'There was another war waiting for the soldiers when they returned home.'
10/10
Author: ilovedolby from New York State
24 October 2004

When asked why he wanted to make another film about Vietnam after the success of 'Platoon,' Oliver Stone is quoted as saying, 'There was another war waiting for the soldiers when they returned home.' Indeed, he was right. 'Born On the Fourth Of July,' based on the book by Ron Kovic, follows Kovic's account of his experiences in Vietnam and the indifferent nation that he returned to. Although released in 1989, it holds up to the current situation that exists in Iraq now-many refer to it as the new Vietnam. Regardless of anyone's opinion on the current Iraq war, 'Born On the Fourth of July' is one of the most affecting, and important war related films of all time.

As the film opens, we find a young Kovic pretending to be a soldier with friends-a time when the idea of being a soldier was heroic since their father's had been heroes in WWII. The film then follows Kovic as a popular athlete in high school up to his recruitment as a Marine. Kovic rationalizes his reasons for joining up as Communists have missiles pointed at us now and we have to save our country from its threats.

During his time in Vietnam, Kovic sees the true nature of war. His platoon mistakenly fires upon a town where the enemy is supposedly hiding; however, they end up killing women and children. During the confusion that follows, Kovic accidentally shoots a fellow soldier-his guilt would encompass him for years to come. But when Kovic himself is wounded in a field, he is sent home paralyzed from the waist down. He spends the first few months in a veteran hospital, which in this case, was a slum. The doctors inform him that he will never be able to use his legs again, and that he no longer has the ability to have children.

When he returns to his home, he realizes that the world has changed. People protest the war, sometimes protesting against the soldiers themselves. His own family is indifferent to the war, as are his old friends. In one scene, he is told by an old friend who has become successful as a fast food manager, 'people here-they don't give a s**t about the war! To them it's just a million miles away.'

Eventually becoming disillusioned by everything in his hometown, Kovic spends a great deal of time with other veterans like himself at a resort in Mexico. Later he becomes an activist-his first public activism took place at the 1972 Republican National Convention where he was televised for exposing the reality of what soldiers endured in Vietnam, but also on the reasons why we did not belong there in the first place.

'Born On the Fourth of July' spends a good deal of time focusing on the misplaced patriotism that the politicians spewed at the public to drum up support not only for Vietnam, but the Cold War, in general. The film shows this by Kovic's own mother constantly reminding her son that he was doing the right thing by going over there and fighting and that he was in God's hands. When Kovic returns home and his disillusionment grows, he gets drunk one night and yells at his mother, 'There is no God. There is only me in this chair for the rest of my life!'

The film does stand up today just as strong as ever. With soldiers returning home from Iraq, and the constant media attention of terrorist attacks over there and seeing our own soldiers ambushed all the time, those who fight now must feel the same anger and frustration that Kovic felt year ago. It does make one wonder, when will the politicians ever truly get it! ****

A masterpiece in my opinion, and one of Cruise's absolute best, with a gripping story, and an unforgettable performance from Cruise
10/10
Author: callanvass
17 February 2006

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

This is a masterpiece in my opinion, and one of Cruise's absolute best, with a gripping story, and an unforgettable performance from Cruise. All the characters are wonderful, and it had some very powerful emotional scenes as well, plus Tom Cruise is simply incredible in this. The war scenes in Vietnam feel very realistic, and it's just brilliant story telling from beginning till end, plus one of the most powerful scenes in the movie is when Kovic gets really drunk and starts ranting off on his family, that truly left me speechless because it was so powerful in my opinion.

I will be honest I haven't seen My Left Foot, so I can't say whether he deserved it or not, all I know is that Cruise definitely was worthy of it, and gives what may or may not be, the best performance of his career, plus it also helps that he had a really good somewhat unknown supporting cast as well. I enjoyed this even more then Stone's other masterpiece Platoon, and this will really leave you thinking after you are finished watching it, plus I liked the flashbacks of Kovac when he was a kid growing up at the beginning.

Even at 145 minutes it was never overlong for me, in fact I wish they would have showed Kovic's speech at the end, plus all the characters are extremely likable. It's brilliantly made and written, and I thought the character development was excellent, plus I really liked the music as well. Tom delivered some really powerful speeches in this, and you really feel for Kovic's character, even if he does seem like an asshole at times, plus it will make you uncomfortable at times, but in a good way.

Willem Dafoe had some very powerful scenes in his small role here, as there spitting in each other's face contest and constant arguing in the middle of the road, made my jaw drop, plus I loved the gritty atmosphere it had throughout as well. It's also a top notch character study, and I feel this should be in the top 250, plus it seriously almost had me at tears at times. This is a masterpiece in my opinion, and One of Cruise's absolute best, with a gripping story, and an unforgettable performance from Cruise, and if you haven't seen it, please do so immediately, you shouldn't regret it.

The Direction is masterful!. Oliver Stone does a masterful job here, with outstanding camera work, fantastic angles, creating plenty of memorable moments,I especially loved the shots during the War scenes, an incredible job in my opinion. The Acting is incredible!. Tom Cruise is amazing as always, and is incredible here, he is extremely likable, portrayed Ron Kovic with uncanny perfection, was a man of honor, courage, he also delivered one of his most mature performances,as you will feel the pain he is going through, I adore the cocky smiling Cruise, but he impressed me on a whole new level here, I hope he takes on tough projects like this in future, because he is one of the best ever in my opinion, and if he takes on awesome projects such as this he will get an Oscar eventually! (Cruise Rules!!!!!!!!!).

 Raymond J. Barry and Caroline Kava are both awesome as the parents and deliver engaging performances, I loved them both. Kyra Sedgwick is good as the early love interest and did what she had to do well. Frank Whaley is good as Timmy I dug him. Willem Dafoe is excellent in his small role, as he had one scene with Cruise I will never forget. Rest of the cast are fine.Overall if you haven't seen it please do so immediately you shouldn't regret it!. ***** out of 5

One of true benefits of motion pictures
10/10
Author: different_Son_of_God
28 August 2006

Motion pictures are great story telling medium and this movie really illustrates the benefits it can bring. We could all share the experiences of Ron Kovic, and this picture can serve as a reminder of the brutality and futility that war can bring upon human beings even years after the movie was made and will continue to do so in the years to come.

I have to say that Ron Kovic is extremely courageous human being and though he has lost so much of the joyous side that life can bring and suffered tremendously through not necessarily no fault of his own, he has made a greater impact than he would have done otherwise by deciding to share his life story with us. God will judge him and even be appreciative for what he has done for the others.

National pride can have effective results but is ultimately evil because by believing in that you automatically create another adversary, that "You are not one of us". So many people get naturalised into citizens of countries where they are not originally from, in the twenty first century romantic patroiticism must be considered evil and imposes an adverse effect in evolutionary process as a whole.

Tom Cruise's delivers one of the greatest performances of his life, well at least that's before he'd gone nuts. I also like Willem Dafoe's performance as a paralysed vet, he is one of the gifted actors of our generation. In short if you join a war to kill other human beings there is just likely possibility that you will get killed too. And in this equation the difference between being killed and being maimed is just an arbitary variable.

Today, more relevant than ever...
10/10
Author: MarieGabrielle from United States
24 October 2006

This is an excellent film which people who do not even like war films will appreciate. It is an epic commentary on the Vietnam era, the motivations of the young men who enlisted, and the true story of Ron Kovic.

It is NOT a comforting story of American history, the treatment of Vietnam veterans, or fairness. It is, at times, disturbing and upsetting. It is real. Tom Cruise is at the pinnacle of his acting performance as a young high school graduate who wants to make his parents proud. His father was also in the war, and he feels obligated. ..."Don't we have to stop Communism, Dad?"...; his father looks at him, not answering.

There are many cameos by now famous actors, Steven Baldwin, John C. McGinley, Kyra Sedgwick, Lili Taylor. When he is injured, he spends time in a VA hospital and there are some truly disturbing scenes, such as when he unable to get out of bed (he is paralyzed), and degraded by hospital staff.

Based on the true story by Kovic, the book is a must read. This film is visionary and disturbing, in that it shows the effect on humanity of war, how peoples lives are changed, and the aftermath. A must see. 10/10.

4th of July - Peace is just a word
10/10
Author: albertovico from Italy
4 July 2005

A few points: 1) This movie shows how Americans were brainwashed by politics in the early '60s. 2) It also shows how people can react to a nonsense war in the late '60s and early '70s. In a few years Americans lost their faith in all powers: politics, religion and people victims just of an "image" war, with no sense. 3) Europe entered no wars after 1948, but the US people still love to look at CNN for the newest war, just as watching a soap opera. Maybe most of them don't really realize it's real, with real people and children dying. 4) Nietsche said: "There is no war without a reason" and added "The reason is always the financial interest of a powerful political minority".

Of course the IRAQ war is an exception, as the US want to "export democracy", but actually I've never ever seen a single weapon of mass destruction. 5) The victims are always American and other nations dead people or people whose life will never be the same, for heavy wounds and psychological turmoil, without assistance, all life long. 6) This movie shows the US as the worst 3rd World country, when Bronx hospital is portrayed as a Bangladesh public hospital, where "funds are not enough for Vietnam" and people who "served the country" are left there to die, without any kind of assistance.

7) The main message is: "Who cares about them" and there is even a Republican convention sending Vietnam Veterans to jail, just because they dared to express their opinion. 8) Today the US does exactly the same wars, this time for the sake of oil and arms usage. It's a shame this time people do not protest, where has the end of '60s protest spirit gone? . Instead they voted this mentally retarded president not only once but TWICE. 9) In Italy, where I live, the Constitution says "Italy repudiates war", so this is why we did not take part to the massacre of children, women and citizens, even though the US started without the authorization of the United Nations.

10) Germany, France, Spain and all other EU countries did never take part to your wars, maybe believing "peace is not just a word". 11) A film that makes you think, about the US brainwashing in "serving the country" (or maybe just serving the powerful lobbies) and about the myth of "the land of the free" where people are treated worse than animals in the Bronx Hospital after they "served" their country. 12) I would recommend watching "Sacco and Vanzetti" to see how the US Courts are able to kill people just for their ideas... is this the land of the freedom?

I hope this movie will make you think beyond the TV brainwashing and that any war needs to be contrasted just like we do in Europe. Don't let somebody kill yourself, for the sake of Bush's dirty business and Huge Bank Account in Switzerland.

Alberto