Film Portrayal of American Soldiers on Patrol

[Flying10uk]

War film portrayals of American soldiers on patrol, in a combat zone, often seem to show them making as much noise as humanly possible, such as shouting and talking to each other. Obviously such behaviour is likely to give away the patrol's position to any enemy forces in the area yet so many war films involving American soldiers seem to show this sort of behaviour while they are out on patrol. I am not ex military and I have not really come into much contact with many American ex-soldiers but surely this is not typical of how the American soldier generally behaves while out on patrol?

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[Aragorn243]

A movie would be very boring if it followed a group of quiet men walking slowly through the jungle. Think about it. Don't believe everything you see. Depending on the date of the movie, it could also simply be to portray the American soldier in a bad light. Common practice from Vietnam through the beginning of the first Gulf War. The Vietnam war was unpopular and the military got no respect for decades afterward.

[Flying10uk]

I have thought about it and most war films that I have seen involving American soldiers seem to portray them in the same way. Why are British or Canadian soldiers, for example, not portrayed in a similar manner on screen?

[Vincent]

You know it’s not real and just Hollywood drama, right?

[Aragorn243]

Maybe because British film makers are trying to appeal to a different audience than American film makers and don't have the same expectations in the two audiences.

[Flying10uk]

You know it’s not real and just Hollywood drama, right?

Yes off course, but why portray American soldiers in a similar manner to this, in what seems like, almost every-time a war film is made involving American soldiers? Is it to portray American soldiers in a bad light as has been suggested in post 2, which sounds plausible?

[Aragorn243]

It might be helpful if you named the movies you are referring too. I expect most of us have seen them. Off the top of my head, I can't think of an instance such as you describe.

[Flying10uk]

Casualties of War (1989), staring Michael J. Fox, made me think of of the question again which was on one of the U.K. T.V. channels last night. I wouldn't say that this film portrays the American soldier any differently to any of the other war films. What I'm asking is if war films generally show a fair reflection of what the average American soldier is actually like? I don't know the answer to this question because I am not ex-military and have not served in or with U.S. forces. That is the reason why I asked the question.

[browningautorifle]

Casualties of War

That was a terrible movie, not really anything real in it at all. It was an example of one with just a made up story trying to show the duality of man...you simply can't take these drivel as anything. Just popcorn chewing entertainers. Better if you take a flat of scotch for your pop...then they're half good, if you can remember them.

[Aragorn243]

Yeah, that's one that just entertains. Can't have boring quiet patrolling happening.