I have a weak spot for anything set in the 1940's. It can be a cartoon, a war film, a romance, you name it and I tend to love it. Fury is no exception and I am hear to tell you to run to your nearest theatre and see it.
Set during the last month of WWII in April 1945, the Allies are in Germany and a Sergeant name Don "Wardaddy" Collier (Brad Pitt) commands Sherman Tank with a five man veteran crew. The crew is made up of Boyd "Bible" Swan (Shia LaBeouf), gunner, Grady "Coon-Ass" Travis (Jon Bernthal), loader and Trini "Gordo" Garcia (Michael Peña), driver. After losing their bow gunner in battle, Norman Ellison (Logan Lerman) who was a trained typist is assigned to be their new gunner.
Norman is young, inexperienced, and still holds high ideals and morals when it comes to life and death. The rest of the crew of the Fury do not feel the same as Norman, not because they don't want to but because they have seen and done so much there is no way they can return to that idealism.
Online you can find the complete synopsis of this film including details and spoilers. When I found that I was just crushed. I went into this film knowing that it was about the end of the war and about tanks but nothing else. I am really glad I didn't know because I was shielding my eyes at some parts, jumped at one part, and teared up in many parts. The best part is that I was blown away by the humanity of that story.
I am utterly impressed by the telling of this story. It seems not to be based on a true story but rather inspired by those who fought bravely in battle in those enormous Sherman tanks.
Thoughts of my grandpa came into mind watching this. I thought about how he could have fought at seventeen years old (he lied about his age) in Normandy, France so very far away from his beloved island of Puerto Rico. I sat in the theater wearing my WWII brooch and I am so glad I did. It made me feel closer to it all in a sappy and loving sort of way.
This film reminded me that there were no good guys and bad guys in war but there are some people who try to be better and some people who just do worse. I do believe in the evil humanity can wield but I have faith in the goodness it can create out of the mayhem, the madness, and the horrors mankind seems to create over and over again. A few other beliefs I had before were solidified even more after watching this film. I know its just a movie and I had to remind myself of that while watching but seriously it did not feel like I was watching a movie. It was to me what could perhaps be a snippet of what could have been or may have been and a reminder that no life is worth losing.
This film comes highly recommended and it will be one that I will happily own when it comes out on DVD along with The Monuments Men. Also look out for the film Unbroken, that story is unbelievable as every word is true as told from a WWII hero by the name of Louis Zamperini.
I highly encourage you to see this film. Brace yourself for some graphic violence and disturbing images but for the first time since Saving Private Ryan I have seen this particular war in its rawest forms.
It's vital to learn and remember history. Not as we see it but as it was. I feel so proud and grateful to those men and women who served and fought for freedom. I am even prouder that I called one of them grandpa.
My husband really wants to see this film. He'll probably have to watch it with some guy friend though, because I can't handle war movies ever since my husband was deployed to Iraq.
ReplyDeleteIn many ways it isn't "just a movie" because it really happened. Not that this stops me from enjoying films like this, I find them more poignant because my grandparents and great uncles and aunts were involved in the conflict. I even have aunts and uncles who were children at the the time as my mum was the last baby in a large family.
ReplyDeleteI want to see this soooo badly!!! Not since The Monuments Men have I been itching to see a WW2/military film so much.
ReplyDelete♥ Jessica
What a wonderful review! I've heard only good things about this film, and I'm glad. I, too, love watching many period movies, for the costumes and scenery, if nothing else. I can't stand blood and guts though, even if (or maybe especially if) it's based on true events. But I'm glad to hear you love this film!
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