wasserman
LTC Dr Richard Wasserman
>1 y
OOPS---
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Cpl Dennis F.
Cpl Dennis F.
>1 y
Not to mention that there was not ONE documented occurrence of Russian roulette in the entire RVN conflict.
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MAJ Assistant Operations Officer (S3)
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I can't believe no one has mentioned The Hurt Locker
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SGT Writer
SGT (Join to see)
11 y
Because of this movie, so many people think they fully understand the EOD community, and it's annoying. After the movie released, my mindset quickly switched from "they have no clue what this patch is" to "please don't ask me about explosives."
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SPC John Cummings
SPC John Cummings
11 y
Most of our patrols were two trucks, three at the most. Always gunners mounted but that was Sadr City 2003
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SSgt Jason Mitchell
SSgt Jason Mitchell
11 y
Both my wife and I were EOD. She made it through about 15 minutes before she left the room. I stayed all the way through (although I might have dozed off for a bit). It never got better.
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SGT Christopher Churilla
SGT Christopher Churilla
>1 y
I'm not even EOD, I was calling BS about every five minutes. I think the thing that pissed me off the most was when they split up to chase the bomber through the middle of the city at night.
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SFC Stephen Carden
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There are two movies that I have a problem with as a PSYOP soldier. The first is "The General's Daughter", starring John Travolta. I don't know what that crazy captain was actually doing in that movie, but it wasn't Psychological Operations. Of course, she and others in the movie called it "PSYOPS". The second is "The Men Who Stare At Goats". Again, not PSYOP. Those guys should have been called "Psychedelic Operations"!

I saw another movie the last time I was in Afghanistan called "Act of Valor". Apparently the Navy SEAL team in this movie (apparently played by a real SEAL Team)is the only Team in the entire Navy available for any mission. I have no doubt that the SEALs can do everything that they do in this movie, but all in the course of one week? A HALO insertion, combat, a sub lock-out, combat, a HALO insertion offshore with a rubber boat infil, combat...and so on. Don't forget the riverine warfare in South America with the helo extraction. Seriously, guys, take a knee. We have lots of other SEALs to help you out!
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SSG Ethan Harris
SSG Ethan Harris
11 y
I was in that movie. I was a goat. Sidenote: Is it stolen valor if I claim to be a goat in a cheesy movie?
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MSG Karl Arrington
MSG Karl Arrington
11 y
I don't know SSG Harris, the goats are pretty peeved that you're claiming to have been in that movie!
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SSG Ethan Harris
SSG Ethan Harris
11 y
OK, OK, I'll write a letter to their 1SG.
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SGT Stan Setliff
SGT Stan Setliff
6 y
SFC Stephen Carden There is a trailer/behind the scenes on the BluRay of the live fire. There are no actors down range, they were edited in later. But I also relate to your scepticism.
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SSgt Forensic Meteorological Consultant
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My brother saw a movie about the Civil War and the flag had 50 stars.  He won 50 dollars for Reader's Digest for that catch.
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Col Regional Director, Whem/Ssa And Congressional Liaison
Col (Join to see)
>1 y

Also, the movie was "Dances with Wolves" from the early 90's timeframe, starring Kevin Costner and Mary McDonnell, and apparently the specific scene was the approach to Fort Sedgwick. After a fair bit of searching, I still couldn't find any video links that worked or any good still photos  (so, bonus points to anyone who can locate either of those). The results from the Reader's Digest contest must've made it to the discrepancy/continuity lists at these sites, because some of them are pretty astute observations involving knowledge of history, Native American culture, period uniforms and weapons, etc., etc. It's worth a look to check out the links, very interesting: 

1) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099348/goofs

2) http://dukewayne.com/showthread.php?t=3966

 

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SSgt James Howerton
SSgt James Howerton
>1 y
Yeah, 2ndLt M., I agree.  The politically correct thing to do now is make Native Americans (although born and raised in this Country, as have my ancestors since 1663, I'm not native?) look completely innocent, honest and trusting.  I know that our ancestors took advantage of Indian's comparatively outdated technology and weaponry to take their land.  But that has been the way of the world long before America appeared on the scene.  Not saying it's right, just that it was the way peoples were conquered, considered acceptable right up to the 20th century.  But for most adult male Indians their way of life consisted of very little work; they did the hunting and obviously defended and attacked other tribes for their women, horses, land, etc.  In most Tribe's cultures being a good thief was considered admirable.  Gambling was a favorite pastime of the males.  The women did most all the work.  They cooked; carried the water from lake or stream to the camp; bore children and cared for them; cleaned and were in charge of taking down and setting up camp (which was no small feat) since most Tribes were nomadic.  Being part Cherokee (and I think I'm safe in saying many, many people have Indian blood in their veins) I do admire the way they lived off the land without destroying it.  But unless they live in a place like Alaska or Mongolia, it is hard for any people to live away from "civilization" and "progress".  It would have been a great time to live as say, a Sioux Indian during circa 1750-1850.  At that time they were at their zenith and life must have been sweet, especially if you were born male. 
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LTC Paul Labrador
LTC Paul Labrador
>1 y
We also took advantage of historical tribal animosities too. The Native Americans weren't this united front fighting valiantly against the White Man. They had their own internal politics, rivalries and hatred. Native Americans were not above using the Whites to gain an advantage over (and sometimes destroy) rival tribes.
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SSgt Forensic Meteorological Consultant
SSgt (Join to see)
>1 y
We often romanticize victimization in a perverse attempt to pay a penance. I think we need to prioritize and acknowledge the past and work on the future.
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Col Joseph Lenertz
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I'm a retired AF DV airlift pilot, so: "Air Force One"
...where to begin? None of the real security measures for AF1 are in place, and no-one seems to notice or care. US Secret Service and AF crew are hapless buffoons, with one exception. I love all the gunfire inside the airplane with no apparent effect on the plane's pressure or damage to any aircraft components. Harrison Ford as President taking on the team of trained insurgents solo, and finally zip-lining (forward, into 150+ mph winds) to the C-130 toward the end. Fun movie, but you have to keep your "I believe" hat on the whole time.
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SGT Assistant Team Leader
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>1 y
Sir, the Secret Service and AF men must have been lax because they know Harrison Ford is such a badass- no else needs to be competent when HE'S around ;)
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SGT Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic
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Edited >1 y ago
The Green Zone

Early in the move the NBC team is securing a compound while looters are running out of it.
Matt Damon's character "CW2 Miller" approaches the snipers position under an awning. When he reaches the end of the awning he fires to draw out the sniper, he seems to fire two 3 round bursts but no casings are ejected from his weapon and he dust cover is closed...
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LTC Dr Richard Wasserman
LTC Dr Richard Wasserman
>1 y
I will have to look close next time.
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SSG Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Operations Specialist
SSG (Join to see)
11 y
Pretty nit picky all things considered. I did like the scene where the chief and his PSG have a conversation of
Chief: "Yeah I'm going to do the right thing but it is going to get me in trouble."
PSG : "I understand Chief, but I got a family at home and really don't want to go to jail."
Chief:"Give me the really junior guys and the ones without families, they have less to lose"
PSG "Rodger, and we never talked about this."
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SGT Donald Croswhite
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Edited >1 y ago
Weapons in movies have a lengthy-always-rapid-fire rate of fire. And the sound of the shots are longer than the usual pop sound. Grenades have large amounts of actual fire...
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SGT William B.
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Battle for L.A. -  I really dislike pretty much every line of dialogue in this movie.  I've never heard anyone refer to a FOB in speech as a "Eff oh bee".  Seriously, when they write these scripts, I'm convinced they go out and hire the kid that flunked out of basic or AIT and use their "expertise" to accurately portray the military. 
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SGM Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Senior Sergeant
SGM (Join to see)
>1 y
Same thing with 'Commando'...empty shoulder fired weapon.....firing multiple shots.

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Col Regional Director, Whem/Ssa And Congressional Liaison
Col (Join to see)
>1 y

SFC Calmes, good catch, I couldn't find the exact scene; so, bonus points for anyone who can find the clip with the hollow AT-4! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kJTExeEuWU

 

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CPT Public Affairs Officer
CPT (Join to see)
>1 y
SFC Reeves....I saw that yesterday. I also like after the extraction how they fire rockets but they hit the Lybians like bullets would. Not to mention the fireballs from the "rocket" shots during other parts of the scene. 
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MAJ Terry LaFrance
MAJ Terry LaFrance
6 y
SFC Aaron Calmes - funny you should mention this movie, it came up in a trivia night question last week. And the only reason I mention any of this was it was filmed at Ft. Sill while I was there and we had to vacate our PT field for shooting and our commander thought the asphalt motor pool would be a good substitute.
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PO1 Command Services
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Almost the entire "Top Gun" movie. It is actually a running joke in the Navy. Example: Someone running around without their cover on. Response: "Who do you think you are Tom Cruise?"; "Does this look like Top Gun to you?"; etc.
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SGT Craig Northacker
SGT Craig Northacker
11 y
I liked the baggage cart in one of the scenes on deck.
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PO1 Command Services
PO1 (Join to see)
11 y
Probably the only authentic actor in the movie....but I wouldn't hold my breath.
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