Customer Reviews

Tigerland [VHS]

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(28)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

I bought the Video because of its title and subject matter. As a graduate of Light Weapons Infantry Advanced Individual Training (AIT), A Co, 6th Battalion, 3d Brigade (Tigerland), Ft Polk in Sep '67, I guess I looked at this film with a very critical eye. There was a whole lot of Hollywood fiction and stereotyping in the film. This was NOT how it was! The few things the film did right was to capture the types of characters who were being drafted and sent to that cannon fodder school... a course in camping, shooting, survival and sleep deprivation. I could see the faces of my fellow trainees in some of the characters in the film. I don't know where the trainees got the time to go party as they did in the film. Our duty day started around 02:30 or 0300 and went until 24:00. What little time we had off (usually Saturday afternoon and Sunday if we were not on guard duty or kitchen police) was spent sleeping and cleaning our gear.

The drill instructors in the film were depicted as either totally insane and sadistic or as "tough but fair" professionals. In reality, 99% of the DI's were in the "tough but fair" professionals category. The few sadistic types who slipped through the screening process did not last very long at all.

Another bad fact in the film was the name of the final training phase. "Tigerland" was the name of the entire training area of Fort Polk for Infantry AIT. "Tiger Ridge", or just "The Ridge", was where we went through our final field exercise, which was a lot tougher than depicted in the film.

The main character did a great job of acting. The story was entertaining, but largely fictional. If there was a competent military "technical advisor", present, the director must have totally ignored his advice. Overall the film was entertaining and it reminded me of many of the brave souls I served with.
Sam Carlson
Captain, US Army (Retired)

After I watched this movie I really thought about why it was so good. The conclusion I arrived at was that it put a very original twist on a very documented subject; the Vietnam War.

The film focases on a group of young men in infantry training for combat. Quickly the film introduces it's central character, a rebelious private named Bozz(Coilin Ferrell). Bozz was drafted and does not believe in the army and he will do whatever it takes convey that point except desert. At first nobody likes him because he causes problems for everyone in his platoon. In particular the drill sargents and another private named Wilson(Shea Whigham) despise Bozz. However the rest of the men really start to warm to Bozz and his cause. He makes frinds with Paxton(Matthew Davis) and helps out some other soldiers which gains him favor among the others. Eventually Bozz becomes the leader of the platoon just before thay are sent to Tigerland, which is the name the army has given their mock Vietnam.

Tigerland is different from most war movies in that the soldiers in this film are never shown going to war. Instead the film is all about the training of the soldiers before they actually were sent to fight and the effects it had on them. Essentially not a whole lot happens in this film event wise, but the character study of the young men faced with war is masterful. The performances from the whole cast are excellent. Collin Ferrell is quite exceptional as Bozz. He is clever, funny, objectional, loyal and troubled, which gives the character a lot of depth. Matthew Davis, Clifton Collin Jr, and Shea Whigham all turn in wonderful supporting roles as well. Director Joel Schumacher(The Lost Boys, The client, 8mm) has crafted a beautiful film. His direction is quiet and subtle. His use of hand held cameras with 16mm film gives the movie a unique, documentary feel.

While I was watching this film I had a interesting revilation about it's message. The film actually points out that the men who fought in Vietnam came from different backrounds and had very different opinions about what they were doing there. To many, honor and duty were arbitrary when it came to the war because, like Bozz, it had nothing to do with them. For others it was all that mattered, and for still more they were just there. But for all of them the fear and reality of war was present. Additionally I really got the feeling these men had no idea what they were even preparing for. I would be willing to wager just from watching movies on the Vietnam war such as Platoon, Full Metal Jacket, and Apocalypse Now, that I have a greater understanding of what was happening in Vietnam at the time than these young men did before they were sent. They were trained to fight a enemy they had never seen, half way around the world, and all they really knew was that people were dying. So how could they really be prepared.

I urge people to see this film. It was very well done and worth the time. I am surprised it did not have a wider release in the theatres. It was one of the better films of 2000 and a worthy addition to the chronicles of war pictures. This movie was real.

If you want to watch a war movie that shows death, blood and gore this is not the movie you. Instead this movie accuratly portrays the life of US Army soldiers in training before they head off to Vietnam and an uncertain fait. All the actors are excellent and really capture the human drama as these soldiers deal with the probability of dying in the jungles of Vietnam. A plus is the accuracy of the time period such as the uniforms, vehicles and even the military lingo used back that era. If you are a stickler like me for accuracy then you will like this movie. I recommend it to those who are more interested in the human aspect of war and not just the blood and guts.

It doesnt take explosions and firepower to make a gripping Vietnam movie. As a matter of fact, Joel Schumaker proves it doesnt even take Vietnam to make a gripping Vietnam movie. All you need is a moving tale and a flawless performance from your lead actor. Tigerland has both.

Colin Farrell is Bozz, a renegade private in training before he sets out for the battlefields of Vietnam. His flamboyance and disrespect has him hated by those who would train him and awed by those that would serve with him. His character proves to be more than a rebel. Through a brilliant job of acting Farrell shows Bozz to be scared, anxious, compassionate, and intelligent. The setting of the story revolves around army infantry training that culminates in a mock Vietnam setting called Tigerland. Throughout the movie we are exposed to the emotion of those that fear Vietnam and would do almost anything not to go, and the lunacy of those that welcome the carnage with open arms. The film has many moving moments and the good guy vs. bad guy sub plot that we all love. (The bad guy being a Private Wilson - another fine bit of acting)

Tigerland is full of great imagery and even shot with a grainy texture that gives it a documentary sort of feel. The effect is profound in its pseudo dating of the film, adding an air of authenticity. While this is not an action flick, the acting and flow of the movie are flawless and a great five star tale results.

Other than the story being Hollywoodized it is the real
story and drama of the anguish and inner battle fought by Soldiers of that time. A very important part of the Vietnam
War.

I was there at the time portrayed by the movie. Each man
had to decide if his patiotism and sense of duty would
carry him through a war that had then been decided as
unwinnable and that our country was pulling out of.

They had not run to Canada or dodged the draft but would
they be able to stand the horror of war in such a political
climate. Most knew life ended after Fort Polk and could
feel the Grim Reaper following him.

It may be boring or slow moving at times, but that's
exactly the way time was at Fort Polk and Tiger Land.

I wish more money had been spent, and the movie made on
larger film. I would love to see it on wide screen.

If you like War Movies or have an interest in the
Vietnam War it's a must see. It may turn out to be
the "All Quiet on the Western Front" of the twenty
first Century.

The director of Tigerland, Joel Schumacher, is best known for big budget action hokum, such as The Lost Boys, Flatliners, and Batman and Robin. Tigerland is the antithesis of these movies. It is not slick, opting for a docudrama style that focuses on characters and story. The plot concerns an American training camp for soldiers who will be shipping off to Vietnam. We've seen this type of story before (e.g., Full Metal Jacket) - young soldiers are broken down by the army and then built back up as killing machines, but Tigerland remains fresh, largely due to the talented cast.

Tigerland stars Irishman Colin Farrel in his first large role, and he gives a star making performance. His character (Roland Boz) is anti-army and anti-authority, and he does not see the sense in having people fight wars who are emotionally not equipped to handle it. He invariably clashes with his superiors as well as his peers (they are punished for his misbehavior). However, ironically, he ends up helping several of them, particularly Miter, outstandingly played by Clifton Collins Jr. (who also excelled in 2000 as the gay drug dealer Frankie Flowers in "Traffic"). Tigerland asks many big questions regarding war and bravery, but it wisely does not provide easy answers.

The DVD includes a commentary track by Joel Schumacher. This track is extremely interesting, as Schumacher describes how he had a small budget and how he managed to do what he needed to do for the film. The DVD also includes Colin Farrel's screen tests, which are fascinating. Farrel is a compelling actor who currently has a number of high profile films in the can, including "Hart's War" with Bruce Willis and the Steven Speilberg/Tom Cruise film, "Minority Report." Expect great things from him.

This film probably deserves 4.5 stars, but I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt on account of Colin Farrel's portrayel of Bozz.

I'll start of by saying this: If you liked Joel Schumacher's other films, chances are, your not gonna be a great big fan of this one. It's shot entirely in 16mm which gives it the feel of a documentary. I must say, generally, I'm not a fan of anything NOT 35mm, but if this were shot any other way, I don't think I just would have gotten the full affect of it. I'm also very impressed that Schumacher decided to go with this than any other mainstream film like "8MM" which, no offense to Mr. Schumacher, well, sucked.

The film's main character is Bozz, portrayed by Colin Farrel, wonderfully. Bozz is a badass who was drafted and doesn't believe in war. His commanding officers tell him time and again that he could be on of the best soldiers if he chose to, but he just doesn't agree with putting another human being through that kind of punishment. One scene that really got to me was when a sergeant is teaching the "soldiers" how to get information from "Charlies". They attach two wires to the man's testicles and let 'er rip. This was one of the, if not the, best acting in the entire movie. Just the way Farrel talks, and his facial expressions are enough to make you stand and clap.

I wanted to comment on Colin Farrel's excellent acting, and I'm sure you've read about the plot numerous times already, so I'm going to discuss the features of the DVD. We'll start off with, to me, the most attractive feature added, Colin Farrel's screen tests. In these, you can hear a little bit of his Irish accent, and the video is quite poor. On the other hand, it's a good insight on what he had to get through, and how much more his acting had evolved. His acting is superb is the screen tests, but just not as good as in the movie itself. I'm usually more attracted to a director's work than an actor's, but there was just so much said about Farrel that I couldn't not buy this DVD. The transfer is also decent, and if you buy this, know that it's not supposed to be squeaky clean, and without grain and chroma noise. The havoc of 16mm really added a lot to the film itself, almost as if the video had an uncredited starring role. Also on this DVD is an audio commentary from the director which is pretty good. Another thing that would have been awesome on this DVD is a commentary with the stars, mainly Farrel. There's also a making of "fearurette". Key word here is "Featurette" just not enough there to satisfy me. The DVD is finished off with trailers and TV spots, and an unafvertised trailor for the upcoming "TORA! TORA! TORA!" special edition DVD.

The DVD isn't flawless, but if your a war fan, or just looking for a look at one of the upcoming stars in the industry, this is the way to go. The DVD is well-rounded and the screen tests were definitely worth it. The film is worth a look regardless or whether or not you buy the DVD. You've absolutely got to see this movie, but the DVD is the way to go because you get a look into the process of the movie coming together. This one's definitely deserves to be up on the shelves with all the other great war movies.

Actually, this Joel Schumacher film is fairly good with good acting and kind of a "Blow" or "Man on Fire" cinematography. I gave it 3 stars but I can yield to an argument that it could be more. The problem is what follows.

It's just hard to believe. It never captured me. The Army has it's Advanced Infantry Training (AIT) and the Marine Corps has its ITR, Infantry Training Regiment. The Corps also has a brutal 26 week course for Officers called The Basic School, carrying with it the peculiar initials TBS. Quantico has the 'Hill Trail' and no one EVER forgets the pain, agony, and frequently, unconsciousness of trekking its hills, gulleys, ravines and streams. But all those things are founded on a principle . . . oh, about 6000 years old, that what you practice over and over again when no one is slinging spears, arrows, rocks or firing Russian mortars at you, you'll be able to do when they are. (Check out Spielberg's quintessential combat sequence in the first thirty minutes of Private Ryan.)

All countries do it and have done it for 60 or 70 centuries. You want to see training camps? Check out "The Washing of the Spears" about Isalwanda and Roarke's Drift and learn about the Zulus, who could run 40 miles, fight a pitched battle, and run home, all in a day.

So Vietnam, or what Vietnam has become in the memory of those who never were there, is no different and the training was no different. To those who say 'yeah and we lost that war,' fair point. But we had a long string of victories up to that.

Which brings up the concept of war. Tennyson writes about his son who died at the Somme, "when they ask you why they died, tell them because their fathers lied." So there's no argument there. But for those aforementioned 60 or 70 centuries, we don't seem to have found an alternative. This doesn't mean we want it. It only means, we seem to keep on doing it.

We have two people in the last century who did something different. Passive resistance. Ghandi and John Paul. They accomplished extraordinary success through non-war, and it's difficult to argue that maybe British Colonialism would have collapsed anyhow (possibly) and maybe the Russian Communists would have drank themselves to death eventually (also a not remote possibility). But they didn't. Still, not many guys or movements to write about in the last 150 years. Perhaps Dr. King as well if you include our dismal Civil Rights history here in the USA. But again, three's not a lot.

Here, in Tigerland, there's too many troops who talk about calculus, emotional thalidomide and Camus when they're smoking a joint. Doesn't happen. The day's too long. You're beat. You sleep. And there's certainly never in the history of combat training, a private sitting in the quarters of the Commanding Officer, talking about the unfairness of war.

Finally, psychos in the Army. Sure. A couple slip through. Hey. You're about to do something that Ministers, Rabbis, schoolteachers and parents have raised you not to do. A little emotional stress and dysfunction is to be expected. Don't forget fear. It's damn scary. But the snake eyed crazo just doesn't exist. He doesn't slip through. Makes a great story if you're doing Freddy and Jason movies. But not very realistic.

So that's my problem. I just couldn't get behind it. Too much required suspension of disbelief. My favorites of that genre still remain Deerhunter and Platoon, with Full Metal a close third.

Farrell does a very good job. You can see he's headed for more centerpiece rolls. And Schumacher's a great director. 3 stars. Larry Scantlebury

This DVD and movie are top notch. I highly recommend this DVD. I don't like to give any spoilers so please forgive the generic and short review. Being based in boot camp, this is a very unique movie which is highly focused on what it took to mentally and physically prepare for Vietnam. You will find yourself grimmacing and feeling what the characters feel. This is not a dumb grunt war/boot camp movie; this movie is a gripping psychological drama. Under the kind of stress these people are under, you find yourself wondering which of the characters you would be most like if in their situation. Very thought provoking, and even light hearted/entertaining at times.

I read some of the reviews here and the ones that say this movie is unrealistic I ask you how do you know. My father went through Tigerland and I was born at Fort Polk hospital in August of 69 and my pops says its pretty close to how it was then. My father went to Vietnam. He doesnt like to talk about it and if you ask him about it he changes the subject so for him to even mention this movie to me it must be close to how it really was.