Courage Under Fire Essay - 1956 Words

Courage Under Fire In 1991, millions of people tuned in to CNN to observe a real life and death drama played out in the cities and deserts of Iraq. For the United States, the war was more or less a display of power and a preservation of economic interest. Nobody was to ever hear of the mishaps and foul-ups of the war. In many eyes the war was seen as a chance to boost American spirit and make the government look empowered. Director Edward Zwick and writer Patrick Shane Duncan snatched onto this notion and expounded on it in their movie Courage Under Fire. Through its superb acting, successful plot, structure, and filming perfection, the movie becomes a powerful and brilliant examination of the consequences of guilt and†¦show more content†¦All that the government wants is a media showing. For them, the president handing the Medal of Honor to the Captains daughter, wouldnt leave a dry eye in the place.; Serling knows that this is all for show and commits himself to finding out the truth. I real ly loved this part of the movie. Zwick does such a great job of making the Government look pathetic by showing some of its underlying intentions in this war. This is what brings us away from the normality of most war films and places this movie into its own little subcategory. The movie was meant to be different and it succeeded in that endeavor. It really was one of the strengths of this film. Instead of conducting a cursory investigation, Lieutenant Serling finds himself unavoidably drawn into Waldens crews conflicting stories. Each crew member seems to give a different interpretation regarding the events that took place during the rescue mission that lead to the captains death. Serling begins to suspect a cover up and decides that he must delve deeper into this investigation. Throughout the movie, we learn of Waldens heroism from numerous flashbacks of the same incident. Crewmembers including Monfriez (Lou Diamond Phillips) and Illario (Matt Damon), each give conflicting details in their reports. The flashbacks each depict Walden differently and we, as the viewers, are supposed to figure out who the real Captain Walden is. The film turns into a fascinating mystery mixed with theShow MoreRelatedCourage Definition Of Courage1563 Words   |  7 PagesCourage is a cornerstone of wartime leadership. Throughout history, Courage has been the defining virtue of the warrior and for good cause. Warriors face frightening and dangerous situations; and the wartime leader must lead these warriors from the front by displaying the courage they expect to see in their men. Without courage, a leader cannot lead from the front nor do the right thing during unfavorable times. Merriam Webster’s Dictionary defines Courage as, â€Å"mental or moral strength to ventureRead MoreFire And Water : Facing Your Fears And Crossing Your Boundaries1427 Words   |  6 PagesAlexander Lattin Mrs. Lee English 10 3 March 2014 Fire and water: Facing your Fears and Crossing your Boundaries â€Å"You gain strength confidence and courage by every experience in which you stop and really take the time to stop and look fear in the face† (Eleanor Roosevelt) Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, and The Truman Show both present the trials but the overall triumphs of Truman and Montag and their journeys to victory. While exploring and pondering upon the text, Fahrenheit 451, by Ray BradburyRead MoreSimilarities and Differences Btw Realism and Naturalism in the Red Badge of Courage and to Build a Fire1644 Words   |  7 Pagesdifferences reveal in the story â€Å"To build the fire,† by naturalism writer Jack London, and â€Å"The red badge of Courage† by Stephen Crane who wrote Realism literature. 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This shows how much courage Beowulf has because he is fighting a descendentRead MoreThe Book Of Martyrs By John Foxe925 Words   |  4 Pagesemotions for the protestant martyr Thomas Cranmer as he is being burned alive. Foxe was an English historian and author who used his skills to express his anger towards the suffering of Protestants under the Catholic Church. Foxe recorded the last moments of fellow Protestants who were executed under the rule of Mary. Cranmer was one of many martyrs that Foxe illustrated in his book. Foxe started working on his book in 1552 when Edward had power. After the death of Mary he met a publisher by the