Who payed the critics

Don't Believe the Hype

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

I enjoyed watching "Heartbreak Ridge" but can also understand why the US Marines disavowed the film. Sure, it was quite jingoistic and patriotic but the language was NOT what the Marines want the public to hear...though in reality that sort of salty and politically incorrect dialog is exactly how the Marines I have known talk!The film centers around an aging and somewhat anachronistic Gunnery Sergeant, Highway (Clint Eastwood). He's pretty much a tough-as- nails stereotype of a career military man....for good and for bad. His new assignment is a group of (unrealistic) Marines who are worthless jerks. He has to whip them into shape...or see them die should they ever go into combat.The best way to describe the film is "The Sands of Iwo Jima" with a STRONG Rated-R bent. The language is often crude and offensive (especially in this politically correct era) and it is NOT a film for everyone. But it is enjoyable and well made...and Eastwood's character is one you won't soon forget.

Clint Eastwood's Heartbreak Ridge is best described as a cross between Stripes and Full Metal Jacket. Also, Heartbreak Ridge came out in a time frame in between both film's releases. Clint is great as Marine Corps. lifer Thomas Highway. The supporting cast was excellent as well with Mario Van Peebles giving his best performance ever as "The Duke Of Cool" Stitch Jones. Heartbreak Ridge is a great blend of comedy, drama and action. There is great dialogue, performances and balances genres really well. While not strictly an action movie, Heartbreak Ridge has a lot in common with the cold war era 80's action flicks that were popular in this period. Heartbreak Ridge was not exactly the recruitment poster the US Marines wanted and they withdrew their support for the project. Clint did an about face and went ahead and made the film he wanted to make. Heartbreak Ridge is an excellent film and by far my favorite Clint film to come out in the 80's.

Highway (Clint Eastwood) is a hard-nosed Korean and Vietnam war veteran. After the latest drunken rampage, he gets his wish and gets sent back to the Second Recon Battalion, Second Marine Division. His new CO is the strict arrogant Major Powers (Everett McGill) who has never seen conflict. He's given a bunch of malcontents to lead. His platoon leader is the nerdy bookish Lt. Ring (Boyd Gaines). He needs to get his squad into shape and then they are sent into Grenada to rescue university students.Director Clint Eastwood breaks out all the clichés. He does it well. It is all gung ho militaristic rah rah. The most memorable part of the movie is the T-shirt bit. It's a relatively fine John Wayne movie. It's not really trying to be more.

The climax of the movie comes when the US military invades Grenada which seems to have no standing military and only weapons purchased by mail order. Obviously going into such dangerous ground means that all the invading soldiers are heroes. It is hard to drum up tension for such a mild finish. Did Clint Eastwood need to be such a tough drill sergeant to prepare his troops to do this? A few boy scouts with bad attitudes could handle this assignment. It is not necessary to have a war movie for every US conflict no matter how petty. Perhaps we need a scene where the soldiers debate bringing their bathing suits to use after the morning's fighting is done. Clint Eastwood did better working with monkeys.