^^^Synopsis^^^
January 1991. The world is watching the Gulf War. Day and night millions tune in to CNN-TV to see a real life and death drama played out in the cities and deserts of Iraq.
As the U.S Forces take a starring role, PR department at the White House is working overtime. What ... Read review
In wartime, the first casualty is always truth.January 1991. The world is watching the ... more
Gulf War. Day and night, millions tune in to CNN-TV to see a real life and death drama played out in the cities and deserts of Iraq.As the U.S. Forces take a starrin...
A troubled U.S. Army officer (Denzel Washington) is asked to review the posthumous ... more
candidacy of the first woman (Meg Ryan) to receive a medal of honour. During the investigation, he finds himself plunged into an apparent cover-up surrounding her death- and must confront his own tormenting demons in the process.
Production Year: 1957 - Drama - Director: Leo McCarey - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Cathleen Nesbitt, Deborah Kerr, Cary Grant, Richard Denning, Neva Patterson, Fortunio Bonanova
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Advantages: Allows serious audience participation. Disadvantages: It only has the standard special features and no more.
^^^Synopsis^^^
January 1991. The world is watching the Gulf War. Day and night millions tune in to CNN-TV to see a real life and death drama played out in the cities and deserts of Iraq.
As the U.S Forces take a starring role, PR department at the White House is working overtime. What they’re looking for is a hero. What they find is a scandal. What a troubled officer (Denzel Washington) must now uncover is…the truth. ... ...that run side by side, depicting the same image of war from different perspectives.
Denzel's story is one of sadness and guilt over the death of a friend during the Gulf war, a friend that he himself killed in a 'Friendly Fire' incident, during the confusion of battle. His country won't let him speak, make him lie to the family of the dead man at the funeral about how he died bravely fighting for his country in the heat of battle and ... more
^^^Synopsis^^^
January 1991. The world is watching the Gulf War. Day and night millions tune in to CNN-TV to see a real life and death drama played out in the cities and deserts of Iraq.
As the U.S Forces take a starring role, PR department at the White House is working overtime. What they’re looking for is a hero. What they find is a scandal. What a troubled officer (Denzel Washington) must now uncover is…the truth.
This movie has 2 stories that that run side by side, depicting the same image of war from different perspectives.
Denzel's story is one of sadness and guilt over the death of a friend during the Gulf war, a friend that he himself killed in a 'Friendly Fire' incident, during the confusion of battle. His country won't let him speak, make him lie to the family of the dead man at the funeral about how he died bravely fighting for his country in the heat of battle and they shower him with medals; this only adds to the pain that begins to tear him apart. He terns to drinking and walks out on his wife and kids.
The second focuses on a helicopter squad of 5 members of which the captain, Captain Karen Emma Walden (Meg Ryan) is been considered for the medal of honour. Lt. Colonel Nathaniel Serling (Denzel Washington) has fought in the war and now after the war he has been asked to investigate certain cases that may deserve the Medal of Honour. After interviewing a squad that were surrounded by Iraqi soldiers and were saved by Walden and her crew over around 12hours Serling begins to investigate the situation so he can file the report and Walden can receive the Medal of Honour.
Serling then one by one interviews members of Walden’s squad and none of their stories quite match especially about the M16 Riffle and he discovers the crew members are just trying to tell him what “he wants to hear” so he can give the captain the medal. What he finds out, with the help of Tony Gartner, Washington Post (Scott Glenn) is far from what the White House wants to hear and they certainly don’t want it getting out. As the crew begin to disappear or die off, will the truth ever be revealed?
^^^Opinion^^^
The film was fantastic! I have checked on IMDB.com and can’t believe that it has only received a 6.6/10. In my opinion this is one of those films that is underrated and received little exposure for anyone to see it. For such cheap prices on Amazon and eBay I strongly urge you to add this brilliant film to your collection.
The film is extremely well structured as the majority of the film takes place after the war is over and Sadam has been driven out of Kuwait. Because of this all the interviews with crew members to Serling are lengthy flashbacks to the war and what happened. Cleverly as with the interview the flashbacks never quite match up with speech and action so it leaves you wondering which is right. The structure is total genius because you are just as lost in the matter as Serling; you have no idea who to believe or whose story you trust the most. It is a great film in that respect because it keeps you hooked like a page turner and you remain for the whole film begging for the next interview or vital piece of information as you desperately try and distinguish who is telling the truth and what on earth happened out there on that night.
I believe this film hasn’t had the recognition it deserves as it brilliantly put together and at the end all the pieces gradually match up in your mind. An incredibly detailed and well worked film that any film lover will appreciate. I simply can’t it has been brushed under the rug as it were when there is such a brilliant conspiracy and story waiting to be uncovered by anyone who is interested in film.
The acting is just as impressive. Serling (Denzel Washington) is simply superb in his confusion as he is greatly suffering from the ‘friendly fire’ incident as he tries to uncover the truth. He is very convincing and may even be one of his best on screen performances. Walden (Meg Ryan) is also brilliant and she shows her contrasts in the film spectacularly as she transforms from a mother to a captain before your eyes. She also has a huge scope for different emotions in the film because of the different stories told about her from her crew members when the truth starts to slip out. There are also other brilliant performances from Matt Damon and Lou Diamond Phillips who both help to build the atmosphere of war and extremely impressively depict the mental and physical hardships of war on their faces throughout; there characters have an intense transformation during the film which is extremely well acted. Throughout the film I can’t fault the acting of any character.
^^^Film Summary^^^
All and all without wanting to give to much of the films plot away and spoil it for you, it is genius and I am sure you will agree as you try and undo the knots that tightly hold the lies and truth together. I would recommend the film to anyone and in particular anyone who likes war films or mystery/puzzle films as audience participation really makes the film great.
^^^DVD Package^^^
The DVD packaging is well presented. The cover which you may find slightly corny or inspirational, take your pick, has the stern faces of Washington and Ryan on the front, with American flag waving behind, and helicopters flying through flames. There are also 3 lines on the front which are good for summing up the film, “A MEDAL FOR HONOUR, A SEARCH FOR JUSTICE, A BATTLE FOR TRUTH”. The cover brings a sense of drama to the film before you have even hit play. As for the back like all DVD’s it has a synopsis, run time, cast, special features etc.
^^^Special Features^^^
The special features include:
• Interactive Menu’s • Scene Access (Scene selection) • Multiple Language Subtitles (Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Portuguese, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Icelandic and English) • Original Theatrical Trailer
So to be honest just your standard features.
^^^Picture and Sound Quality^^^
The picture quality is very good and the cinematography is good. During the film you may find yourself noticing how good some shots are, and as a film maker myself I really appreciate the class of some shots. The sound quality is also very good and is Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS Mixing.
Further details on Picture Quality and Filming:
Camera: Arriflex 535A, Arriflex 535B Laboratory: DeLuxe, USA Film length (metres): 3279 m Film negative format (mm/video inches):35 mm Cinematographic process: Spherical Printed film format: 35 mm Aspect ratio: 1.85: 1
As you can see the aspect ratio is reasonably good and it has been filmed on two good 35mm film cameras that you can check out on Google if you want to know more info on them.
^^^DVD Summary^^^
The DVD is well presented and has all you need special features wise. So therefore I would say the DVD is good and does the job.
^^^Price & Availability^^^
The best places to search for the DVD are eBay and Amazon. I got mine from eBay new and sealed for £4.42. I would certainly recommend adding it to your collection and you should try and get it for £6 including P&P. The DVD is certainly available and you will have no problem finding a new one at a cheap price.
Advantages: A good story, lots of action, moving Disadvantages: Not many, see review..
The film begins with some historical clips of wars in recent history. This makes perfectly clear the theme of the film, but also allows you a little time to think of your own ideas on what the film might be about. This was, for me, the first film of its kind that I had watched, so my ideas were mostly wrong. I thoroughly enjoyed it, though, & watched it again, twice. Now it has come onto television again, so I decided to give it a go for a review. ... ...involving huge tanks, Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling gives the order to fire at a tanker that turns out to be friendly. A tape has recorded exactly what was said in that tank that night, revealing the truth about what happened, but the army seems determined to keep it covered up. Burdened, not only with the task of informing the families of the dead, but with the guilt of feeling that this was his fault, he returns home, suffering terrible ...
Ayesha- 14.11.2007
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Courage Under Fire (DVD)
Advantages: Great plot,Great Cast Disadvantages: A little slow in the middle
I went to see this movie against my own better judgement,but ended up liking it more than i thought.
Meg Ryan plays a totally different roll and seems very hardcore in the action sequences.As is usual Denzel rocks.He understates his character and doesnt let his own problems overshadow the real story as he unravels the web of lies that has been created by the U.S. government.
Scott Glen plays the token journalist for the Washington Post trying to ... ...The main plot is the question of whether or not Helecopter pilot Captain Karen Walden should be receiving the medal of honour.It is the first time a woman has been awarded this medal.And the White House is eating up the Story.She is dead now so its left up to Denzel Washington an army Officer who accidentaly shot down one of his own men during an incident in AL Bathra to find out if she really does deserve the medal.
Its an interesting tale about ...
kingfisher 12.07.2000
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Courage Under Fire (DVD)
After the Gulf War Lt. Colonel Nathan Serling returns home knowing he had accidentally destroyed one of his own tanks. The army covers up the incident and he is assigned to investigate a female pilot who is about to receive the Medal of Honour.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment; Deluxe Video Service - Fox
"...Denzel Washington is a potent actor in peak form....COURAGE UNDER FIRE honors its subject and its audience..." (Rolling Stone, p.68, 08/08/1996)
"...Thoughtful. Intelligent. Moving. Provocative..." -- 4 out of 4 stars (USA Today, p.1D, 12/07/1996)
"...A carefully conceived, dramatically honorable picture that treats its subject with clarity and intelligence..." (Variety, 24/06/1996)
DVD Description
Following the 1991 Gulf War, Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling (Denzel Washington) is assigned to review the background of the late Captain Karen Walden (Meg Ryan), who has been posthumously nominated for a medal of honor. While investigating Walden's candidacy, Serling is forced to face his own disillusionment and guilt surrounding the war. As he begins the interviewing process, he uncovers several inconsistencies in the stories told by the late pilot's crew. The three officers, who may or may not have been saved by the captain's actions, all give drastically different accounts of the events leading up to Walden's death. Ilario (Matt Damon) paints Walden as an unselfish, courageous hero, while the surly Monfriez (Lou Diamond Phillips) describes her as a crybaby and a coward. The third soldier, Altameyer (Seth Gilliam), lies dying in an army hospital, mumbling guilty confessions in a medicated haze. Similar to the storytelling technique used in Akira Kurosawa's RASHOMON, director Edward Zwick's COURAGE UNDER FIRE features each officer's account of the fateful incident reenacted onscreen, offering wildly diverse portrayals of Walden. Meg Ryan shines in a role that demands she play one character a multitude of ways. As Serling pieces together the radically different tales of combat, he uncovers the painful truth and simultaneously faces his own pent-up guilt regarding the war.
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