labratV2

Oh, nooooooo...... That's a darn shame the V.C. invaded Ft. Benning, GA! It would make for good training though! I can name a lot of the ranges off in the distance on the aerial shots. It didn't change much for 20 years & looks about the same from a Blackhawk.

I did like the weapons display for the Army PR scene in the beginning. Although, the PPSH is Soviet, and SKS is ChiCom, not the other way around... Also, rare Mosin-Nagant WW1- era revolver instead of de riguer VC Officer's Tokarev ACP?

I'm not going into the script, that's already been covered, but I think I'm hearing Mandarin as the movie plays in the background! Oy!

Well, this is what we should expect from yet another delightfully offbeat romp, courtesy of the Coen Bros. "The Professor" Tom Hanks character's recital of the ancient Greek poems is really unexpected... What was his "Phud" in again? The most interesting character he's played in many years, and really showcases his ability to portray something besides his usual "All American Hero" type. Bravo! I'll bet he really had some wicked fun! The supporting cast is a wonderful ensemble too, especially the perpetually smoking "General". Even though there is the code of "honor among thieves" we find out that personal differences can erode this "sacred" institution all well!

I would love to have seen the alternate ending with BJU debunked. That night I also had to view "A Very Long Engagement" so didn't get to the special features in Ladykillers DVD. I'll just have to buy it... It was that good!

C'mon, this flick looks like it was filmed at Ft. Irwin! (NTC to you post cold warrior types) Possibly Ft. Huachuca in Arizona, but Irwin is right up the I-15 from LA.... We have post-war Pershings being cast as Panzers (Maybe a Viet-Nam vintage M-48 Patton as a King Tiger, I've already forgotten) Korean-Era Chaffees take the place of Shermans. Belgium looks nothing at all like the high desert scrub of Ft. Irwin either, no matter how much faux snow you put on it. It looks like the producers collaborated with the California National Guard to save money. Lame compromise. Too bad, the cast and acting/direction were first rate. They could have gone up to Ft. Lewis, WA, and at least had a passable location.

In contrast, I at least liked Force 10 with Harry Ford for a little more authenticity. Actually filmed on location in beautiful Yugoslavia, and the Soviet late war T-36's (from Yugo reserve units?) used actually had the WWII Panzer body kits which were good enough to fool an attacking Stuka! I think Yugo Pres. I think Tito helped them out with this film so that his name was thrown around in the script. Clever! Coudn't detect any anything not authentic in weapons, uniforms, etc.