Back in 2008, Spike Lee made an excellent World War II movie called Miracle at St. Anna, a war story, and an American story, from the viewpoint of black soldiers in the Italian campaign. I therefore looked forward to seeing Lee's just released Vietnam story, Da 5 Bloods.
What a disappointment! Especially considering Lee's past film achievements--Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, Summer of Sam, BlacKkKlansman and so on--Da 5 Bloods is an embarrassing departure into mediocrity at best. The acting is largely deplorable, the dialogue stilted and artificial, ideas are introduced not as natural parts of the narrative but like dry footnotes on an inexpertly done college paper. The story is corny and derivative, which even the actors seem to know. The battle scenes lack all the tension and realism of those in Miracle at St. Anna, or in nearly any modern war film. I mean, when you're stacking up against Platoon and Full Metal Jacket and Private Ryan and The Thin Red Line, you gotta do a whole lot better than this, man! Nor are the depictions of Vietnam era military action even believable. Five men helicoptered alone into a hot zone--really? And when ground troops entered a hot zone, observed heavy enemy activity in the verging jungle, what did they do? Did they begin heroically running toward the enemy, all guns blazing? Hell no! They called in artillery fire, they called in airstrikes, they called in napalm. Lol. My goodness, who you tryin' to fool, dude?
A serious, meaningful film could have been done from this perspective--and needs to be done, I would add. But this sure as hell ain't it. Although the story nearly finds itself in the last fifteen minutes or so, it's too little, too late. I'm sorry to have to give this one a rating of 'Don't bother'.
What a disappointment! Especially considering Lee's past film achievements--Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, Summer of Sam, BlacKkKlansman and so on--Da 5 Bloods is an embarrassing departure into mediocrity at best. The acting is largely deplorable, the dialogue stilted and artificial, ideas are introduced not as natural parts of the narrative but like dry footnotes on an inexpertly done college paper. The story is corny and derivative, which even the actors seem to know. The battle scenes lack all the tension and realism of those in Miracle at St. Anna, or in nearly any modern war film. I mean, when you're stacking up against Platoon and Full Metal Jacket and Private Ryan and The Thin Red Line, you gotta do a whole lot better than this, man! Nor are the depictions of Vietnam era military action even believable. Five men helicoptered alone into a hot zone--really? And when ground troops entered a hot zone, observed heavy enemy activity in the verging jungle, what did they do? Did they begin heroically running toward the enemy, all guns blazing? Hell no! They called in artillery fire, they called in airstrikes, they called in napalm. Lol. My goodness, who you tryin' to fool, dude?
A serious, meaningful film could have been done from this perspective--and needs to be done, I would add. But this sure as hell ain't it. Although the story nearly finds itself in the last fifteen minutes or so, it's too little, too late. I'm sorry to have to give this one a rating of 'Don't bother'.
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