Product Details

• Actors: John Eames, Ramón Franco, Boyd Gaines, Mike Gomez, Moses Gunn
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• DVD Release Date: October 1, 2002
• Run Time: 130 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (89 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005JL1V
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,821 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #7 in	Movies & TV > Military & War > Comedy
  #27 in	Movies & TV > Drama > Military & War
  #37 in	Movies & TV > Action & Adventure > Action & Combat

• For more information about "Heartbreak Ridge" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential video

The controversial, Reagan-era invasion of Grenada by U.S. troops is, oddly enough, at the center of this initially interesting story of a seasoned Marine sergeant (Clint Eastwood) routinely insulted by younger officers for being a symbol of the war that America "lost" in Vietnam. Looking for both a victory and a little redemption, Eastwood's character trains a squadron of scrappy pups and turns them into fighting grunts, just in time to follow White House orders and take the little island. Marsha Mason plays Eastwood's love interest, and Mario Van Peebles is funny as an undisciplined con artist who joins Clint's men and finally catches the spirit after getting his butt kicked a few times. --Tom Keogh

Product Description

SERGEANT TOM HIGHWAY, A HARDENED, TOUGH VETERAN OF KOREA AND VIETNAM RETURNS TO THE UNITED STATES FOR HIS LAST TOUR OF DUTY WITH THE U.S. MARINE CORPS. HE IS ASSIGNED TO TRAINING A RECON UNIT.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Eastwood Keeper, October 24, 2003

By	D. Mikels "It's always Happy Hour here" (Skunk Holler) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Heartbreak Ridge [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Yes, this film is about as formulaic as they come: a tough, no-nonsense, battle-tested sergeant turning a bunch of misfits into an effective fighting unit. On top of that, we are treated (again) to a romantic aspect of a story featuring a bitter, petulant ex-wife who still harbors emotional attachment to that no-good ex of hers.

Yet HEARTBREAK RIDGE delivers an entertaining story--along with some very amusing moments--thanks mainly to Clint Eastwood as the gravel-voiced Gunnery Sergeant Tom "Gunny" Highway. Sure, Eastwood brings brawn and plenty of knuckle sandwiches to this role, but also a fragile vulnerability that makes the character more three-dimensional. Eastwood carries this film, but that's no problem: those shoulders are plenty broad.

Marsha Mason as ex-wife Aggie gripes and complains at a healthy clip, while Mario Van Peebles as soldier "Stitch" Jones stands out from the rest of Gunny's dysfunctional Recon Platoon. HEARTBREAK RIDGE has action, drama, and plenty of laughs. Sounds like a winning Eastwood formula to me.
--D. Mikels

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Clint Eastwood's Marines, September 13, 2000

By	D. Blackdeer (Kansas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Heartbreak Ridge [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Clint Eastwood directed and starred in the lead role of this film about a "salty," battle-hardened career sergeant who whips a platoon of new Marines into shape. Along the way, he attempts to repair his failed marriage and locks horns with the Marine Battalion's Operations Officer.

Eastwood is Gunnery Sergeant Highway, a Korea and Vietnam veteran who won the Medal of Honor and survived a horrific battle in Korea referred to as "Heartbreak Ridge" in the film. He's a warrior on the battlefield, but his aggressive, hard-drinking and "tell-it-like-it-is" personality has cost him promotion and his marriage. Nearing retirement, he receives orders to return to his elite specialty of Force Reconnaissance. Upon arrival, the battalion's operations officer treats Gunny as a washed-up old prima donna and he finds his new platoon comprised of misfits. On the personal side, Gunny's ex-wife still resides locally earning a living as a cocktail waitress.

Tackling his main problem, he commences to breathing fire into his young Marines, turning them into "heart-breakers and life-takers." During his off-time, he tangles with his ex-wife in an attempt to repair their failed marriage. All during this time, he's one step away from being under-mined and kicked out by his nemesis.

The film culminates with their deployment to intervene the crisis on the Island of Grenada (actual operation in 1983), leading the way into combat for the Marine battalion. It is here where the plot unfolds to reveal if Gunny's old-school training methods have worked, if his wife decides to return, and if he'll survive.

Overall, the movie has Eastwood's brand of humor and it's a likeable feature not to be taken too seriously. There are some technical flaws, such as an absence of other officers in the battalion, but this doesn't spoil the movie too much unless you're a proud member of the Marine Corps. Another item about this movie is the use of profanity; it's colorful and there's plenty of it. By rumor, this story was originally written for an Army Ranger battalion, but apparently the Army denied permission to portray their Rangers in this fashion. Whatever the case, it's enjoyable to watch and does touch upon some actual leadership values.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not realistic, but so what?, July 12, 2005

By	Frank Maguire "bluelinedad" (Bethesda, MD United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

OK, anybody who has spent 10 minutes in the Marines (or even the Army) will realize that this movie is laughably unrealistic. So what? It's a great story. Sure, the scenario of the tough sergeant and the young soldiers been told a hundred times before, but it's a classic theme that Clint Eastwood does a great job with. It's full of great lines. I still use Eastwood's maxim, "Improvise, Adapt, Overcome" with my kids. Mario Van Peebles is excellent as the reluctant Marine, rock singer wannabe, who provides a terrific comedic foil for Eastwood. Pretty corny throughout, but still fun to watch. Not for kids, though. The intense profanity is the one thing in this film that's realistic.