How Not to Depict a War

[johnastovall]

"BAGHDAD — I long ago learned not to discuss war movies with soldiers. They tend to be detail-oriented and obsessed with authenticity. They frequently dismiss well-made, thought-provoking films because of some minor detail — the scope on a rifle is wrong, or the markings on a vehicle incorrect..."

Full Story With Slide Show

[Hanky]

Bravo 2 0 is a good movie.

[SevenAndMe]

Originally Posted by johnastovall

"BAGHDAD — I long ago learned not to discuss war movies with soldiers. They tend to be detail-oriented and obsessed with authenticity. They frequently dismiss well-made, thought-provoking films because of some minor detail — the scope on a rifle is wrong, or the markings on a vehicle incorrect..."

I tend to agree with that. I'm always watching the flash suppressors on the M16 rifles in Vietnam movies. The early model M16's had pointed flash suppressors; the later model had a straight one.
Also- there used to be a tendency in movies and on TV to use the old MKII 'pineapple' grenades whenever they showed a grenade. The more modern ones are smooth and shaped like a baseball or an egg.

[S-Man]

I know that that many movie makers consult combat experts and war history buffs when making a movie. Why are there so many flubs in these things? I know they have to make it dramatic, and interesting, but how can you toss authenticity to the wind in favor of glitz?

[photonewb]

I love military movies myself...but have a hard time watching anything with submarines. As a former submariner I'm always looking to see what's wrong...lol

[Imagebuffet]

Yes, I have the same problem with movies about time-traveling space adventurers.

[ptrd]

Originally Posted by S-Man

I know that that many movie makers consult combat experts and war history buffs when making a movie. Why are there so many flubs in these things? I know they have to make it dramatic, and interesting, but how can you toss authenticity to the wind in favor of glitz?

haven't you seen tropic thunder???

fyi the magenta font denotes "sarcasm" used in some other forums.

I have seen lately, sarcasm is hard to tell on TPF

[jeffkohn]

Tropic Thunder was awesome.