Few Good Men DVD

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 Military Justice At Its Very Best!
Middle of the night - two pair of combat boots scurry across pavement then hastily ascend wooden stairs. A rag and duct tape immobilize and silence a sleeping form, and you’ve witnessed a prank, a training exercise, or was it a murder? Broad daylight a world away - and you’re treated to the colorful splendor and kaleidoscopic motions of a military band in patriotic dress proudly exclaiming celebration. Silence! Awed as a wide-eyed child, your attention is drawn to the rhythmic snaps and polished flow of a full dress rifle drill team’s fluid exhibition. Your friends said this is a cool court-martial flick with Cruise, Nicholson, and Moore. The opening sequence has your eyes wide, your ears straining, and your mind on full alert for whatever comes next, yet none of that can prepare you. Marines follow orders or people die. Lance Corporal Harold W. ‘Hal’ Dawson (new guy Wolfgang Bodison) and Private First Class Louden Downey (James Marshall) typically represent the spirit, mind set, training, and dedication of the young people who join the corps, defend our country, and take great pride in both. Dawson and Downey claim they were following orders, which explains why the death of Pvt. William T. Santiago, a fellow platoon member, wasn’t murder. Yet, examined from every possible angle under the intense light of logic; the facts of the case are simple, damning, and undisputable. A brash neophyte in dress whites with a shingle: Lieutenant Junior Grade Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise) has a love of softball and a penchant for pre-trial settlements, is wary of women in general and court rooms in particular, and has just been handed another case. By Kaffee’s standards; defending two young marines accused of murder will be just another “slam-dunk” plea bargain, another clever word game, a rubber stamped file, and a set of steak knifes, but this case will take Daniel Kaffee, lead council for the defense, places he’s never been: ✮ shoulder to shoulder with Lieutenant Commander JoAnne Galloway (Demi Moore) the team’s ranking officer who wanted this case but, as JAG’s Special Council for Internal Affairs, is best at investigating her fellow lawyers, ✮ motion for motion across the aisle from U. S. Marine Captain Jack Ross (Kevin Bacon) a fellow softball player and JAG arch-rival just itching to maneuver Kaffee into a courtroom, ✮ toe to toe with single-minded Marine Lieutenant Jonathan Kendrick (Keifer Sutherland), ✮ eyeball to eyeball with Colonel Nathan R. Jessep (Jack Nicholson), a tough and crafty Marine, slated to be the next Director of Operations for the National Security Council, ✮ face to face with the memory of his once very famous Admiral lawyer father, and ✮ gavel to gavel with his fears of not being able to “cut it” in a real court room trial. The roles are superbly cast and the actors, once recognized, soon become invisible. You’ll find yourself identifying with and caring about real people confronting real challenges of active duty military life. The action is crisp, polished, very professional, and totally human. Motivations are there, emotions are true, dialogue is uncluttered, and the story unfolds in a “right there in front of God and everybody” manner that confirms this story’s real world origin. Rob Reiner, usually a dove where the military is concerned, commendably directed this one with a dedication to keeping his personal views out of his own way. The court room tensions generate more crackle than a whole season of Perry Mason. This film’s miracle of miracles, however, is that it is about the military without the endless parade of battle scenes, bandages, and litter bearers, without explosions and fires, chase scenes, and gutter language. It is void of wholesale death and destruction, of rifle fire, grenades blasts, and artillery barrages. There isn’t a single bugle call, or even the sympathetic plea of a cemetery scene. Thank you Aaron Sorkin. Kudos also for the minimal use of olive drab or camouflage, and those ugly yet persistent (circa WW I) stencils. Bravo! Film - 4 of 5 - I’ve rated A Few Good Men less than a 5 for only one reason. The cause of death is kinda’ important in a murder trial. Private Santiago’s approximate cause of death came into question when Navy Commander (Doctor) Stone (Christopher Guest), Guantanamo Bay’s Senior Medical Officer’s testimony revealed that Pvt. Santiago may have been medically unfit for duty all along. Considering that this had all taken place on the good doctor’s watch; a real world court-martial would have ordered that Pvt. Santiago’s medical records, and a transcript of the court martial be sent to the Navy Medical Review Board. Concise text displayed over a flashback of Doctor Stone’s guilt riddled glare from the witness stand, would have disposed of the issue. The film’s failure to deal with this issue left a gaping hole in the trial’s conclusion. Left unresolved, this glaring error festers and can only serve to weaken the credibility of Marine Colonel Julius Alexander Randolph (J. A. Preston), the court-martial’s otherwise impressive presiding officer, and the court-martial process itself. I can’t help but think the film’s military technical consultant, Brig. Gen. David M. Brahns, USMC (Retd.), should have pointed this out. Features - 5 of 5 - Loaded! And they’re all well worth making the time to watch! Video - 5 of 5 - Someone on the camera crew must have spent time in the military. The photography captures the GI’s working environment well. The editing picks up where directing leaves off in illuminating the dedicated soldier’s “follow that order” mind set extremely well. The excellent photography, Reiner’s first venture into the 2.35:1 aspect ratio, works well to make both the behind the scenes pre-trial drama and the trial itself a military story in a military setting in which the non-military viewer can become equally immersed. Full screen format could never convey the tensions of presence in those intense court room scenes. The multitude of subtitle languages assures that few viewers should have to guess when to salute. Audio: - 5 of 5 - The audio, a generous mix of period music and baseball game replays, serves to weave both the military and civilian worlds into an undeniably common fabric. The dialog editing and sound mixing also contribute to accurately presenting how the military mind functions. The 5.1 Dolby surround track, while clearly short of dts 5.1's brilliance, is crisp and even, will put you right in the middle of it, and will keep any modern surround sound system adequately exercised. Last but not least: A Few Good Men honors “all the good men, and women” who proudly serve and are always ready to do our nation’s dirty work.. A Few Good Men will give you a deeper insight and new respect for all who wear the uniform, and are subject to judgement under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Whether you’ve served or not; Tomorrow - honor them all - fly your American flag!
Submitted by jon282 (Sacramento, CA)
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 Powerful and exellent movie
Very good movie, the actors did their best!!
Submitted by orfeusorpheus (lima, Peru) 
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 Five star movie
This is the best movie Cruise has been in since Top Gun or The Firm. Jack plays the general to a T. This is a dam good movie. Buy dont rent.
Submitted by Lee (Alabama)
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 A few good performances
Cruise and Nicholson are great!!!!!!!!
Submitted by Blake (Brandon,MS)
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 a few good men
how do you rate this movie
Submitted by jeaniefernandez (makati)
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