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Audience Member I was a bit skeptical about watching this when I read the ratings, but after finishing it I can confidently say that this was a really solid film. I liked how it began with an extremely glorified image of the military and war, which slowly grew darker and more convoluted as the film started to question these ideals. Clear-cut boundaries of right and wrong blurred together, the film ending with stunning and tragic commentary on the price of attempting to justify violence, the pitfalls of blind groupthink, and what happens when we refuse to embrace change. Personally, the movie as a whole was sold by outstanding performances by Timothy Hutton, Sean Penn, and Tom Cruise. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/29/25 Full Review Bruce R Incredibly well-acted and gripping character study about how the right lessons and intentions can go awfully awry. Yes, there is some suspension of disbelief that has to occur. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/29/24 Full Review Reza S One of the most repulsive movies I have ever seen. No logic, no sense of empathy for any of the boneheaded juvenile idiots. Interestingly 3 big young names started their careers in such garbage production. I had never wanted a movie character to be eliminated as much as Tim Hutton’s. Not even the possessed girl in The Exorcist or Hanibal Lecter!!! Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 11/26/24 Full Review Horror fan 4 What a great movie. Lead by a great cast this was very entertaining and had great memories for me. Tim Treakle Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/11/24 Full Review Aidan B This is a really solid drama that's carried by some fantastic performances. Timothy Hutton, Tom Cruise and Sean Penn lead the cast and give excellent performances. The immensely talented George C. Scott also does a very good job. There's also a surprise performance from a very young Giancarlo Esposito. The direction is really tight and the script is fantastic. It doesn't necessarily reinvent the wheel but the characters all feel so genuinely human. There's no clear hero or villain because every character is so morally grey and you can see what their intentions are and it's up to the audience to decide who's right or wrong. A really enjoyable drama with some great performances. I'd recommend it to anyone. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/22/24 Full Review Mike P Interesting variation on Lord of the Flies; and other troubled youth/ or youth-in-revolt movies; like Kids, Rivers Edge, Over the Edge; If; Children of the Corn, etc. This time the proceedings are set at a military school, Bunker Hill Academy, (aptly named!) Cadets Sean Penn, Tom Cruise and Timothy Hutton are trying to stop their beloved Bunker Hill Academy from being taken over by local authorities and shut down. This is after their General (George C Scott) is detained in the investigation of the shooting of a local boy protesting the school. When the local authorities move in to take over the school; the kids all grab machine guns and other artillery and refuse their entry; going into a standoff with local police and government swat teams. Really this is about extreme, radical, right wing military types refusing to bow to mainstream norms and regulations; escalating to Tom Cruise's psychotic break at the ending. His David Shaun starts shooting randomly and indiscriminately into the crowds all around the school; shouting "It's beautiful! it's beautiful"! And the movie was released in tandem with Reagan's wave of Born in the USA arch conservativism that swept the nation in the early 80s. Witness the fetishized military uniforms and weapons on our young heroes on all the movie's posters; this kind of thing would reach a fervor just two years later with Rambo: First Blood Part 2 in 85. Shaun is psychotic. And while the movie clearly disapproves of him; he's only arguably slightly more unhinged than the other boys in the movie. Regardless of the movie's politics; it is well-acted, (you can't do much better than Tom Cruise, Sean Penn, Timothy Hutton and George C Scott in a movie like this!) And it's also gripping, if also a little melodramatic and manipulative at times. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/08/22 Full Review Read all reviews

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