Buffalo Soldiers, the movie with Joaquin Phoenix

[papabear]

Has anyone seen the trailer for this movie? It's available here:
http://www.apple.com/trailers/miramax/buffalo_soldiers.html

Do you think this is appropriate satire/criticism of the military? Or does it overstep the boundaries of legitimate criticism?

(drudgereport.com has a short article on this)

[XASA]

I just read Drudge's condemnation of "Buffalo Soldiers". I think he's missing the point in that this is about American G.I.s on German bases in the late 1980s and not about the military's current soldiers. It's difficult to judge the veracity of the story, or whether or not its satire without seeing the film. I'll certainly go and see it and then make a judgement call. Until then, I don't want to go down the slippery slope of prejudging any work of art, and even if it does belittle the Army of 20 years ago, I think the institution is strong enough to weather the storm. Also, the film has been on hold for two years already because of 9/11. It's only a movie :P

Having served in Berlin, I can state that promiscious *** and drug usage did exist in the military, as it did in American society at the time. Corruption has always been a problem in the military, too. A carton of American smokes was just another form of currency to supplement low pay. My father use to tell us tales of what a 5 gallon jerry can of gasoline could bring in France and Germany during WWII. Political correctness is something new to American military culture. Hell, I re-enlisted in Berlin because I was having fun!


I find it unfortunate, though, that the film's title alludes to the famous "Buffalo Soldiers" who played such an important part in 19th Century American history, but the movie has nothing to do with those black cavalry and infantry units.

[James]

I watched the trailer, and I'm going to see this movie. Was anyone offended by the Bill Murray film "Stripes"? "In The Army" or whatever it was called, with Pauly Shore? "McHales Navy"?

Based on the trailer, this film looks interesting. I agree with XASA.

[Merik]

You were offended by Stripes and In the Army Now????!!!!!!!!!!!I dont want to sound like a a-hole but that is just sad. Stripes is one of my all time favorite movies and some of the retired officers I know of thought that In the Army Now was one of the most accurate portrayels of the Army. The reason why is because it takes a bunch of bums who cant do anything that join the Army and are put into a no bs situation like Desert Storm and losers are turned into leaders.

Just my two cents.

BTW when does that movie come out? Looks funny.

[molly747]

Merik, I think he was just asking a rhetorical question to prove a point that we shouldn't be offended. Someone needs a good dose of sarcasm interpretation...

[James]

Thank you Molly. Your interpretation was correct.

[Vance]

The reason why is because it takes a bunch of bums who cant do anything that join the Army and are put into a no bs situation like Desert Storm and losers are turned into leaders.

They were in Chad, not Iraq. Teehee.

[Midtown]

Looks to be intresting