SEMPER REFORMANDA

Monday, January 27, 2014

There's a chain of command. Gripes go up, not down. Always up.

Chaplain Galyon posted his All-Time Favorite Military Movies.

He's a better man than I in various and sundry ways. His discipline to limit his list to 10 is just another example of that reality.

My Top 20 Favorite Military* Movies:

Forrest Gump ... "We was always taking long walks and we was always looking for a guy named Charlie."
Stripes ... "Lighten up, Francis."
Taps ... "They want us to be good little boys now so we can fight some war for them in the future. Some war they'll decide on. We'd rather fight our own war right now."
Dances with Wolves ... "My place is with you. I go where you go."
Top Gun ... "Negative, Ghost Rider, the pattern is full."
Heartbreak Ridge ... "This is the AK-47 assault rifle, the preferred weapon of your enemy; and it makes a distinctive sound when fired at you, so remember it.
The Final Countdown ... "I'm talking about the classic paradox of time."
Rambo ... "I want, what they want, and every other guy who came over here and spilled his guts and gave everything he had, wants! For our country to love us as much as we love it!"
An Officer and a Gentleman ... "I want your D.O.R!"
Taking Chance ... "You are his witness now. Without a witness, they just disappear."
Platoon ... "New meat! You dudes gonna love the Nam."
We Were Soldiers ... "We who have seen war, will never stop seeing it."
Braveheart ... "Every man dies, not every man really lives."
Saving Private Ryan ... "Well, from my way of thinking, sir, this entire mission is a serious misallocation of valuable military resources."
Apocalypse Now ... "I love the smell of napalm in the morning."
Patton ... "All real Americans love the sting of battle."
Full Metal Jacket ... "A jelly donut?!"
A Few Good Men ... "You can't handle the truth!"
Outlaw Josey Wales ... "Dyin' ain't much of a livin', boy."
Sergeant York ... "Folks back home used to say I could shoot a rifle before I was weaned, but they was exaggeratin' some."

*Previously, I'd offered a list of 10 Favorite WAR Movies.

Labels: military, movies, war

Monday, March 21, 2011

That is a lucid, intelligent, well thought-out objection. Overruled.

For a while I was seriously interested in becoming a lawyer, including LSAT study. Perhaps that's why I have such an affinity for what we might call "courtroom" movies.

For your consideration, the Top 10 Courtroom Movies:

A Few Good Men
12 Angry Men
My Cousin Vinny
To Kill a Mockingbird
Helter Skelter
The Music Box
A Time to Kill
Miracle on 34th Street
Men of Honor
Runaway Jury

Labels: movies

Monday, December 13, 2010

It's over, Anakin; I have the high ground.

I've never actually got up and walked out on a movie, though I've been tempted many times. But, I was never so close to leaving in disgust as when watching Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. That's the one where Anakin becomes Darth Vader and the bridge is made between Attack of the Clones (II) and A New Hope (IV).

I can vividly still remember the exact point in the movie, because I still cringe when I encounter it. I checked out when Obi Wan exclaimed, "It's over, Anakin; I have the high ground."

While I was ranting about this again at Whataburger, Cody Dixon came across another blog post feeling my pain.

The blogger does a nice job of examining all the evidence for and against having the high ground in battle. The results might surprise you. For example, "Yoda vs. Sidious : Sidious vs. Luke : Vader vs. Luke ...They all had the high ground but lost!!!!!!"

This is but one of my criticisms of inconsistency of the series, but it's the biggest groaner, even trumping Obi Wan's, "So, what I said was true ... from a certain point of view" in Return of the Jedi (VI). But, of course, only a Sith deals in absolutes. (HT Obi Wan)

Read the entire post: The High Ground?!....Really!?

Watch Obi Wan jump the shark.

Labels: Good Bull, movies

Friday, May 28, 2010

We who have seen war, will never stop seeing it. In the silence of the night, we will always hear the screams.

Last Memorial Day I got this in an email from my mom: "Memorial Day needs to be changed to War Movies Day."

They, particularly my dad, had been watching war movies all day.

So, I've been sitting on this post for about a year. Some suggestions for your viewing pleasure this weekend ...

Gunny's 10 Favorite War Movies:

Sergeant York - Perhaps my favorite movie of all time because it moves you to think about issues of faith & war and "the using kind of religion."
Patton - George C. Scott is outstanding and the opening speech for the 3rd Army is money. If nothing else, you must watch his opening monologue.
Glory - It sends a powerful and thought-provoking message about the Civil War and war in general.
Apocalypse Now - The first time I saw it I found it just bizarre, but I have grown to really appreciate the movie. Of course, the acting is top notch.
We Were Soldiers - Perhaps I'm biased because my dad knows LTC Moore, but I thought this was one of the Vietnam movies that didn't come off as somewhat anti-soldier, as many anti-war Vietnam movies do. This is an inspiring story about facing insurmountable odds and the value of courageous leadership.
Full Metal Jacket - The greatness of the movie actually happens prior to Private Joker actually arriving in Vietnam. You can't beat R. Lee Ermey as Gunnery Sgt. Hartman, your senior drill instructor.
Schindler's List - Though not laden with a lot of warfare, in the midst of war you learn about good & bad in humanity in this stirring film.
Platoon - This was the first Vietnam War movie I remember seeing and the soundtrack was memorable as well.
Braveheart - It's so quotable and stirring, particularly the motivating Mel Gibson. You'll never take away his freedom.
Saving Private Ryan - Though I don't think it's the best World War II movie ever made, it would be hard to find one made better, particularly the battle scenes.

Honorable Mention: Das Boot, Guns of Navarone, Tora, Tora, Tora, Escape to Victory, and The Longest Day.

Miss any?

UPDATE: The following are some greatly appreciated suggestions received in the comments.

Hamburger Hill
Taking Chance
Band of Brothers (mini-series)
Seven Samurai (though not an American war)
Flags of Our Fathers
Letters from Iwo Jima
The Patriot
Tears of the Sun
The Bridge On the River Kwai
Paths of Glory
Gods and Generals
The Boys in Company C
The Lost Battalion
Bravo Two Zero
The Deer Hunter
The Great Escape
Midway
U-571
The Dirty Dozen
Hart's War
Basic
Memphis Belle
Bat*21

Labels: Good Bull, history, holidays, movies, war

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Any man don't keep order spends a night in ... the box.

Chris Arnold use to say that, "Movie watching is a sport."

Perhaps he's right. If so, we owe it to each other to recommend worthwhile sporting events, not watching someone fishing on ESPN2 in the wee hours of the morning.

To that end, I submit to you my favorite incarceration movies:

Cool Hand Luke
Shawshank Redemption
My Cousin Vinny
Blues Brothers
Stir Crazy
Raising Arizona
The Green Mile
(Escape to) Victory
The Longest Yard (1974)
The Great Escape

Honorable Mention: Silence of the Lambs, Dead Man Walking, Escape from Alcatraz

Did I miss any?

UPDATE: Apparently, I did miss some! Thanks for those who squared me away in the comments.

Labels: movies

Saturday, December 17, 2005

You want to investigate me, roll the dice and take your chances.

I thought it might be wise/helpful to establish my ethos, explaining who I am, where I've been, and what I'm about (including my weirdness and the nickname "Gunny").

First, I am a sinner saved by grace to be a child of God. Consequently, I am now simul iustus et peccator, simultaneously justified and sinner. (Read more on my theological perspective.)

PERSONAL:

Married: Mary Ellen Hartman (1993)
4 Children

EMPLOYMENT:

Pastor, Providence Church, TX (SBC)
Adjunct Professor, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

EDUCATION:

B.A., Speech Communication, Texas A&M University (1993)
M.S., Educational Administration, Texas A&M University (1995)
Th.M., Pastoral Leadership, Dallas Theological Seminary (1998)
M.St., History of Doctrine, Oxford University (1999)
Ph.D., Rhetoric, University of Texas at Arlington (in progress)

*Full Resume* (pdf format)

One of many QUIRKS: I enjoy & use movie quotes.
As such, I will more often than not use movie quotes as blog entry titles. There are extra points if you can guess the origin (and I encourage you to be the first to post such in the comments section). As a hint I will list all referenced movies below (in alphabetical order). Note, citation doesn't necessarily entail endorsement of the movie, but more often than not it will.