After viewing the first part of the film, write a response that addresses the following:1. An image or scene that resonated with you. Explain!
2. The similarities and/or differences between the film and the book so far. Please use at least one quote from the text.
The opening scene when they showed the men playing in the water and on the beach resonated with me. When I saw that, I didn't think that they were at war. I thought that they were just normal men at the beach having fun. I could relate to them because I have played at the beach and have swam in the water. I never would have thought that those me were involved in the Vietnam war based on the scene.
ReplyDeleteThere are many similarities between the film and the book. In the film and book, they both show/describe the things that the men carry. They carry guns, equipment for war, and personal things that they could uses to connect to home. They show the soldiers carrying large bags and canisters with things that will help them survive. The book describes vividly the equipment that the soldiers carry physically. Tim O'Brian describes what the medic carries, "As the medic, Rat Kelly carried a canvas satchel filled with morphine and plasma and malaria tablets and surgical tape tape and comic books and all the things a medic must carry, including M&M's for especially bad wounds, for a total weight of nearly 18 pounds" (O'Brian 5). They are different though because the movie depicts more of the violence that occurs during the war, whereas the book has yet to describe the brutality of war. Also the movie shows the life of the family in Vietnam and the children and women and the beautiful landscape. The book has not done this yet and it makes it different from the movie.
Good work highlighting the similarities and differences between the scenes!
Delete1. The scene in which all the soldiers were opening all their letters resonated with me because I thought that it very cool the way that they looked forward to seeing the letters everyday and that is what made them the happiest. To most of them, the letter was the one thing that made their day was the letter that would come from their family member. Also, the way in which they tried their hardest to write a letter everyday because they knew that as long as they wrote they would feel connected to their homeland. I feel as if I could never relate to this feeling, but I wish I could have the fight that many of these guys have while they are in the field fighting.
ReplyDelete2. This part of the movie relates to "The Things They Carried" because Jimmy Cross, just as many others, wrote letters and received letters often from Martha, the love of his life in the states. Just as the men in this movie write and receive letters every day because it is a way to stay connected to their homeland. It gives them a sense of connection and it gives them an hour or thirty minutes where they don't have to worry about getting their heads shot off. It is a time where they can use their imagination to put them in a better place. Jimmy cross often does this by using Martha "In the late afternoon, after a day's march, he would dig his foxhole, wash his hands under a canteen, unwrap the letters, hold them with the tips of his fingers, and spend the last hour of light pretending" (O'Brien 1). Just as the men in the movie spend their end of their days reading letters, Jimmy cross spends the last hour of his day reading the letters from Martha. This quote demonstrates how truthful Tim O'Brien really is in the story and reinforces your respect for him.
Great work highlighting the important scenes and drawing connections between the film and the book! It is amazing how just receiving a letter made their day, especially because communication is so easy for us today. Nice work!
DeleteI liked the part where the men were opening the letters. For some reason, I have always personally loved letters. They are my weakness and they warm my heart. The only scene in the movie The Notebook that I cry at is when she is opening her letters. It breaks my heart for the families of theses soldiers who are probably worried sick about their kids, grandkids, brothers, etc. That is why the scene of the soldiers opening and writing letters stuck with me. I was happy that they were even allowed to write letters to their families or loved ones while at war. It was really meaningful to me because it shows that we are all human and all have people who care about and war seems to desensitize these facts. In war, people just think of their enemies and targets, or bodies, and what they don't realize right before they kill someone is that that person's family will never receive another letter from that boy again. It reminds me of the book we're reading because it focuses on main parts that portray how in war, everyone becomes desensitized and killing just becomes a senseless task and/or duty.
ReplyDeleteI agree that this is an important scene! You did not answer part two: how does this connect to the book?
DeleteRight before we paused the movie, one of the character mentioned that men are dieing right and left. He said that you learn not to get too attached to anyone. This scene resonated with me because it described the hardest part of war: death. I can only imagine the heartage one must feel when one of their buddies dies right next to them. This connects to the book, The Things They Carried, when Jimmy Cross constantly talks about Lavender's death. Obviously, this was a difficult event for Jimmy Cross to come to terms with, but, like all oother soldier, he learned to. The choices he decided to make inorder to not feel that again was to be a better platoon leader. In the movie, the soldier decided not to become too attached to any of the other soldiers.
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DeleteIt is sad to see that so many lives were lost in this war. Good work connecting the stress of losing a loved one to Jimmy Cross's struggle with Ted Lavender's death. Next time, please use a quote from the book!
DeleteIn the movie it revealed the normal life of young teenage boys on the beach enjoying their life until the call for duty for the war changed their youthful lives into another world of danger. The scenes of the young teenagers laughing and having fun reveals that they still have the mindset of children and are supposed to live a life of adventure and happiness at this age, but when the United States joined the war in Vietnam it exposed the young men of reality. This reality exposed them to danger because throughout the film many men were attacked throughout the scene; therfore the experience of war has turned the young teens into a mental mindset of an experienced mature man stripping them from their life as a regular American teenager.
ReplyDeleteThese experiences in the war reflect Tim O' Brien's stories in his book The Things They Carry. In the film the death of the young male companion of a soldier connects to O' Brien's repetative story of Lavender's death and the emotional baggage that a member in the war feels after losing a member. However, the film tells a stories that are in personal point of view of the individuals in the war contrasting O' Brien's perspective of using first or third person. As the film reveals the men's fear because most were unaware of what they were for like O' Brien's reference of how the men in his team ¨carried their reputation. They carried the soldier's greatest fear, which was the fear of blushing¨ (O' Brien 20).
All in all, the movie and the book reveals the young men who went to war to reveal stories because ¨stories are for eternity when memory is erased, when there is nothing to remember except the story¨ (O' Brien 36).
Good work drawing a connection between the emotional mindsets of the characters in the movie and the book.
DeleteThe film revealed a lot of things about the war that impacted me. Specifically, the scenes that showed the soldiers writing back home - hence the name. The fact that these men illustrated their experiences, especially during wartime, impressed me. Not only did these men communicate to the people back home, but as well as to try to comfort them. With statements like, "I'm doing all right" and "It's going to be OK" these people not only took care of themselves but their families as well.
ReplyDeleteI would also like to mentions the differences the film had with the book. Overall, the film seemed more dramatic, sad, and tragic. I saw these men witnessing their loved ones dying before their eyes and enjoyed to hear the incredible voice-overs that captured the moment beautifully. Unlike the book, the film connected with my senses just a little better then what the book could offer.
I agree that the letters of comfort were very touching. I can't imagine having to write a letter like that to my family. Be sure to use a quote from the book next time!
DeleteThe Battle of Khe Sanh stuck with me. So many people died. So many people were fighting and died. At the main base there were only 6000 or so marines.We dropped over 100000 pounds of explosives. An estimate of about 12000 was given for the total casualties. That's why it stuck with me.
ReplyDeleteThe movie explain trials and the total breakdown of men. The letters that these men write show exactly how they are breaking down. Many say that they need letters to stay sane.
The numbers are astonishing; I can understand why these numbers stuck with you. Additionally, the messages in the letters are so defeating. The men wrote to comfort their families, but their optimistic words are not convincing. Please include a quote and connection to the movie next time!
DeleteAll of the war scenes in this movie resonated with me because it showed just how terrifying the experiences these soldiers were going through. I think the scene that stuck out the most to me was the one where that one soldier sent a letter home than it said he died like two or so days after he had sent it. I think this scene resonated the most because it shows how the soldiers there really had no control over the situation and any day they could die.
ReplyDeleteThe movie I feel shows a little more of the terrifing aspects of the war, however the book also to an extent shows these same horrors. I feel that they are similar in that they both show how any moment can turn for the worse like it could be peaceful one minute than the next they could be getting shot at. When Ted Lavender diers Kiowa said, "boom, down. Not a word"(16). This shows how anything can change and that is showed throughout the book and the movie.
Good work highlighting the unpredictable nature of war. It is amazing to think that they were actually bored a majority of the time.
Delete1. The scene where the solider was asked to identify the boys body whose face was covered in blood and unrecognizable resonated with me because it shows how brutal the war was. I thought this was one one the saddest things. They cant become close to anyone because they never know if they are going to survive or not. This solider later found out it was a boy that he actually really liked. The fact that he couldn't identify him goes to show how rough it can really be.
ReplyDelete2. This part of the movie relates to the things they carried because Jimmy Cross had lost a close friend too. This guy that he had gotten to know was now dead. Just like the solider in the movie Jimmy had to move on. In the movie the solider just stopped thinking of it, but in the movie Jimmy and his troop"smoked the dead mans dope." (O'Brien 1). Both men had to continue on just like the war was going on. Many men were being killed and you couldn't mourn over all of them or else that would be a huge toll on your ability to stay mentally stable.
Good work comparing Jimmy's situation to the men in the film. I think the quote you chose really emphasizes the "regularity" of men passing away.
DeleteOne scene that resonated with me was the scene when all the soldiers where at a camp and goofing off. In this moment it became clear how young these soldiers were. Just like the author of the letter being read in this moment wrote, the fact that having simple necessities for life available made the guys so joyous left an impression on me. We take what we have completely for granted.
ReplyDeleteThis scene contrasts the parts of the novel where the narrator describes everything they carried. In the novel everything the men carried was dead weight with absolutely no emotional meaning. In the movie the men were so incredibly happy to have materials. One similarity is how sacred the letters remained to the soldiers in both the novel and movie. "Martha wrote that she had found the pebble..." (O'Brien 7). Martha's letters are a reoccurring idea that grounds the soldier.
You bring up some important points here. First, it is astonishing that these men were just a few years older than high school students; it is incredible what was expected of them. The scene that shows the men getting the letters really shows that we take what we have for granted.
DeleteThe scene that most resonated with me was the one where they were all opening the letters they had received from their families and friends. First of all, it proves that letters really do make a difference in the lives of the these soldiers which is why they are so eager to receive them. Maybe these letters help them cope with their homesickness, or maybe it helps them maintain their sanity. It is very easy to lose oneself in the war both mentally and physically. That is the sole reason why I think that the letters are so important for each soldier to have. A little appreciation, concern, or love goes a long way for soldiers who are constantly dealing with some gruesome incidents. It was so heartbreaking to hear some of the messages that the soldiers wrote to their families. It really made me tear up. Especially the story of the young man who was concerned about the woman he loved, loving him the most out of all the other guys she may be currently dating. He then mentioned that he desired to escape from here as soon as possible so that he can go back to her. The next scene stated his death on July 4th. That was the saddest scene ever, and I felt tears trickling down my cheek. If I every get the opportunity to write a letter to a soldier, I will write him a letter to show him my appreciation for all the things he does for me by protecting my life while risking his own life. I hope that wars will end, and soldiers can return to their families soon.
ReplyDeleteThis movie is similar to the book in that the groups of men are very close with each other. They all feel deep sadness when their fellow team members die. They all act as a family. These men are such strangers to each others however being together in such situations hold them together as a well connected family which is evident in both the movie and the book. This book and movie is very similar because they both show the experiences during war time that each soldier has to deal with. I hope the best for all the soldiers fighting each day for all of us.
Good work drawing connections, Gemini. However, be sure to use a direct quote from the book to show these connections rather than tell about them!
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ReplyDeleteThe part of the film that sticks with me the most is when one guy talks about losing his friend in his letter. He said that he was one of the nicest guys that he has ever know, and that his death deeply saddened him. This reminds me of the part in the book when O'Brien talks about losing Ted Lavender. Ted dying was one the events that impacted him the most in the war. O'Brien clearly remembers what Kiowa said after Ted died, " The guy's dead, he kept saying, which seemed profound—the guy's dead" (O'Brien 12). Throughout the first chapter O'Brien references Ted Lavender, showing the impact his death had on him. And continues to remember him years later. Both the book and movie do a good job of telling the story of what happened in Vietnam by using a series of short stories. In contrast, the movie uses the stories told in letters by various people while the book is stories all by O'Brien.
ReplyDeleteGood work, Jack! I think the repetition O'Brien uses really impacts the reader; it puts you in his thought process so you can feel what he is carrying.
DeleteThe scene that resonated with me was the scene when Richard lost his good friend Donald Rankin in the war. How hard it must have been for him to lose a friend like that all of a sudden. Donald wasn't just a friend to Richard; he wouldn't have cried so much if Donald was just a friend to Richard. Donald was someone Richard cared for dearly, and he lost him without a goodbye. I would not be able to relate to Richard because I haven't lost someone who is really dear to me. The feelings he must had, and the things he went through after his friend's death.
ReplyDeleteThis part of the movie relates to "The Things They Carried" because in the book Jimmy also lost somebody in the war. Jimmy lost Ted Lavender, who "was shot in the head on his way back from peeing" (O'Brien 12). It was a difficult loss for both Richard and Jimmy during the war. It is not easy for either of them to handle as they lost someone so suddenly. They just found them dead before they knew it.
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DeleteGood work, Jeongwoon. I like the quote you chose because it shows how sudden the death happened. He was doing such a regular thing; he wasn't in battle. Nice effort in quote integration!
DeleteThe scene that resonated with me was the scene when they were all goofing around. It shows all of the men are young and they just want to have fun. The scene showed how they were in the prime of their life and instead of being out having fun; they're in war. It just puts into perspective what kind of lives these men are living. They aren't able to be out and about because they are in a war. And since they're young, it shows how the war can scar them.
ReplyDeleteThe characters in the book also want to goof off because they're young and they want to have fun. Tim O'Brien says, "The average age in our platoon, I'd guess, was nineteen or twenty, and as a consequence things often took on a curiously playful atmosphere, like a sporting event at some exotic reform school. The competition could be lethal, yet there was a childlike exuberance to it all, lots of pranks and horseplay. Like when Azar blew away Ted Lavender's puppy." (pg.35) All of the soldiers are young men who want to have fun, but since they're in the war there is nothing for them to do, and Azar blew away a puppy because he wanted to have fun. Also, since they are in the war, they are seeing all of these gruesome sights which is why Azar wasn't afraid to blow a puppy up because he was used to it.
This was a difficult part in the book for me to read, though we do find out that it didn't really happen. It shows the suffering and immaturity of the young men having to be at war.
Delete1. The scenes that really sticks with you are the ones of happiness. When the soldiers are getting the supplies or having that barbecue. It feels good to see happiness come from something that brings about massive depression and death.
ReplyDelete2. The movie and the book are both war stories and have multiple accounts from many soldiers. The movie is less about the characters and more about linking their stories to the historical parts of the Vietnam war. As the movie goes on it cuts to America and the things they do which in turn impacts the soldiers. The other main difference is the movie is all truth while TTTC is mostly a jumble of half truths and fictional stories mixed with what happened.
Be sure to use a specific quote from the book to show the similarities rather than tell!
Delete1. The scene that stuck with me was the one where he said that going to the war made him a coward. Usually going to the war was something that people do with pride. They are proud to serve their country and are excited to be part of a new "adventure." Maybe their minds might change once they are in war and see all the hardship, but going into it, the war was usually thought to be exciting. I think it is interesting that Tim thought of it differently. That he knew better almost.
ReplyDelete2. A similarity between the movie and the book is the joy of writing and receiving letters. "First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross carried letters from a girl named Martha, a junior at Mount Sebastian College in New Jersey. They were not love letters, but Lieutenant Cross was hoping, so he kept them folded in plastic at the bottom of his rucksack. In the late afternoon, after a day's march, he would dig his foxhole, wash his hands under a canteen, unwrap the letters, hold them with the tips of his fingers, and spend the last hour of light pretending" (pg.1) The meaning behind the letters is what keeps the soldiers going. The fact that they have someone at home to live for gave them hope.
Nice work, Julia! I agree that it is a paradox to use the words "coward" and "war" in the same sentence.
DeleteA scene that resonates with me from Saving Private Ryan is the famous "sniper scene". In this rainy battle, private Caparzo is shot in the chest from a very long distance. Instead of running out to drag his body, the group of soldiers stay put. They understand that if they move out of cover they can easily be shot. I was astonished at how well-trained the soldiers were. One soldier even tried to run out, but the group pulled him back. Captain John H. Miller slowly maneuvered in to a spot where he could shoot from. He waited for a couple minutes then raised his barrel up. He quickly spotted the sniper and was able to shoot first. Now, that the threat was gone, the men rushed to Caparzo and saved his life.
ReplyDeleteOne similarity I found between the movie and the book was the truth of how bloody war is. Obviously, it is not as easily shown in the book, but in The Things I Carried, O'Brien does a great job of displaying the harsh realities of war. However, the dialect and relationship between the soldiers are different between the movie and book. In the book, many of the soldiers are very close with each other. They are constantly sharing stories and getting to know each other. In Saving Private Ryan, the soldiers are always on the move trying to complete objectives. They understand that forming close-nit relationships is a recipe for disaster because surviving in war is no easy task.