Lots of Stuff Happening at Ranger Up

Posted By Blackfive

First, there is a "Fight for the Troops" video.  This movie will rock, but it needs some support to get in front of the right audience.  Check it out and let us know what you think.  Send the link around.
http://rhinoden.rangerup.com/fight-for-the-troops-video-trailer/
 
Next, if anyone out there has funny counseling statements (I know I've written some), they can win free shirts:
http://rhinoden.rangerup.com/counseling-statements-by-ru-nick/
 
And last but not least is the latest Ranger Up creation - Boston Tea Party:
http://www.rangerup.com/teaparty.html

You'll want to see what the back says...check it out.

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OH HELL YES I'm STOKED...

Posted By Mr Wolf

They just announced that the new Spielberg/Hanks mini-series is due out March 2010, and the first trailer is out.

If this is any indication of how it may go, PLEASE send me the DVD's now- I can't wait.  Band of Brothers is something I could watch an episode of every day.  The BEST part, however, are the interviews with the men of the 506th at the end.  I HOPE they do the same with this series.

I can't see how they could make this end up sucking...  enjoy!

Wolf

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Perfect Valor at the GI Film Fest

Posted By Uncle Jimbo

SSgt Jeremiah Workman and Fred Thompson, who narrated Perfect Valor. at the premiere during the GI Film Fest in DC Saturday night.

The film Perfect Valor takes you to the second Battle of Fallujah by telling the personal tales of five people who were there, two grunts, a doctor, a nurse and a chaplain. In case you need any introduction to this battle one of the grunts SSgt Jeremiah Workman offers it "At the time, Fallujah was the most dangerous city on Earth".

Our enemies had massed there to fight the infidels in what al Qaeda called the central front in the Global Jihad. More than 2000 had come to help create the capital of a new Caliphate and they dug into Fallujah for a fight. They came from all over the globe and our guys found passports from Egypt, Chechnya, the Philippines, France, Jordan and pretty much anywhere two terrorists got together to curse America. David Bellavia, author of the best book about this fight House to House, called them the global jihadist all star team. They had more than 850 major weapons caches and dug tunnels between houses so they could move unseen. They lifted concrete Jersey barriers onto rooftops to create fighting positions and wired entire houses as bombs. They were hopped up on drugs, alcohol and the chance to earn their way to Paradise by defeating the Crusaders.

The good news is they failed and most of them were killed. The bad news is our troops fought their way through Hell to make that happen.

I sat next to Jeremiah during the premiere of the film at the GI Film Festival in DC. He is featured prominently in the film for his actions on what he calls the worst day of his life Dec. 23, 2004. It was supposed to be the last day of the battle and the residents were to begin returning. That didn't matter to the two dozen plus insurgents who killed three of his friends and brothers that day. It was chilling to see him absorbing this vivid recreation and again re-living that horror. He describes seeing his squad mates in the back of a Humvee assuming they were wounded and yelling at a corpsman to help them. The medic has to tell him they didn't need any help, they were gone. Although he had already led multiple charges back into the house and been hit by a grenade, a switch flipped in him and those insurgents had to die. He led a final assault spraying rounds into the house and sending more of the insurgents on to Allah before another grenade exploded close enough to blow him down a flight of stairs and leave him convinced he was dying. He felt a peace in going out with his finger on the trigger, fighting for his country and his brothers, and there was a laugh throughout the theater when he recounted his disappointment at his his Bn XO slapping him awake and ruining his war movie exit.

Continue reading "Perfect Valor at the GI Film Fest"

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Star Trek Cast in Kuwait

Posted By Blackfive

John Cho, cast member of "Star Trek," meets and takes photographs with a U.S. service member at the "Star Trek" world premiere at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, on April 11.
Photos by SSG ANTHONY L TAYLOR, 20th Public Affairs Detachment

News Busters has a story about the Star Trek movie cast in Kuwait.  Personally, I think this is going to be a great movie - the prequel to all Star Trek episodes.

Here are the official trailers:

And here is some footage of the cast in Kuwait spending time with our troops - the director says this is something that they really wanted to do...:

Update: Patrick Hickey has some fun with Trekkies...

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Brothers at War: Part 2 of an Interview with Jake Rademacher

Posted By Laughing_Wolf

Here is Part Two of my phone interview with Jake Rademacher, the man behind Brothers at War.  The audio is good, if I say so myself, which just shows what you can do with some hundred mile an hour tape and mobile phones when you need to do something rather quickly. 



There is a good bit more discussion today of the behind-the-scenes items, including a rather frank discussion of the distribution, what it will take to get it into wider distribution, and what you can do to help with same. 

We have also discussed a follow-on interview for after the movie is out and things calmed down, looking at his journey that took him from a dream of West Point to Hollywood -- and how that led up to where we are. 

I highly recommend the movie, and it is well worth a two (or more even) hour drive to go see it.  If it is not in your city, he talks about how you can get it there.

Enjoy,

LW

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So Wrong, Yet So Good

Posted By Laughing_Wolf

WARNING:  NSFW LINK FOLLOWS

Interrupting planned/scheduled posting for the following:

For many reasons, the movie Red Dawn has a special place in my heart (and possibly the hole in my head).  For just as many reasons, it has long spawned parody, some of it priceless.  I thought I had seen it all until today, when I came across the NSFW link for Naked Dawn.  This is just wrong, on so many levels, that it's right.  Warning, nudity, violence, and more at that link. 

LW
who is torn between laughter and needing eye bleach, they could have at least had Mina nude...

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Brothers at War: Part 1 of an Interview with Jake Rademacher

Posted By Laughing_Wolf

I had the chance recently to do a phone interview with Jake Rademacher, the man behind Brothers at War.  The audio is good, if I say so myself, which just shows what you can do with some hundred mile an hour tape and mobile phones when you need to do something rather quickly. 

Here is part one for your enjoyment, and the second half will go up later today or tomorrow -- in time for the larger opening this Friday:




It is interesting to note that it is opening in more theatres than planned this Friday because so many of you came out to see it when it opened near military bases on the 13th. If roughly 1,000 people show up this weekend to see it at each of the theatres this weekend, they should have the numbers and finances to take it to a truly nationwide showing. So, if you've been thinking about going to see it, even if it might be a drive, it is worth it.  On many levels... 

I also suggest you listen closely in the interview as he talks about where he did, and did not, get funding for this venture.  It is worth noting. 

Enjoy,

LW

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Review: Brothers at War

Posted By Laughing_Wolf

It is rare that I find myself agreeing with Roger Ebert on much of anything, but this is one of those times.   Brothers at War is that movie that I've been waiting for as well.  A movie that shoots straight, and is neither pro-war nor anti-war.  It is not a war movie; rather, it is a movie about family.  A family of five brothers, mothers and fathers, children and grandchildren, and even a fiance.  It is a movie that deals candidly with a variety of life issues, almost staggeringly so.  It is a movie about soldiers and their life. 

The core of the story is that Jake Rademacher, after not getting into West Point, went into acting and movies.  Two of his brothers did go into service, and served in Iraq.  Jake not merely wanted, but needed to know what they were doing, why, and who with.  The result was two journeys into Iraq to spend time with his family, and later to embed with Marines who were training Iraqi Army units.  More than that, Jake and his team also filmed the home front. 

The result is a movie that shows as complete a picture as possible.  Not only was Jake's family (and one brother's fiance) extremely candid and open about themselves, a family tragedy, and their issues in regards having family in combat, the soldiers and Marines that took part were amazingly open and candid as well.  Jake earned their trust, and it shows in the comment made by one soldier that Jake was one of the few good and honest reporters.  He earned that trust, and I feel that he has kept it throughout the process and has done right by those troops, his family, and the larger family that is the military. 

Brothers at War is honest, sometimes unflinchingly so.  It does not sugarcoat reality; yet, it also doesn't attempt to play the other way either.  It simply shows that which is, as it is.  Or, rather, as it was at the time the film was shot.  Things change, and that too is a message and a part of the movie. 

The technical aspects are outstanding.  The videography is superb, and the play between different cameras and quality (such as with night shots) is deftly handled.  Within 30 seconds, I was back in Iraq, and the film will show what was to the people who have never been there.  The audio is amazing, and the production values higher than some big budget movies of late.  It is a true labor of love, and it shows. 

I repeat that it is not a war movie.  It is a movie about family, both blood and larger, and as such there is a lot of humor in it.  In point of fact, I laughed harder and more often than I have at the last so-called comedy I went to see in the theatre (or last several even).  There are moments that will tug at the heartstrings.  It was not what I expected, it was more. 

No movie, no written missive, can bring you the true and full reality of what it was like for our troops in Iraq.  Even if the words and images could so move, the reality was different for each individual.  Brothers at War provides an honest look and a moving insight for the reality of one family, and a glimpse into the reality of the soldiers and Marines featured.  It does a very good job when one considers the time constraints of any movie, for I do wish it could have shown even more. 

If you want to get a better idea of what things were like, both in Iraq and for a military family, then there is nothing better out there.  If you want to better understand the troops and their families, then there is nothing better out there.  For the squeamish among you, the actual combat part is short and the parts that could cause you discomfort are fleetingly brief.  Much more time is spent with that which leads up. 

What is your bad day is the wrap for the movie, and it reminds me what a truly bad day can be.  It also serves as a reminder to enjoy, to make the most, and to not sweat the small stuff.  It reminds one of what a good day is, for all.

LW

Transparency Notice:  I am a volunteer with Soldiers' Angels and did attend the opening in Fayetteville, NC as such; and, SA is a partner --with other groups -- on the movie.  That said, most who know me also know that if it were dreck I either would call it such or say nothing at all. 

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