The War: A Review

This one is about family, growing up, and learning about important things (like courage, and right vs wrong). I'll try not to spoil you too much. :P

Note: Although it's rated PG, there is quite a bit of language in this movie, and two offensive terms for a person in two scenes, so view at your own discretion. I promise however, that if you can look past those things, this movie has a great message or two.

The narrator is twelve year old Lidia Simmons, and the POV comes from both her and her brother, Stu. It takes place in June 1970  in small town Mississippi, and covers their daily lives with each other, and their friends. A subplot is their daddy dealing with his Post Traumatic Stress from Vietnam. By the end, both of these collide in an interesting way…

I don't want to give away too much detail, for fear of spoiling it all. But let's just say this movie shows what wars do to a person. Wars: within, between peers, and overseas. And the lessons they show are powerful. I don't agree with everything done and said during this movie… but I can understand it all. And when I first watched this, all that time ago, I turned it off a slightly different person than when I had started. I can't guarantee that you will like it or agree with it all… but I can guarantee you will walk away somewhat changed, and very thoughtful.

I'd love to have discussions over it, if you get a chance to see it! Thanks for reading this, I appreciate you giving me some of your time; I know you all have busy lives.

Film: The War

Year: 1994

Starring: Elijah Wood, Kevin Costner, Lexi Randall, and Mare Winningham

Also starring: a very young Lucas Black (from the new show NCIS: New Orleans)

Reasons to watch: Good acting, meaningful lessons, and a very cool treehouse! (oh, and funny and thought-provoking quotes too!)


Note: pictures were screencapped by me!