Born on the Fourth of July (Special Edition)
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Jerry Levine, Tom CruiseBrand: UNI DIST CORP. (MCA)
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language); Spanish (Original Language); French (Dubbed)
Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, DVD, NTSC, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 145 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-10-19
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Universal Studios
Movie Reviews of Born on the Fourth of July (Special Edition)
Movie Review: Re-"Born"
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Church blessed the war. Communism, the insidous evil.
They-they told us to go. Thou shall not kill women & children. Thou shall not kill women & children, ma. Thou shall not kill women & children. Isn't this what you taught us?" - Ron Kovic melts down in front of his parents in "Born On The Fourth Of July"
Oliver Stone's powerful film, based on the true story of Vietnam Vet., Ron Kovic, still packs a punch after fourteen years since its Christmas 1989 release and has the best performance that Tom Cruise has given in his entire career. Sadly, the film didn't sweep the Oscars like "Platoon" did, and, no, Cruise didn't win that year for Best Actor (that honor went to Morgan Freeman for "Driving Miss Daisy". Say it with me people, "What the *u*k!?!).
"Born" starts out in the late 50's as we meet a young, impressionable Ron Kovic who plays war with his pals in the backyard and has a sweetie named Donna. The film sets up the major characters & Kovic's family and then jumps to his Senior Year in High School, in the early sixties.
A visit from the local Marine Recruiter at his high school easily convinces Kovic and some of his buddies to join the Marine Corp., fully aware that they may be the first to head into battle, and the nightmare that would be Vietnam.
The film segues to the year 1967 & Kovic's first tragedy trying to come to grips with accidently killing a fellow soldier in the heat of battle & then his commanding officer telling him to, basically, forget what happened. In 1969, his personal hell begins as he is shot twice, one in the heel of his foot and with a second shot to his upper chest, severly damaging his spinal column, Kovic is paralyzed for life from the waist down.
With such a severe injury, Ron Kovic is sent home, but just as he has found that war is hell, the road home has its nightmarish twists & turns. Coming to grips with all that has transpired & with the ever changing world around him, Ron Kovic quickly learns its a long road home.
This is easily one of Oliver Stone's best films side-by-side with "Platoon". While "Platoon" gives us the sweaty, gory, backstabbing, hellish nightmare that was the Vietnam War, "Born On The Fourth Of July" gives us the other side of the nightmare, the war at home, in its all its unflinching darkside glory.
Stone's direction is top-notch. "Born on the Fourth of July" is shot with red, white, & blue hues (red for the battle sequences, blue for the tragic scenes and white for the dream sequences). The film doesn't capture the essence of the 60's & 70's, it embraces it (the scenes of Massapequa in the 60's is all Americana while the Massapequa of the 70's seems lost, trying to forget or demonstrate against the war. The town's innocence is truly lost). The Vietnam action sequences are filmed documentary guerrilla style.
The cast is absolutely outstanding. Tom Cruise is at the top of his game in this film. Rumor has it, this film destroyed his marriage to Mimi Rogers. Cruise spent a lot of time in the wheelchair, getting all the movements right & preparing for the role, so when filming began everything came second nature to him. Also, keep an out for small roles from Billy Baldwin, Stephen Baldwin, Holly-Marie Combs (T.V.'s "Charmed"), Vivica A. Fox (she's the hooker in the hospital ward at night), Michael Wincott ("Alien Ressurection" & "The Crow"), John McGinnley ("Scrubs" & "Platoon") & Wayne Knight (Newman from "Seinfeld" & "Jurassic Park").
As for this third DVD release for "Born On The Fourth Of July", I really wish it was a special edition, but, its not. This version combines the previous two (before this release, you had a choice between the 30 dollar Dolby Digital version, or the 30 dollar DTS version) with Dolby Digital & DTS audio with a commentary track by Oliver Stone. The only special feature is a NBC backstory segment that delves into the network's archives retrieving interviews with Stone, Cruise, & Kovic from the film's press junket in 1989. Its a half-assed affair with, of all people, Bryant Gumble hosting.
With "Born" ending with Ron Kovic speaking at the National Democratic Convention in 1976 & the film itself being released 13 months before the first Gulf War, it would be interesting to catch up with Kovic & to see his views on the war in Iraq, stem cell research, & how he feels the country is doing. Sadly, "Universal" doesn't share these ideas and the DVD presentation sucks. The picture definitely needs to be remastered. The audio is decent with 5.1 surround.
"Born On The Fourth Of July" is like the colors of the American Flag.
They don't run.
For Truth, Justice, & The American Way.
God Bless Our Troops & American Veterans.
Above All, God Bless America.
Summary of Born on the Fourth of July (Special Edition)
THE BIOGRAPHY OF RON KOVIC. PARALYZED IN THE VIETNAM WAR, HEBECOMES AN ANTI-WAR AND PRO-HUMAN RIGHTS POLITICAL ACTIVIST AFTER FEELING BETRAYED BY THE COUNTRY HE FOUGHT FOR.Similar DVD Movies
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