A Few Good Men

I personally do not favor court case movies because there is too much dialogue in it and sometimes, it makes me feel very bored. There is just too much talking in the whole movie. I would seriously be dishonest if I say that I love this movie just to please my lecturer. Maybe it is the way I see a movie, I did not see it in dept and just I did not analyze all the scenes thoroughly. But there is always one thing that will somehow capture my attention, that is when the character in the movie says a particular sentence or phrase that is very meaningful. The movie, A Few Good Men, directed by Rob Reiner has all the drama in the courtroom, the way they the lawyers handle the case, the irony and fear of losing the case and near to giving up hope when they lose all their witness, the relationships the lawyers had between each other, the way the characters “mature” at the end of the movie and the way all the characters bring themselves up in the movie. The movie draws a line between honor and manipulation; right versus wrong and how the fate of a person’s life is in another person in a more superior position than themselves.
The movie expose the fact that in a way, our life is actually determine in another person’s hands, like in the movie, the two U.S. Marines on Gitmo life’s, who were charged with the murder of another Marine were actually in the hands of the Col Jessep and later in the hands of the jury of the court. They though they were just doing their duty because like what Dawson said. “We joined the Marines because we wanted to live our lives by a certain code, and we found it in the Corps. Now you're asking us to sign a piece of paper that says we have no honor. You're asking us to say we're not Marines. If a court decides that what we did was wrong, then I'll accept whatever punishment they give. But I believe I was right sir, I believe I did my job, and I will not dishonor myself, my unit, or the Corps so I can go home in six months... Sir.” But actually after the jury made their decision that the two of them were wrong and was still punished Dawson realized that he did made a mistake and not only follow the rules blindly but make a stand when he knows it is wrong to oppress someone weaker. At the end he said “We were supposed to fight for the people who couldn't fight for themselves. We were supposed to fight for Willie.” That shows how he finally realize and mature throughout the whole movie because at first he was determine that he was only doing the right thing. The best quote of the movie is still this statement made by Kaffee “You don't need a patch on your arm to have honor.” The ending part of the movie where Col. Jessep said “Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who’s going to do it? You? You, Lt. Weinburg? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, and you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to.” made me think a little about the way I handle situations. Sometimes, I do think that I am just doing the right thing for everyone’s benefit but it is actually merely self deception of the truth that it is actually wrong in some situation even though I am only following instructions. The other thing that Col Jessep said that was quite catchy was “You can't handle the truth.” Sometimes, theses things that the character says really make you think.Tom Cruise look very smart, handsome and nerdy too in that movie wearing the suit to the court room. He did a very good acting in this movie. I still can remember the expression he made when he look around the court room at then end of the first trial. Demi Moore was quite a charmer too in the movie; she brought out the strong side of her character in the movie well. I find what Patrick said that to be quite true about the part where there is no scene in the movie than can be cut because all of the scenes are very informative. Even the scene when Galloway was on a date with Kaffee at the seafood restaurant was important to a certain extend as to show us that there might be a certain closer or more intimate relationship blooming between them but it just stop there, unlike other typical films that shows the couples sleeping with each other after just a dinner. This movie is said that we can find something new every time we watch the movie again. I am not planning to watch this movie again because I am really not interested in law movies. The reason I gave quite a lot of quotes from the movie is because the movie mainly has a lot of conversation and not much action so by quoting on the words the characters say, I can relate and write on this movie.