Born On The Fourth of July

The film is a biography of Vietnam, war veteran Ron Kovic who was paralyzed fighting on the front lines during the Vietnam War. He becomes an anti-war and pro-human rights political activist after feeling betrayed by the country he fought for and was once so passionate about.

Ron grows up being pro war and very patriotic about the United States. Throughout his childhood he is exposed to Fourth of July Parades as well as John F. Kennedy as president, which ultimately inspires him to enlist in the Marines. He is looking forward to his act of duty but is let down when his love interest Donna, turns down his invitation to their prom.  This would be the last time Ron would see Donna before he goes off to war. He ends up at the dance anyways, and the two share a beautiful kiss which later in the film leads them reuniting as they meet again later in their life.

Ron is a respectable marine but is ultimately scared for his life. In his second act of duty in Vietnam, The stress and constant paranoia takes over him and he mistakenly shoots one of his own marines, killing him. This has a great effect on Ron as he begins to feel extremely guilty for his actions, which leads him to appeal to his officer. The platoon endures another dangerous encounter with the enemy, where Ron is critically wounded and becomes paralyzed from the waist down and is luckily saved by another marine who carries him to safety.

The story then displays the disgusting conditions of the hospital that Ron is being cared for at. The hospital staff had no respect for the patients who just risked their life for their country, which sadly left them with injuries that are life threatening. It was extremely surprising for me to watch how terribly treated these war veterans were. It was really hard to see how awful the nurses treated the patients; I could honestly not believe the truth behind the scene that the conditions and treatment did in fact happen during these times. This was a crucial factor in influencing Ron to later become an anti war activist as he looses complete trust in his country.

Ron encounters with Donna again and together they stand up for what they believe in and she is the one who helps Ron learn and understand that it is okay to be against the war especially after paralyzing him on his second act of duty.

I think Tom Cruise did an excellent job of playing Ron Kovic as he truly displayed the intense emotion that was needed to make the role believable and honest. I really enjoyed the movie and how it showed the truth and struggles one encounters after experiencing such tragedies as Ron did because of the war. His perspective was completely altered because of his experiences and definitely displayed how strong of a person he is. The movie was more enjoyable knowing that it was based on a true story and that Ron Kovic is in fact real and everything he went through in the movie were real life struggles that he faced in his life. I truly appreciated the story, the bravery and the strength of Ron and this a film I would definitely recommend.

From Hell

The true-life horror story of Jack the Ripper gets a new spin in this screen adaptation titled From Hell. In 1888, a ruthless and cold-blooded killer begins hunting prostitutes in East London, and while the murderer's work is savage, the mutilation of his victims suggests the fiend has an extensive medical background. The murderer's grisly exploits shock and frighten all of England, and one of Scotland Yard's top inspectors, Fred Abberline who is played by the incredible Johnny Depp takes on this case with the help of his partner, Peter Godley played by Robbie Coltrane.

The character Depp plays is either blessed or cursed with psychic visions and while he blurs his ability to see future events with the help of drugs, he still has the ability to ferret out dangerous criminals, which is put to the test as he and Godley search for the Ripper. The two investigate the neighborhood where the crimes occur and they become acquainted with the prostitutes and street people who were friends and compatriots of the victims. Abberline finds himself falling in love with Mary Kelly played by Heather Graham.

Johnny Depp is a remarkable actor who really puts an efficient effort into his work to make the character appeal and believable to the audience. It was evident how important he was to the storyline of the film as he was a strong investigator who usually was the only one with answers based on the visions he saw.

I found the movie very interesting and well down. It kept you on the edge of your seat as the viewer is always curious as to whether or not they have found the person responsible for these awful murders. This is a movie I would usually not enjoy, but the mystery and Johnny’s character were very intriguing, which made me more interested to continue watching the film in order to see the outcome.

Even though history has proven, Jack the Ripper, was never actually found, the film chooses the ending for you and ultimately reveals who is responsible for the murders. It’s definitely an ending you wouldn’t expect so it is definitely a movie that I would recommend in order to find out!

Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump is a remarkable and heartfelt film. His charisma draws the viewers in as they begin to develop a strong connection for Forrest’s character ultimately hoping he receives all the things he desires. This is common in films as viewers develop a strong hope and want for the protagonist to succeed.

He is driven by his love for Jenny and does his best to protect her as we watch the storyline develop. She is resistant of the attention Forrest gives her which sadly continuously leads her to push him away even though deep down she knows Forrest is the only man who has ever truly been there for her in her life. Love is a main theme of the movie as Forrest’s actions and the way he is, is based on the love he has for Jenny and the unconditional love his mother had for him.

The film displayed many important moments in history showing the growth of time throughout the film as well as Forrest’s maturity as he experiences the different time periods. The viewer gets the chance to see Forrest battle and conquer the difficult challenges he faces growing up. From dealing with a walking disability, to breaking free and becoming a fast runner, to fighting in war, to meeting the president to having a child etc, Forrest truly defines the meaning of strength, optimism and courage. Forrest truly experiences many ups and downs throughout his life but he remains positive showing how much he has grown up because of all the conflicts he was forced to face.

“Life was like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get….” Forrest expresses this as he was given this exact advice from his mother. It is a famous line that almost anyone can instantly recognize and reference the quote to the film. Forrest had a very close relationship with his mother as she was the only one who ever believed in him growing up. She was always supportive of his decisions, and continuously nurtured him guiding him towards independence.

This movie is special and a true Hollywood classic. One I would definitely recommend, one that I will never get sick of seeing and a film that will forever have it’s mark in the film industry.