One heck of a movie.
One other viewer (that I know) in the theater tonight was a Navy man, celebrating his 87th birthday. He was very impressed with what he watched.
I saw it and I liked it very much. Those guys have got my respect. He saved a lot of lives.
I thought it was very good, if a bit disturbing (as real life can be). Bradley Cooper did a great job as Kyle, but I was disappointed at the way they portrayed Kyle's transformation from PTSD victim to Mr. Happy as though all he had to do was decide to think positive and everything would be fine. I have a hard time believing anyone can do and see what Kyle did and saw without incurring some serious long-term psychological damage.
> I thought it was very good, if a bit disturbing (as real life can be). Bradley Cooper did a great job as Kyle, but I was disappointed at the way they portrayed Kyle's transformation from PTSD victim to Mr. Happy as though all he had to do was decide to think positive and everything would be fine. I have a hard time believing anyone can do and see what Kyle did and saw without incurring some serious long-term psychological damage.
My wife deals with her patients that suffer PTSD all the time. Sometimes she comes home crying because she feels their pain and knows what they have seen can not be unseen or what they have done can not be undone. The military calls it "Shell Shocked" as to not be categorized as PTSD to make it sound less harmful. The VA is a horribly run organization that does not take care of it's veterans, I know this first hand. Maybe this is just in our area but something needs to happen. Psychological reviews after you come back from country instead of before you were sent to country do nothing but prove some people were not stable to see war. If I/We could make a difference my wife suggests that people enlisting in the military have to go through a per-psychological test to determine if they are suitable for 'combat'.
Just my rant.. well my wife's.. but she's usually (always) right.
Great movie though!
I have not seen the film, but for those that might want to temper Hollywood with books, I have some recommendations by Bill Shields, a Vietnam war era US Navy sniper. 'Human Shrapnel', 'The Southeast Asian Book of the Dead' and 'Boy In the Air'. These read heavy and frightening, so may not be suited for everyone.
Apparently the movie didn't address some lies that could indicate his struggle with PTSD (continuing to fight the good fight at home variety lies). Not sure if it matters much. Jesse Ventura had already won a defamation suit against the estate (related part of the book taken out) so they probably could not bring that lie up without further legal problems.
Astopper,
Thank your Wife for the work she does. Too few can step into that role. IMO we should adjust the way troops are returned to 'the world' and begin to deal with PTSD before these kids leave the service. At the very least make a consistent effort to point them the right direction for help.
In the World Wars troops spent weeks processing out of combat followed by weeks on a troop ship home. Now we can be at the dining room table 48 hours after a fire fight. Combine that with elimination of policies promoting unit cohesion and the results are horrific.
I am fortunate to get my care a great VA facility. Giving my full opinion of the political manipulation going on now would get this thread yanked. Let's hope this country steps up and takes care of its own..
> In the World Wars troops spent weeks processing out of combat followed by weeks on a troop ship home.
My dad, who just turned 90, fought in Europe during WWII. He still has nightmares from that experience.
My comment certainly wasn't meant to take anything from those Veterans. It was to point out one source of the increase in PTSD over time. Taking it back to the subject at hand-
This movie may increase awareness of what these kids are dealing with. That's a good thing IMO...
:good:
Jim, I've never met your dad, but he is a hero in my view. I've personally met hundreds of WWII vets with a variety of personalities. A waist gunner on a B-17 visited me back in the early 2000's with his wife. He was a crew member of "Sunrise Serenade" in which I wrote a book about. Both of his arms were bruised. He told me that he still flails around in bed at night and hits the headboard or lamp stamp. I cannot imagine what those who fought on the ground have experienced. The wives of these guys are just as amazing.
I have a good friend who was the last man off of Fire base Ripcord in Nam. He deals with it real well. I can't tell you here what he says. If you want to read a good book read Screaming Eagles under siege. He was also in the Sog group.
