Review of Born on the Fourth of July (1989) by Bradley W — 11 Jun 2012

Born on the Fourth of July is probably my favorite Oliver Stone film, I mean this has so mich to say about the Vietnam war and its effects on a soldier. Ron Kolvich is a man who I would consider a hero, I mean it tales real bravery to do some things he did in this film and this film just really puts us in his situation and really makes the audience think.

Some people have called this an apology to Vietnam, and I agree that this really does make Americans truly think more about the effects of war. People who have never been in the war have a lot to say about something they don't know, but a veteran who has seen true horrors is the person who knows more about the war than anyone, and that is one of the things I learned from this film.

Tom Cruise is brilliant and plays one of the best roles in his career, I mean the scene where he tells William Dafoe about his experiences in Vietnam and watching the two argue just made left me stunned and showed what a talented actor both of them are.

This film really showed me that I should not be saying who is right or wrong in a war because the people who truly feel the effects of it are the soldiers who dedicate their lives for their country. Oliver Stone has made his masterpiece here I believe, and I think Platoon is also a work of genius, but I think I connected more with this films message.

This is not a war film, its and anti-war film and shows us the true horrors through one real life soldier and how his happy and great life was never the same as soon as he joined the war, and this was just an overall masterpiece.