Hippie Movie Reviews: Born On The Fourth Of July (1989)

This is an interesting movie that gives a glimpse of the Vietnam War.  But maybe not from the traditional viewpoint of action and battles, more it gives a glimpse into what life is like for a young man both before he joins the war effort and then of course what happens to him after he gets wounded in battle and sent home to live out the rest of his days.  This movie tells the story of Ron Kovic who wrote an autobiography of the same name about his experiences in Vietnam.  This movie is pretty hardcore in showing some of the unpleasant realities of the Veteran Hospital and the ways that American's treated their returning soldiers.  The central theme of the movie is the transformation that takes place within Mr. Kovic himself as he realizes more about the personal impact that war has on a human.  In the end Mr. Kovic becomes an outspoken anti-war activist himself.  I only wish they would have depicted the final speech of Mr. Kovic's which was being lead up to at the end of the movie.

Born on the Fourth Of July gets a thumbs up from Erik and a sideways thumb from Amanda. 

http://www.allmovie.com/movie/born-on-the-fourth-of-july-v6747