So ….last night “House Cinc” (the Ms) and I went and saw Gran Torino the movie. Although we went to the 7:230 showing, on Sat night made for a fantastic freak show of the paint chip licking teenagers I got to see while standing in line. Do they own mirrors? For all that is holy, do their parents let them go out like that because they hate them? I saw proof of why some parents eat their young…..
Anyway, the movie is about 2rhs long. The theater was full (pretty sure I was one of the youngest guys there) as I had chit chat with two retired Army dogs in the concessions line. Good talk!
Gran Torino is directed by Clint Eastwood as well and portrays a Korean vet that has lost his spouse ans is now living by himself in an overpopulated and growing neighborhood. He adopts the neighborhood kid by default as a friend (not by law). Basically teaches this kid to be a man and not a damn cry baby who has to have the “im a winner” complex crammed down his neck. While facing some demons of his own, Eastwood makes it perfectly clear what it means to stand for something and not fall by intimidation and demonstrates the meanining of life and death.
After the movie there were a few moist eyes in the crowed and followed by applause by those watching as the credits rolled. (not sure this is normal where you are and it’s the first for me to have people applaud in the theater) but hell, it was a good flick and perhaps will help my Ms understand why I mumble and scowl at some kids these days. Go see it, it’s a good movie…..wish I could have smoked a stoag during it….seemed fitting.
See the movie trailer here: http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/grantorino/large.html
We went to see it yesterday-loved it! (I admit to wanting to see Clint kick their butts a little more than he did, but hey.) :) I confess: I cried at the end, too. Wonder if the libs will vote for Clint to win the Oscar this year? I don't think any of them would have understood the message anyway. Idiots.
Posted by: Kelli | January 18, 2009 at 05:18 PM
Got a good laugh at your description of the teens you saw. I feel exactly the same way.
As for the movie, will try to see it when it's on DVD so I don't have to mingle with those teens. :-) Clint has rarely made a bad movie, so I'm looking forward to it.
Posted by: MissBirdlegs in AL | January 18, 2009 at 05:21 PM
Good review, Maj.
Clint's like a fine wine - gets better with age.
Posted by: Sammy D | January 19, 2009 at 12:25 AM
You jarheads are so stupid. You missed the whole message. Clint was wrong to judge people by their looks in the movie and you are doing it in real life...
Posted by: Isuckcock | January 19, 2009 at 01:39 AM
Have heard and read so many good reviews of this movie. But then -- hey, it's Clint Eastwood!!
And yeah, isn't it a good thing we were never goofy teenagers like those kids in line! :)
Posted by: Kath | January 19, 2009 at 06:52 AM
With a name like isuckcock do you really think I would take anything you say seriously. But hey, it's those stupid jarheads that protect your right to say and write whatever you want!
Posted by: sue | January 19, 2009 at 12:24 PM
Who's the cockhead commenting!Sorry ladies for what I am about to say.You may think the name you have chosen is cute,but I can see by your comments it's your profession.There are many cyber sites out there that would love to hear your lips beating together but not here asshat.Before you dis the gentlemen who owns this site and the entire USMC just think of what the hell you have contributed to society.While you sit in mommy and daddy's basement on their computer shoveling cheetos and soda's in your over weight cake hole these brave men and women are sacraficing all.The Maj has served numerous tours to Iraq and Afghanistan and does not need me to speak on his or the USMC's behalf.But your comments have hit a sore spot and I feel compelled to tell you to piss off.That being said clint seems to be like a fine wine or scotch he just keeps getting better with age.I also will wait for the cd so I may watch while smoking a cigar and a drinking a brew.God Bless
Posted by: referman | January 21, 2009 at 09:13 AM
Referman----nicely put my friend....he was dumb enough to use his actual email. Its all good. I have a very special place in my little world for people like him. Semper & keep attacking!
Posted by: Maj Pain | January 21, 2009 at 07:56 PM
to answer the question on whether or not libs would vote for Clint to get an Oscar - I've read several 'professional' reviews where they say that Clint should not have starred in his own movie because there was no good acting and a lot of old Clint's cliches instead...so they declared the movie a mild success for Clint the director but a failure for Clint the actor who tried to make this movie as his acting swan song...
Posted by: olga | January 21, 2009 at 11:35 PM
Based on what I have been hearing, that movie about famous deceased deviant Harvey Milk has already basically been determined to get best movie and best actor for Baghdad Sean. From the clips I have seen, he appears to play an excellent pole smoker, but that is really no surprise.
Posted by: USMC Steve | January 22, 2009 at 09:08 AM
Why is everyone getting on isuck's case? He complimented Eastwood, didn't say one word against the USMC, and simply reminded us that many of us were young and goofy once too..LOOK AGAIN..it was someone named "SAMMY D" in the previous post who dissed our military and said the blogger missed the point of the movie.. NOT Isuck!! Though I agree, that's a shameful name to post on a publicly viewed blog site.
I saw the movie twice and clearly in it,Clint's character started out judging people by their outward appearance, but through interacting with them he learned not to do that..though he continued to judge them by their behavior.. and he judged correctly. So,the kids in line looked funny.. how were they acting?
Posted by: Jody | January 23, 2009 at 10:00 PM
okay I was wrong... it WAS Isuc. who posted the nasty gram... having entered my post I just learned the name BELOW the black line is the poster.. not the name that appears within the black lines that have the post between them.. I'M SORRY SAMMY D!! Please forgive me.. I am the dummy. that black line thingy had me all confuzzled.
Posted by: Jody | January 23, 2009 at 10:05 PM
I too went to the 7:00 PM Saturday showing. Classic Clint...Irreverant, and anti politically correct.
I am older than prolly a lot of folks I saw there, but for me the movie depicted what I truthfully know about life. Having spent my time in RVN, and Japan, and having spent time visiting with Marine veterans from WWII and Korea, I fully understand where the movie was coming from. Clint superbly reflects how we move from stereotypes to individually understanding. Bravo Zulu!
Posted by: gunnypink | January 31, 2009 at 03:32 PM
I found Kelli's original comment to be insulting.
She wrote:
"Wonder if the libs will vote for Clint to win the Oscar this year? I don't think any of them would have understood the message anyway. Idiots."
RRRrrrright. All of us West Coast liberals can't possibly understand the significance or symbolism of a film like this. It's not like we've studied the various schools of criticism and have developed the ability to produce works like this. Remind me again just how many movies are produced by the bible belt?
Kelli: you're naive if you think this movie wasn't made possibly BY liberals rather than IN SPITE of them. Brush up on reality, girl.
Posted by: <---inflated her IQ | February 04, 2009 at 11:42 AM
i'm a bit late in my comment,;(
OOPS!...but my friend (whose also a former Marine)saw this flick and said it was really quite good.
(I have to agree with u on the younger people that go out these days!....No they DONT own mirrors!
Believe me,Im in canada,and its a universal Freak show for youth now!HA!
Posted by: sadee | February 28, 2009 at 03:26 AM