Are there any other veterans out there who:

1) Get to the verge of tears or adrenaline rush when watching war movie of some sort. No shit, I almost cried watching the NY National Guard charge into battle in "War of the Worlds" with Tom Cruise.

2) Have a hard time playing war games like Black Ops or Call of Duty or Medal of Honor.

I can't even look at any of that without shredding apart how they do things wrong or wear this uniform wrong and so forth...

It kills me man... It kills me.

9/22/2011 6:07:49 AM

Is this a serious thread?

9/22/2011 6:52:28 AM

No, because I know the difference between reality and entertainment.

9/22/2011 6:59:25 AM

No, because I know the difference between reality and entertainment.

9/22/2011 7:55:45 AM

^ I don't think it is that easy for everyone. My grandfather who was in WWII barely ever wanted to even talk about the war and would hardly ever watch any war related movies/TV. He tried to sit through Saving Private Ryan when my cousin and I wanted to go and had to walk out during the opening Normandy scene, visibly upset.

I'm pretty sure it had nothing to do with understanding the difference between reality and entertainment and a lot to do with stirring up painful memories.

[Edited on September 22, 2011 at 8:17 AM. Reason : ]

9/22/2011 8:13:18 AM

My grandfather refuses to watch anything related to the Vietnam War. I can't really blame him considering the shit I'm sure he saw while serving with the 82nd Airborne Division.

9/22/2011 8:28:38 AM

Saving Private Ryan, Full Metal Jacket, etc. sure, but War of the Worlds?

9/22/2011 8:32:20 AM

when Saving Private Ryan came out, there was a lot of press about veterans walking out during the opening Normandy scene.


but yeah, not war of the worlds

9/22/2011 8:49:21 AM

Quote :

"No, because I know the difference between reality and entertainment."

Let me clarify. Sure there are some movies with some scenes that can get the emotions flowing, (such as "get up you sonofabitch" in Rocky, scenes in Saving Private Ryan, and others); however, non of the "war" movies or games have ever triggered a flashback or anything like that.

Sure, with that Hurt Locker movie I was like "that's complete horseshit", but I wasn't mad about it. Ditto with parts of the movies Sniper & Shooter; some of it horseshit, but still no reason to get mad. Hollywood will take an ounce of fact and embellish it to create a more outlandish "dramatic" story. Its that fact that I keep in mind my when watching those types of movies or playing those types of games.

9/22/2011 9:49:17 AM

^I dont think that's the point of the thread, though...wait

Apocalypse:

- is this thread about emotional response from having served?

- or is it about how the inaccuracies of movies/games pisses you off?

9/22/2011 9:52:07 AM

Something tells me Carl never saw or did any real shit but just wants attention.

9/22/2011 11:18:17 AM

who is Carl?

9/22/2011 11:33:31 AM

the OP.

9/22/2011 11:36:20 AM

Oh, you seen much combat?

Well, I've seen a little on TV

9/22/2011 11:39:12 AM

ahh ok.

but not gonna knock on anyone's service. They at the very least did serve, whether it was in a support role or combat role, they were needed.

9/22/2011 11:47:08 AM

My Dad loves old war movies, and didn't have any problems through Saving Private Ryan or any of that.

He stays away from Vietnam ones - Platoon (which was based on a platoon in his actual company in the 25th - he was attached to them and, later, the Big Red One as a combat field medic), Full Metal Jacket (fine until they go into the battlefield), and even that scene in Forrest Gump.

As he's gotten older he's talked about it with me and my brothers more than ever. I think, in some ways, it's more comfortable to talk about it as time passes, grandchildren are born, and in some ways it seems like a lifetime ago.


As for video games, or some of the more outlandish combat movies (Rambo, etc.), it's meant to be over-the-top, and doesn't effect him at all.

9/22/2011 11:55:09 AM

AxlBonBach, you nailed it for me I think. Realistic sounds can throw me in a few directions. Movies like Rambo, I'm alright with, but movies like Saving Private Ryan, they get the sound of a bullet whizzing pretty good. If that movie is playing and I'm in the next room not knowing it's playing, I do flinch as though I'm about to take cover. Every now and again, sounds like dumpsters slamming or doors next door slamming does get my attention.

My dad is the same way about things too. Where he had a harder time talking about things, but as he got older, I think he started to let something go and started talking about it more. He was a pretty terse guy about these sort of things anyway until terse couldn't cut it anymore.

9/22/2011 12:09:27 PM

Quote :

"I can't even look at any of that without shredding apart how they do things wrong or wear this uniform wrong and so forth..."

people like this are very hard to be friends with.

9/22/2011 12:43:05 PM

true. you gotta keep that shit in check.

Quote :

"If that movie is playing and I'm in the next room not knowing it's playing, I do flinch as though I'm about to take cover. Every now and again, sounds like dumpsters slamming or doors next door slamming does get my attention. "

If that's true, you need counseling. Seriously. I had my time of where I was jumpy after I came back home from 2 back to back tours. But after about 4 or 5 months, I stopped being jumpy, stopping having nightmares & flashbacks, etc. I'm still situationally aware of my surroundings though.

9/22/2011 12:45:51 PM

Quote :

"He stays away from Vietnam ones"

How did he react to Tropic Thunder

9/22/2011 12:57:18 PM

hahaha. loved it so much he bought me the bluray for christmas that year.

9/22/2011 4:07:46 PM

Quote :

"I'm still situationally aware of my surroundings though."

As one should be. Nothing wrong with that whatsoever.

I've never served, but try to keep my eyes open at all times. Who knows, maybe noticing some small detail one day might save my life.

9/23/2011 6:06:29 AM

Quote :

"I can't even look at any of that without shredding apart how they do things wrong or wear this uniform wrong and so forth..."

for me it was the ridiculous depiction of a nuclear reactor in X Men: First Class

9/23/2011 6:41:06 AM

I get mad at the inaccuracies more than anything. Like when they call Marines soldiers or they are wearing uniforms incorrectly. I actually cannot play video games because I lack the attention span...

9/24/2011 7:57:38 AM

I only watch movies in my career field; so like 'Dear John' and stuff.

9/24/2011 9:00:02 AM