I'm guessing by the message that the writer was a middle or high school student. I'm a man in my late 40s, and when I first saw this film when I was in high school I also thought that it was incredibly boring too.
I think that's okay. I've read most of the replies to the message and they seem to be taking the writer to task for being unpatriotic or spoiled or unappreciative or immature. I don't agree. I understand that negative opinion and I'm glad he had the spirit to say what he thought.
I teach a film studies class at the inner city high school I work at. And I can tell you that I show these types of movies, and (worse)foreign films with subtitles, silent films and even, silent films that were made in places like Sweden about historical events from hundreds of years ago.
And I can tell you that nearly all of my students refuse to watch these films. At first. But by the end of a 40 week class, my students are (mostly) thoroughly engaged in the "classic" films by directors like John Ford, and foreign directors like Ingmar Bergman -- strange but true.
I have learned that the young people today have almost no exposure to the type of movie techniques, pacing, acting styles, thematic density and screenwriting approaches that anyone over the age of 35 is used to seeing in movies. For most of these students, watching a movie like The Grapes of Wrath is like trying to read Latin when you hardly understand the language at all.
So it is boring because it is unfamiliar. But I have seen that with time, even the students who think these are godawful, can become hooked.
Why? For the same reason that these films were loved when they were first released. No one in the audience was deeply moved by They Were Expendable because it was a "classic" or because it was considered one of the best movies by one of the greatest directors who ever lived.
"Expendable" was moving because the film was emotionally rich and resonant and honest and emotionally real. And it connected with the audiences.
But while I think many of the movies today are great, few resemble the movies from 1945, and for that reason a person coming new to these films will need some "help" from someone to "read" these movies they way they were meant to be read. I think it is a mistake to expect that a young person who was brought up on the fantastic sensory experience offered in a movie like The Matrix, should therefore appreciate They Were Expendable because it too, is a movie. That's like saying a kid raised on rock and roll should automically like grand opera because they're both music.
"Expendable" is a moderate to slowly paced film that is rich with resonant themes and rounded characters, yet these attributes are extremely subdued and for the most part, subtle and magnificently underplayed by Ford -- the hallmark of his directorial style seen in its best light.
So let's not be too hard on the kids coming to Ford for the first time. Why not encourage them to take time and come around to the movie on its own terms and in context. It can be done. And when it is done, a young person may be grateful for helping them to see the greatness in a "boring" movie, as I did. And, if they are like me, they will be thankful for the work of a genuinely great artist whose work has been so important to my life in so many ways.
Remember the lines from the last part of Expendable about the older fellows taking care of the younger ones? I think that anyone who really loves Ford as much as I do, can pay that debt forward by helping a new generation of filmgoers to appreciate his movies so they can live-on in the hearts of real people who really connect with the deep emotional range that showed Ford at his very best.
Mr. Dana Escalante
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sggar00
19 years ago
Any venue in which people can watch good movies and see the art that is involved in them, well then I am for that. Especially since in today's glitzed-up-no-talented-hackneyed-acting-void-of-any-depth-and-originality-of-thought movies. Knowing that they (the younger people) are at least exposed to the classics shines a ray of hope that they will grow up and be able to - if they desire - put quality back into the movies. Granted, I am a tad older than the industry's targeted audience, but I know a good movie when I see one. Of late, I haven't seen one in a long while. Their attempts to reinvent, reinterpret old movies in a modern format fail miserably more often than not.
Quality of a movie will always win out over quantities of movies.
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mudflap42
19 years ago
My father was in WWI. During WWII he worked at Lockheed making planes for the war effort. My father-in-law also worked at Lockheed at that time. He was working on P-38's, he was supervising 16 lady riveters. He said those women worked extra hard doing the best job they could because they had brothers, sons, fathers and sweethearts who relied on them, and these women knew where the planes were going and what they were doing. This movie brings out to me the courage of these types of people in the face of insurmountable odds, I get teary thinking about these sacrifices.
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Noircat
18 years ago
I really appreciate the input of Mr Dana Escalante. I am glad that the student of today can find excellence in the classic film and directors such as John Ford. I just saw this movie and liked it alot. The scene where the crew was walking along the beach, waiting for the enemy to show up, was haunting. I have seen several documentaries on Bataan and know what probably happened to the real crew member. I keep seeing that scene and the scene where Donna Reed is cut off from John Wayne on the phone. What happened to the nurses that were left on the island. I just think this movie reflected the overwhelming sadness of war. I really appreciated Robert Montgomery's acting and knowing he was a PT commander also. I think this should be way up there on the best of war movies.
thank you.
jean a.
columbus ohio
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bdavis-5
17 years ago
Great comment, Mr. Escalante! I appreciate your wisdom and generosity. "Expendable" was an excellent Ford film, but those of us who have learnt to appreciate a good movie that takes it time should be humble enough not to jeer those who honestly question it.
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SipteaHighTea
16 years ago
I get sick and tired of people attacking someone's love of country just because the person thougt the movie was boring. I also am tired of these same veterans talking about enjoying the freedoms that we have because in reality the majority of Americans never had economic and political freedom before World War II. American corporations had full economic and political rights while the American work force did not have any rights until the Great Depression came along. It wasn't until the Great Depression, that the American worker got a fair and square deal under Franklin Roosvelet. Furthermore, the American GI was given a GI Bill to attend college and make something of himself; otherwise, he probably be working in the same occupational job that his father, grandfather, and great grandfather were doing.
If you look at freedom today in this country, we have lost economic freedom in the last 28 years and political freedom for nearly 8 years in this country. So quit complaining about young people. They are not responsible for what happend in this country. We older adults are responsibile since we had the rein of power in our hands, and we made decisions that create long-term consequences in this country and the young people had no say in the matter.
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lottapaws
13 years ago
Youth is no excuse for not understanding the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform. In fact, "men" of his age have fought and died in wars for this country after having lied about their age! Look at the Civil War and the youth who fought. Look at Audie Murphy's young age and his bravery.
Bottom line, we are too easy on the youth of today regarding history! Much of our problems stem from generations too far removed from sacrifice, hard work, dedication, loyalty, and a host of other character traits that built this great nation.
I recall a young man who scoffed at Viet Nam exclaiming, "I don't care about that. I don't have any connection with it!" Needless to say, he was a self centered man in his mid to late twenties who thought the world was here for him. Now we have an epidemic of that attitude! There are only a handful of celebrities who truly support our military. Can you see Jessica Alba or Megan Fox serving drinks to soldiers or dancing with them while they are on leave from their tour in Afghanistan? They have no idea what it is like to have a draft......but they need to know AND appreciate history!
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dkd13
13 years ago
Well, I like TWE. A bit too long for my taste, but I thought it was well done.
Can you imagine (in this PC Age) if Hollywood tried to make a realistic movie depicting the Bataan Death Marh?
just sitting on the dock of the bay..
Thank you, namaste, and good luck
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anghmho
12 years ago
But, Mr. lottapaws, it isn't the same now as it was during Word War II, is it? I'll bet that if we did have a draft--and a war that didn't involve less than 1% of the nation's families--the national sentiment would change quickly enough. A draft would have a powerful effect. It did during the VietNam thing, didn't it?
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