Posted on Jun 12, 2017
What film best captures what being in the military is truly like?
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Good or bad, what film accurately portrays life in uniform?
Posted in these groups: 
Film
Military Life
Film Military Life
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 197
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Gardens of Stone is one I kinda took a liken to.. Not really sure why other than it pretty much mirrored my attitude when I returned to the "World"
For the most part Holly-weird sucks when it comes to things Military..
For the most part Holly-weird sucks when it comes to things Military..
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Hamburger Hill hands down. Vietnam to a T.
Language. Cynicism. The futility of guerrilla war with no front lines, body counts and hard fought terrain abandoned. Weapons, gear, explosions and sound effects. No Hollywood giant fireball explosions.
Until SPR, BOB & The Pacific, nothing else met that level of realism.
Language. Cynicism. The futility of guerrilla war with no front lines, body counts and hard fought terrain abandoned. Weapons, gear, explosions and sound effects. No Hollywood giant fireball explosions.
Until SPR, BOB & The Pacific, nothing else met that level of realism.
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LCpl Michael Cappello
Too young for the "Nam". FMJ had me wide awake and locked at attention, from a dead sleep though. Semper Fi Master Guns.
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As a United States Marine this is one of my favorite movies staring one of the GREATEST actors Jack Webb as a United States Marine Corps Drill Instructor. Mr...
One of my favorites is "The D.I.", with Jack Webb as the main D.I. (of Dragnet fame). I haven't seen it it in a while, but here's a link to the trailer:
https://youtu.be/riYfFQMPIP0
https://youtu.be/riYfFQMPIP0
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
I have the CD for a refresher course about the USMC in other days.
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You're going to laugh or ridicule, but Ender's Game did a pretty damned good job of it, if you look at it objectively. You know, aside from the whole putting kids into combat roles to fight a war but not actually fighting (I still to this day don't know if any of those ships were actually manned).
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CPL Eric Waters
You should read the book. It's a science fiction classic, and the movie was just awful, especially in comparison. Harrison Ford looked like he was sleepwalking through the thing. After Ender's Game, Speaker for the Dead and Ender's Shadow are both good, but you can pretty much ignore the rest of the Speaker and Shadow books.
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CPL Jack Baker
CPL Eric Waters - the whole ender's shadow saga was amazing, geopolitical politics and chess.
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CPL Eric Waters
CPL Jack Baker I've read the whole Shadow series, but they don't hold up as well on repeat reading. The second one is still pretty good, but the last one just doesn't hold together for me. In the end, I preferred the Speaker for the Dead series.
But, yeah, the geopolitics and war tactics stuff was seriously cool, and Bean is just a fantastic character.
But, yeah, the geopolitics and war tactics stuff was seriously cool, and Bean is just a fantastic character.
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Kelly's Heroes, not because of the story but the characters, all are different but come together for a common cause. A military unit is like whether to steal NAZI gold or fight terrorist or beat the other platoon in a football game we are all odd characters that came together and formed one unit.
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SPC Lorrita Morgan
Kelley's Heroes is one of my favorite "war movies" not because of it's historic accuracy, but because of the characters. I think I served with the descendants of those guys. :-)
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SSG Pete Fleming
SPC Lorrita Morgan - That is why I liked it, we all have know 'those' guys. The movie did it right without forcing it, it felt natural
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SCPO William Akin
I'll give Kelly's Heroes a vote just for the theme song alone (Burning Bridges) :-)
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One movie that has not been mention is Strategic Air Command starring Jimmy Stewart. It shows what it was like to be in SAC not only in the 50's but right up to its last days in 1992 with the seemingly never ending ORI's, SAC IG, and NSI exercises.
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Sgt Jay Cole
I was USAF 1966-1970, all in SAC. Volunteered for Vietnam & sent to Utapao Airfield, Thailand (67-68)as an aircraft mechanic on B-52's/KC-135 tankers. The movie does a good job of depicting what SAC was like. The only difference between stateside duty (nuclear bombs in bomb bay on alert birds) & Utapao was conventional bombs in the bomb bay destination Vietnam.
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PO1 Edward Pate
The USAF was heavily involved in the making of that film and the fact the Jimmy Stewart was a Col didn't hurt either!
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Mister Roberts was the shop on my first ship, with a little bit of Ensign Pulver and The Caine Mutiny sprinkled in.
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PO1 Edward Pate
If you were in the Navy and ever served under a bad Captain the two movies that capture it are Mr. Roberts and The Caine Mutiny.
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SGT Philip Roncari
SGT David Reynolds- I was cadre at Ft. Polk AIT Committee Group 1967-68 although not at "Tigerland " per se but the patrolling range out in the swamps,the only trouble I had with the movie was the portrayal of senior NCO and I can't stand Colin Farrell,sorry your time at Polk was a bummer when did you go through?
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TSgt Trevor Vander
Haha, Polk is where I was born and raised, and tigerland did help me like Colin Farrel as an Actor for sure!
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Gardens of Stone. There a a very few that get the opportunity to serve at The Old Guard. To date is my favorite of all time. It hits home. We honor all
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Although it is a Sci Fi film, with an over the top story, Battle Los Angeles is pretty accurate in my mind about serving in a Marine infantry platoon.
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TSgt Trevor Vander
Except for the fact the Air force intel troop is out doing what she's doing, I would agree.
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SSG Barney Williams
You might be suprised at where intel troops, Air Force or not, go and what they do. I've been both combat arms (armor crewman) and intel (voice intercept). Intel is often way out in front of the line of departure.
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