Watch Born on the Fourth of July
Watch Born on the Fourth of July movie
- IMDB rating: 7.00
- IMDB votes: 17970
- Release Date: 1989
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- The biography of Ron Kovic. Paralyzed in the Vietnam war, he becomes an anti-war and pro-human rights political activist after feeling betrayed by the country he fought for.
- tags: Born on the Fourth of July, Born, Fourth, July, biography, Kovic, Paralyzed, Vietnam, becomes, anti-war, pro-human, rights, political, activist, after, feeling, betrayed, country, fought
Added: 14 March 2004
Vote: 7
Born on the 11th of December
In it's debut I found this film to be so offensive to me and I'm sure toalot of brave honorable veterans. Regardless of the reasons for war, oncewe send our boy's off to war they should have gotten 110% of Americansupport and nothing less.
The anti-war crowd will NEVER understand freedom or democracy. There is NOHONOR in dishonor. God bless our soldiers and their families and may Godsave this nation from the scourge of evil where ever itlurks.
They should consider renaming this film to "Born on the 11th ofDecember"John Kerry's birthday..
Added: 20 September 2005
Vote: 6
Stone is a jerk
This movie could've been great, but that jerk Oliver Stone ruined it.The movie started out just fine, but later on it just went down thedrain. I loved how it starts with our hero Ron Kovic as a kid. It showshow he grew up. It shows his desire to be a marine. It shows his lovefor his country. In the wrestling team scenes it shows how he wants tobe the best and can not accept failure. The movie kind of resembles AllQuiet on the Western Front when the recruits come to speak at the highschool. Ron and his other friends, except Steve the college boy, areall hoping to get into the war that has started. Ron is the first toreveal that he already volunteered and is all set to go. Ron is a verylikable guy in the first half of this movie. He loves his country andwants to fight for it. He is a true patriot.
Later on he runs in the rain all the way to his prom for one dance withDonna, the girl he loves. Then the movie wastes no time jumping rightinto Vietnam. Instead of showing the heroics of the men that served inVietnam Oliver Stone chooses to show our soldiers getting slaughtered.He chooses to show our men shooting women and children. He chooses toshow, in graphic detail, wounded men. Stone decided to show our men asscrew-ups instead of heroes. Out of the two battles in this movie youonly see our men being shot. You never once see the enemy get killed,or even shot. Even in Platoon, Oliver Stone chooses to show theVietcong beating the hell out of our men. He chooses to show our menburning down villages and raping little girls.
Ron Kovic is shot and wounded. When he finally gets out of a slum of ahospital that he's in he has to go home and cope with the fact thathe's paralyzed and he will never walk again. He believes that hissacrifice was made for his country. He is disgusted by the activistsdemonstrating against the soldiers and burning the American flag. Atdinner he learns that his brother is one of these people. "Love it orleave." Ron says. But as the movie goes on Ron's hair gets long, hegrows a beard, and turns into a bitter man. Because of his misfortuneshe has to blame God, he has to blame his country and his mother. All ofthis bitterness transforms Ron, who was once a patriot, into anactivist. That's when the movie really goes down hill. Born on theFourth of July turns into anti-war and anti-American propaganda.
It was such a shame that the movie had to get so terrible. Tom Cruisedid such a great job. If I where him I would still be mad for notgetting the Academy Award. This is the best performance you will eversee Tom Cruise give. I think that is the only reason I gave this moviea second viewing. Tom Cruise was out of this world.
As for Oliver Stone, I am really disgusted by this man. Like Ron Kovicsays, "Love it or leave it." I believe Oliver Stone currently lives inFrance. Stay there Mr. Stone. Don't bother coming back you Fidel Castroloving, trouble making, anti-American piece of ****. This man cries theblues about loss in his movies about Vietnam. He constantly takes shotsat America and its government. Did he come back paralyzed? Did he comeback shell-shocked? No, he came back to America and made millions as adirector. He didn't, and still doesn't, have a damn thing to complainabout. I know veterans that came back with real problems and even theydon't cry as much as Oliver Stone. Maybe Oliver Stone should've beenkilled in Vietnam. Maybe he should've been shot down like the dog thathe is. Maybe then Americans wouldn't constantly have to see hishorrible movies that are nothing but slanted b*******. Americansshouldn't even go to see his movies anymore. His waste of a movie,Alexander, that Tom Cruise was smart enough to turn down, alreadybombed. I hope his next movie does even worse.
If you want to see great movies about the war in Vietnam see DeerHunter, Full Metal Jacket, or We Were Soldiers. Stay away from thisone. You want to see great movies about real men that fought in warssee Sergeant York about Alvin York, Hell to Eternity about GuyGabaldon, and To Hell and Back about Audie Murphy the most decoratedsoldier in US history. These were real heroes. These were great moviesmade by filmmakers that had respect. Ron Kovic was a self-centered jerkthat turned his back on his country just because things didn't go hisway.
Added: 1 May 2002
Vote: 4
A soldier injured in the war, nagging in wheelchair the whole movie.
You understand the point of the movie in like 5 minutes, then it?s justabout keeping up with Tom Cruise?s nagging for 3 hours straight!! Thepointof the movie is of course how war can change a man. The war scenes is overbefore they have begun...
User: ding50Added: 6 January 2001
Vote: 7
A disservice to the men who fought the war.
This movie is a major slap in the face for the American soldiers whofoughtand died in Vietnam. Besides only halfheartedly following the book, themovie is barely laced with enough fact to make it believable. Ron Kovicwaswounded on his SECOND TOUR in Vietnam. That means he volunteered to goback.Ron Kovic himself served his country well while he was in the Marines; heearned several medals and commendations for his bravery and loyalty(including the Bronze Star Medal for valor, Navy Commendation Medal, andVietnam Cross of Gallantry), and I feel great pity for him for havingendorsed a blatant anti-war propaganda movie like this. If you want tolearnwhat Vietnam was really like, don't watch this movie or Stone's otherfictitious Vietnam movie, "Platoon".
User: MrSudsAdded: 10 September 1999
Vote: 3
Tom Cruise makes lemonade?
This was quite likely the worst big budget, major star, motion picture Ihave ever had the displeasure to sit through. While both Cruise and Stoneare talented individuals, this story was the equivalent of being hit with abrick for no reason other than someone had one handy.
The story of Kovacs was one of triumph of will, but Stone felt it moreinteresting to spend 95% of the movie pummelling you with all the dreadfulthings that happened, and very little on the protagonists eventualredemption.
As for Cruise, it may not have been his fault, but the make up artist wasawful-when his hairline is supposed to be thinning, it looks like he'strying out for the lead in the next installment of "The ToxicAvenger"...it's very disconcerting.
My advice to anyone tempted to see this movie, is save time-throw your twoor three dollars rental fee out the window, and hit yourself solidly on thehead.
Added: 11 October 2007
Vote: 4
Ollie does it again!
War is hell, but this movie is torture. Non actor Cruise whines,bellyaches and bitches and moans about Vietnam AFTER he enlists!Sure,he winds up paralyzed, but so did thousands of other vets. Another"agenda driven" piece of leftist, anti American drivel by Oliver Stone.Lets face it, this guy just hates America, period.A major slap in theface to every veteran who served in any war. This is the kind ofpropaganda that captured GIs were forced to watch while they were"guests" at the "Hanoi Hilton". The only thing missing from thisso-called film is Jane Fonda. Maybe someone should make a real movieabout paralyzed veterans and how they were proud to serve theircountry, and show us the REAL way the left wingers treated them whenthey got home.I also object to the word "liberal" being used todescribe Stone.A liberal is traditionally a person who looks t all theissues wit\th an open mind before he {or she} forms a conclusion.Stoneis just a far left winger. Did he ever make an objective -or openminded film? it's all just propaganda. PS-Ron kovic was born on the5th. of July.My rating-zero stars.
User: JOHN WERNERAdded: 7 November 2004
Vote: 3
Great performances in a biased movie
Oliver Stone outdid himself if his purpose was to produce yet another
anti-war movie in that he used the main character's true story to
malign Vietnam Veterans and prove once again that Hollywood never hasunderstood why America went into Vietnam in the first place. War ishell and no one can deny the human sacrifice suffered by our veteransduring that period but Stone unfortunately fragments a true story andangles it simply to make a political statement which is unfortunatesince the
performances are outstanding especially that of Tom Cruise.The movie
drags on before Stone's intent becomes quite clear and the audience
is left to wonder why it took Stone such a long time to make his
point.
Added: 18 June 2008
Vote: 1
Powerful, disturbing, unflinching.
A truly wrenching film that earned Oliver Stone an Oscar for direction.With a script by Stone and Ron Kovic based on Kovic's autobiographythis may be Stone's finest film. He elicits excellent performances froma large cast in which Caroline Kava, Willem Dafoe, and Frank Whaleystand out and Cruise who's in virtually every scene gives theperformance of his career. Cruise is intense, powerful, moving, andcertainly Oscar worthy. Unsurprisingly, Stone's direction isunrelenting, and he really pours on John William's stirring score, butthe faults of the film pale besides it's strengths which are indelible.Most of the film deals with the treatment the wheelchair bound Kovicsreceived back home in the US. The film is not just an indictment of warbut of humanity itself. The scenes at the wretched VA hospital in theBronx where Kovis was confined, should cause anyone to think twicebefore enlisting. Don't think twice about watching this necessary film.
User: Boba_Fett1138Added: 20 February 2004
Vote: 2
The effects of the Vietnam war on a boy, his family, his hometown and the rest of America.
"Born on the Fourth of July" is probably one of the best anti war movieswith only just a few minutes set in Vietnam itself.
The great thing about "Born on the Fourth of July" is that it doesn't onlyfocuses on the individual (such as is in many other Vietnam movies is thecase) but also focuses on the effect that it had on the family and friendsand how it changed an entire country.
The movie starts of really well and keeps the pace high. It's too bad thatafter the Vietnam scene's (which are in my opinion the best of the movie,even though they are only just a few minutes short) the movie gets a bitslow and not always interesting to watch. Only when the anti-wardemonstrations start the movie gets interesting again until the abrupt andnot satisfying ending comes. Still the movie works effective and shows a"beautiful" portrayal of the effects of war in many different kinds ofways.
Visually the movie looks wonderful even though some of the scene's are wayover the top at times. Mainly thanks to Robert Richardson's cinematography,some good editing and Oliver Stone's directing the movie looks like eyecandy. But it's also a feast to the ears, John Williams musical score ispowerful as well as emotional and suits the movie perfectly. Truly yetanother John Williams masterpiece.
The movie is also well casted. Tom Cruise is great as Ron Kovic. Also lookout for a at that time still unknown Tom Sizemore as a crazy Vietnamveteran, he is even named in the opening credits like they already knew backthen that he would become a star later. Also notable is Willem Dafoe in hisrole as Charlie that should have been bigger in my opinion.
Powerful Vietnam movie that has it flaws but still is veryeffective.
8/10
Added: 13 January 2002
Vote: 1
Realistic but flawed
I had seen the Deer Hunter a couple of months ago and comparing the twofilms was almost inevitable. Both films tackle with the same subject: thefate that awaited those who managed to return to their homes from Viet Nam;the attitude towards them by their family, friends and society in general.Although Born on the Fourth of July seems more realistic than the DeerHunter (and certainly more cruel), at the same time it is irritatinglyoveremotional at times and contains boring drama cliches. Overall I had thefeeling that Stone tried to force viewers to cry, pushing situations toofar. Cruise is very good, but he didn't convince me totally. Some scenesthough, are definitely worth a look.
6
Added: 10 June 2002
Vote: 1
Give me a break
****SPOILER
I understand that the filmmakers had put lots of energy into making thisfilm memorable and perhaps philosophical. But it simply doesn't work! All Ihave seen in this movie are several separate stories with the sameprotagonist. Except these, there is nothing at all! The film absolutelylacks coherence; the film jumps from a scene to another, but leaves theaudience in the fog, not being able to understand what the hell hashappened! And to this day, I still don't know why a Willem Dafoe was needed.Needless to day, Tom Cruises's work is easy enough: sitting on a wheelchair,whining for a couple of hours. Somehow I want to be him: earning a dime likehe did is tough cool.
The message the film carries is simple and easily understood. Yet, thewriter of the screenplay apparently had no idea how to put it morenaturally, and spoilt the movie.
Want to see memorable war-movies? Pick up Saving Private Ryan and The ThinRed Line. Leave Born on the Fourth of July on the shelf.
Added: 28 December 2002
Vote: 1
Makes you think
This movie is an under appreciated masterpiece. You may not agree withitsmessage, but it is a powerful story. I wish that people like Bush andthosein Congress watch it before they decide to attack Iraq. And don't accusemeof being liberal, I am a South Park Republican.
User: Sue MahoneyAdded: 7 February 2005
Vote: 1
Unreal Film.
I would have to say that this film was absolutely unreal. I wish ThatOliver Stone could go back to making the films like this and Platoonthat were just masterpieces. What happened!? I just so believed TomCruise in the part of Ron - he was Ron and I remember when this allwent down when his book came out - I could swear that I was watchingthe actual guy through his journey. I think the fact that Tom Cruisedid not receive an Academy Award that year was criminal. If there wasever an example of a fine job by an actor - that was it! They should ada category in the Oscars like adapted screenplay, and originalscreenplay - one for actors portraying actual people.
User: Gavin Schmitt (gavin6942@yahoo.com)Added: 30 October 2006
Vote: 1
Classic Anti-Vietnam Movie That Really Need Not Be Classic
The story of a man who wanted to be the best... who joined the Marinesand lost his legs... only to eventually see that sometimes war is notall honor. Sometimes war is a mistake.
Oliver Stone has some obsession with Vietnam, with this movie,"Platoon" and "JFK" all focusing on it. This one is easily the weakestof the three. And I must say it sure is brave to make a film standingagainst the war, fifteen years after it's over. Way to go, Stone.
Tom Cruise was nominated for a boatload of awards... and yeah, he hasno legs. But his acting was as poor as ever and whoever gave him themustache did a really poor job making it look real. I was distracted bythe mustache, and when I wasn't I still thought Cruise was being alittle boy in a grown man's role.
The story itself was decent, as it traced a man's journey from beingall-American and anti-Communist to a war protester, and was a truestory. But it wasn't anything I hadn't heard before. The only new thingwas the Mexican prostitutes, who seemed really out of place in thismovie. But again, I guess it really happened.
I give the film a 7 for effort and spirit, but really I could have goneon with my life never having seen this emotionless crud.
Added: 22 March 2008
Vote: 1
An intense film made by Tom Cruise and Oliver Stone
I always felt that Tom Cruise was a great actor because he puts hisheart and mind into all of his roles. In "Born on the Fourth of July",he illuminates the screen intensely as Ron Kovic, a young man who feelsthat it is his duty to serve his country in the war against"communism". After being paralyzed from his second tour of duty, hequickly develops a change of heart as he sees how the war has affectedthe nation from violent protests and his memories of combat haunt him.In the end, he learns that war brings nothing but sorrow and becomes ananti-war activist. I'm very, very surprised that Tom didn't get hisOscar for this.
Another huge factor that helped make the film's power was thecinematography by Robert Richardson. The battle scenes are tinted red,symbolizing blood. The dreams are in white, representing peace. Thevisions and other scenes of sorrow are blue. All three colors coincidewith the American flag. I'm disappointed that this did not get Mr.Richardson his first Oscar. Uhm? The screenplay by Oliver Stone ispretty good, but his powerful direction makes the film more gripping.The score by John Williams is haunting, although some of it reminds meof The Patriot. In addition, the editing and sound was well-equipped.
The lack of character support by Willem Dafoe, Frank Whaley, and KyraSedgwick did not harm the film too much; however, I felt the movie leftsome side stories that could have been developed more like Ron'srelationship with his girlfriend Donna. But I what bothered me was theunneeded f-bombs. There was hardly a swear word in the first twentyminutes. Then as soon as the war scenes come along, every character hasa bigger mouth than Eric Cartman. I also felt some of the scenes ofdrug use and sex could have been left out. They added nothing to thestory, just an increase of the R rating.
Nonetheless, I was captivated by this work of Oliver Stone and TomCruise. This is the sixth film I have seen made by Oliver Stone. Ofthose half a dozen movies, I find this to be his second best, rightbehind Platoon.
Added: 29 July 2008
Vote: 1
Born on the 4th of July is a Yankee Doodle Dandy of A Film ****
No matter what you think of the political views of director OliverStone, he has created a masterpiece here in his Oscar winning directingof this terrific film.
As Ron Kovic, Tom Cruise has never been better. The gung-ho kid whostrongly believed in his country and went to war only to find out therealities of Vietnam proves Cruise's true grit in his remarkableperformance. Cruise should have won the Oscar here but lost out to anexcellent Daniel Day Lewis for "My Left Foot." Ironically, the academygenerally goes for handicapped people in awarding their statues. Thatyear, 1989, they had 2 handicapped men vying for best actor in theperformances by both Cruise and Lewis.
Willem DeFoe gives a sensational brief performance as an embitteredVietnam vet. The latter's wheelchair fight with Cruise is remarkablydone.
Besides the morality of the war, the film gives us a grim reminder ofwhat hospital conditions were like for severely injured soldiers andthe taunting that they faced when they participated in the anti-wardemonstration.
"Born on the 4th of July" is a riveting film depicting a very tragicera in the history of this great country.
Added: 13 December 2008
Vote: 1
Another awesome work by Oliver Stone
I think this movie is actually good, even TOm CRuise is good, eventhough the movies message is actually poetic and symbolic about howungrateful can your own country be,America did a lot of things inVietnam,and the hippies opposed it,now the Americans agree with thehippies.A lot of movies show the horrors at war, that is why I lovemovies, we will soon realize that this war in Irak is also useless, thepoint is that war does not solve anything,that is the symbolic messagethis movie gives you and that in war, we are just tools of thegovernment . I hope this movie gets to you like it got to me,and thismessage to. Thank you if you like this comment please e-mail me
User: gbheronAdded: 18 March 2000
Vote: 3
Stone and Cruise at Their Best
Born on the Fourth of July chronicles the deep schisms that divided Americaduring the late 60s and early 70s. The mechanism for conveying the story isthe autobiography of Ron Kovic, high school athlete, combat Marine, andanti-war activist. His story is a tortuous one, from naive All Americanhigh school kid, to gung-ho Marine in the battlefields of Vietnam where heis severely wounded and crippled. It continues through the nightmare offilthy stateside veteran's hospitals and back into a much-changed America. An America being rent apart by the politics of Vietnam which Ron does notunderstand and from which he feels alienated.
Cruise's portrayal of Kovic is some of his best work. He goes fromfresh-faced high school kid, to the tormented battle-weary veteran. Cruisemakes this heavy, dramatic metamorphosis believable; it's a greatperformance.
This is a powerful movie, and one I highly recommend.
Added: 3 June 1999
Vote: 2
GREAT movie, but...
Although I am being picky, having the movie filmed in Texas and notMassapequa when you're a local kind of takes away from the mood. The townlooks just like what it is, a town in Texas, in the movie. Although it isnice to hear references to landmarks and places :
User: dpowers2Added: 2 February 2008
Vote: 2
Could Have Been Better, But Still Thought it Was Cool
The 80's were a decade just like our current one. Very few outstandingfilms came around, but when they did, they made an impact. This filmdid just that for me. Displaying the realism of what a war can do to aperson. While some scenes can be a little much, it definitely held trueto the time period and views people had. Tom Cruise was fantastic inthis film. Had he not been up against Daniel Day Lewis, he would havewon the Oscar. This role shows a different side of Cruise. In many ofhis films he plays a hot shot, smart-mouthed punk, but this role isserious through and through. This proves that Cruise has the actingchops if he would just take the right film roles. If you want to see agripping, eye opening, and inspiring film, then see Born on the Fourthof July. A large supporting cast of familiar faces and great acting andfilm-making make this a must see.
