I think the writer/director captured the disappointments of actual war versus an idealized version very well. As a Vietnam veteran, I've been there and know this feeling myself. The young actor who plays Henry as a child was well-chosen; he will shine in any subsequent films. The casting was about as good as you get -- each character was at home in his or her role, with none appearing uncomfortable with anything they were asked to do. This shows good direction. The use of black and white film for the earlier battle scenes was a good distinction between young Henry's daydreams of war and the color scenes of young Henry in real life. The movie as a whole was quite intense but also very entertaining. I was sorry to have it end so soon, even though the ending was just what it should have been. The tattoo was perfect. I think this writer/director has great potential beyond this small film
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carlosellzey127 November 2010
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The director's use of black & white interspersed with color scenes to differentiate between the scenes of war that the young Henry fantasizes he is participating in compared to the young Henry's actual life at home with Mom and his comic books, and then again in present day, is brilliant. The writer's most imaginative and creative bit was playing out the back and forth scenes between the young Henry storming the beaches in what must have been World War II and the older warrior in action in Afghanistan, one in black & white, the other in color. It all worked seamlessly. I also admired the writing of the dialog & storyline making reference to something early on and then going back to it later, such as:the rib eye sandwich at the food court at Oleander Mall, the tattoo on the MRE paper and then the marvelous ending with the tattoo on the older Henry, the obsession with Ravioli. This film was obviously written and directed by a quite creative and talented person who should continue on to larger things. It clearly captured Henry's realization that war isn't what his comic books indicated it was. All in all, I'd say this winds up being a clever, intriguing film.