Review of Johnny Got His Gun (1971) by Rod G — 31 Jan 2008

Ehrm... It's... It's a... It's...

I don't really know what to say.

I guess this movie can be separated in two distinct dimensions. And the truth is that they really got me divided here. On one side you've got the real interesting approach which is set in reality, and on the other you've got the fantasy one, which if you ask me is a bit dull.

So, getting to the point, this story revolves around a young soldier who became a quadruple amputee during WWI. At the same time, he has also lost his eyes, ears, mouth and nose. Without such crucial sense organs and being unable to walk, this man is left lying in a hospital bed like a vegetable and treated as if though he had no conscious of the state he was in. But soon enough we find out the doctor's diagnosis couldn't be more wrong, as we get to witness him gradually becoming more and more aware of his degraded condition. And this is the best part of this movie, in my opinion. His monologues, his frustrated dialogue attempts, and his striving for communication with the outside world are very absorbing and utterly interesting. We get claustrophobic just by the thought of it.

Now... As the main character struggles to cope with that shocking reality, he seeks refuge in his own imagination and creates a fantasy world of his own, where he finds himself physically whole again and tries to clarify his mind through past memories and creative thinking. And, honestly, this part had everything to be my favorite, giving that I usually tend to appreciate originality a lot. But... It somehow failed to fall on my good side. And to tell you the truth, during those fantasy scenes, I constantly found myself talking to the screen and shouting orders like: "C'mon! Skip to reality, will ya?" or "Oh, look... Isn't that the beautiful young nurse who spanks your monkey every once in a while?... Wakey wakey!".

Anyways... I guess those fantasy scenes should have been a little less corny and a lot more mind screwing.

Other than that...

Well... You still have the reality scenes to look for.

Or maybe you'll think differently and enjoy those scenes I've found to be dull.

You wouldn't be the first one, you know?