The War Movie

It's Memorial Day. Many think it is simply the first day of summer and a time for BBQs, new Hollywood popcorn films or perhaps two too many beers.  If this is you, get a life. Take a second and remember why we honor this day.

There is an argument to be made that since America's commercial interests moved the day to the last Monday of May, rather than the traditional day, it has become trivialized. That we simply don't spend the proper time to remember the sacrifices, big and small, many Americans have made.  I hope this is not the case.

But you have to wonder.

This weekend media outlets, especially television stations and cable broadcasters, will be gung ho about war and war films.  Patriotic music, slo-mo flag waving will abound. These will be designed to elicit emotional responses from you.

This is not necessarily bad. One cable station is even showing the rarely seen classic silent Wings. I have this DVR'ed.

Let's take a closer look at war films. They all have designs. Some are propaganda vehicles. Some are anti-war screeds. Some are action filled adventures. Some show the end of innocence. Some are romances. Some depict the overcoming odds. And some rejoice in a new beginning.

All of them want the audience to become part of the war. The excitement of real life danger is transferred to the screen. That excitement sells tickets, provides (hopefully) satisfying entertainment and the movie goers exiting the theater have had a safe experience.

Sam Fuller is an under appreciated director of films. Like the man, his films are lean, masculine and tough. Fuller has received the Bronze Star, the Silver Star and a Purple Heart in World War II.  He used many of his experiences in the excellent The Big Red One.

When asked about being in war versus making a war movie, he said: "No one can understand what war is like unless they know that behind the screen is a sniper, who may or may not shot you."

A film goer watching a war movie will never be in fear. They know that in about 90 minutes it will be over and they can go home, garb a beer form the fridge, crawl under the warm covers and snuggle someone they love.

Fuller knows, as every soldier knows, being in war is something completely, and most fearfully different. It is not going to a movie.

So this year when your slapping a huge chunk of meat on the grill or watching Saving Private Ryan for the eighth time, take a moment and appreciate what millions of women and men have sacrificed so that your can enjoy this now trivialized holiday.

Garen has been sitting in the dark for over 30 years as an film exhibitor, consultant and reviewer. You may have seen him on NE Cable or some other Boston station.  More likely you heard him pontificating about films on FrugalYankee. com, NPR, TKK, RKO, New Hampshire Public Radio, or any number of other stations he's been on, but one thing is certain, he loves, and knows, film.