The hero soldier saving a child was not neccesary
Nice movie but in my opinion the scene with the hero soldier saving a child was not neccesary... just TOO MUCH cliche
shareI agree.
I am a cynical old guy who would hardly ever watch a movie like this, but much to my surprise I found myself immersed in the story. It was probably Betty White who did the trick, for all the reasons people have given on this board.
So she managed to get me past JLH who I have found annoying in everything I have seen her in.
As I say, I was immersed. Then the hero went too silly. I could accept him going back to frontline service, he thought it his patriotic duty. But after he was shot down, it was his duty then to get back to the Navy and possible flying duty, not engaging in guerilla warfare for which he was not trained.
I remind readrs that Morang, the phillipino, said that if the japanese did not come looking for them, they went looking for the japanese. Which would mean Thomas would be risking his life, making a widow and an orphan, to a stupid degree.
His selflessness was just a bit too much to believe with the child-saving scene.
"As I say, I was immersed. Then the hero went too silly. I could accept him going back to frontline service, he thought it his patriotic duty. But after he was shot down, it was his duty then to get back to the Navy and possible flying duty, not engaging in guerilla warfare for which he was not trained.
I remind readrs that Morang, the phillipino, said that if the japanese did not come looking for them, they went looking for the japanese. Which would mean Thomas would be risking his life, making a widow and an orphan, to a stupid degree.
His selflessness was just a bit too much to believe with the child-saving scene. "
You say what I think with betters words.
I disagree, he was stuck there with no way to get back to his unit.He went out to fight the Japanese as was his duty. He couldnt sit there while the people hiding him and feeding him fought for their lives. The Phillipinos were not any more trained as guerillas they just had more experience. They could not have let his widow find out he was a coward who stayed back with the women and children.
shareI think any good man, and especially one with a wife and child of his own, would sacrifice his life to protect an innocent child. I'm married to a guy like that. And you have to remember; the 40s was a VERY different era than now. People went to war and looked at it not only as their duty but an honor.
*****Visit my website for Jon-Erik Hexum at TenaflyGuy.com!*****
Still, he had a duty to his wife and child as well, and he did promise her to come back to her. It was honorable that he put others before himself, but he put them before his wife and child as well. I'm sure she was proud of what he did, but it doesn't make up for all the years she and her son lost with him. Tough situation all around.
Also, VBliss...Jon-Erik Hexum...that still makes me sad!
I do agree with you on all of that. Truly. I think, in that split second, he didn't think of anything past that moment of saving the child. Shielding the child. You know, gut reaction, you don't weigh the consequences. But I totally get what you mean. Hubs and I have talked about it, I don't think he should've gone in the first place, when he had a military job at home. But hubs reminded me of that era, it was very different in the 40s, the patriotism ran a lot stronger than it does nowadays. Men felt like cowards if they didn't go off to fight. And they'd rather die a hero then live as a coward.
Honestly, no argument from me, mdmzara. ;o) I spent the movie hoping they'd find him alive, and how silly of a sap am I? After all those years? LOL! I think maybe they wanted her to be able to have peace that he at least saved the soldier, and the boy too. She can know her husband died a hero.
And thanks for noticing about Jon-Erik Hexum. Most of the world has forgotten him. We're working to change that. ;o)
*****Visit my website for Jon-Erik Hexum at TenaflyGuy.com!*****
Vbliss...if you are a sap, then I'm one too! I also kept hoping he would be alive, but maybe had lost his memory somehow, and would regain it when he saw her. And I do get that his selflessness was totally inline with the kind of man he was and the patriotism of the time, but I just felt so bad for poor Caroline! It must be a good movie, when we all feel this strongly, lol!
As for Jon-Erik Hexum, gosh...I remember being profoundly affected by his death, because he was so young and it was just such a random, senseless thing. Will head over to your website now!
I remind readrs that Morang, the phillipino, said that if the japanese did not come looking for them, they went looking for the japanese. Which would mean Thomas would be risking his life, making a widow and an orphan, to a stupid degree.
Neil Thomas was a soldier. Earlier in the movie, we find that when she asked him if he feared being called, he said he felt it was his duty to go and fight. His duty was to fight for his country, and because it was so dangerous to take the other solider to the Americans, the same could not be done for him. It would have been a stupid suicide mission to try to make it on his own. So he fought for his country in the only way he could, to go out with the men who saved his life. He couldn't exactly sit like a lump on a log while the men who saved his life, and fed him, went and fought on their own.
His selflessness was just a bit too much to believe with the child-saving scene.
Funny, you say it is too much to believe. When real soldiers have lost or risked their lives to save children in a war zone.
I had a friend who fought in the Vietnam War. He had shrapnel wounds along his back and back of his legs from where he attempted to shield a child from an explosion. Sadly a piece of shrapnel still got past him, and killed the girl. He did not talk about it often, but I know he always lived with the guilt that he did not shield her enough to save her, even 30+ years later.
share