The War at Home | | Cast : | Emilio Estevez, Kathy Bates, Martin Sheen | | Director : | Emilio Estevez | | Studio : | Buena Vista Home Entertainment | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned | | Released Date : | November 20, 1996 | | DVD Released Date : | September 03, 2002 | | Language : | English (Dubbed) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | July 18, 2005 | | Summary | This movie is amazing... | Content
 | I was totally blown away with this movie. The acting in this movie is incredible. The cast is incredible, and of course, the plot to the movie is very heart touching. Emilo shows in this movie just how good of a director he really is. This is one of my all time favorite movies. So powerful......That is, if you enjoy war movies in all areas that war takes place. I believe this movie should have recieved a lot more recognition however. I just rented it by chance, but I heard nothing about it before hand. This is a movie to be talked about and I would recommend it to any adult viewer who really enjoys a good drama. |
| Rating | | | Date | January 19, 2005 | | Summary | The Vietnam War...on the homefront! | Content
| This powerful and sadly underated movie is one of the best I've ever seen that deals with the often troubled life of a Vietnam War veteran (others include "Coming Home", "The Deer Hunter", "Jacknife", and "Cease Fire"). This is really Emilio Estevez' crowning achievement, and he produced, directed, and starred in this unforgettable drama. Also, the music is a fabulous mixture of 60's and 70's songs as well as the beautiful score composed by Basil Poledouris.
Estevez plays a hardened Vietnam War veteran (and decorated hero) "Jeremy" who returns to his very DYSFUNCTIONAL family: a domineering and stern father (played to perfection by real-life father Martin Sheen), a Pollyanna-type mother whose cheerfulness gets on everyone's nerves (played by the very talented Kathy Bates), and a free-spirited hippie-type sister (played by Kimberly Williams) who can't understand "what's happened" to Jeremy. Jeremy sinks into deeper depression until it finally reaches the boiling point one Thanksgiving Day. Jeremy finally confronts his dad about Vietnam and in a rage finally loses touch with reality, threatening to kill his family!
This amazing film is very important in showing just how devastating the Vietnam War was to America, and how it shattered lives forever. Why this extraordinary film has remained largely unnoticed by the public has baffled me for years, and all three stars (Emilio Estevez, Martin Sheen, and Kathy Bates) deserved oscars for their flawless performances. The dvd has no special features, but is at least low-priced. This movie is highly recommended for anyone who enjoys gripping drama. |
| Rating | | | Date | November 13, 2004 | | Summary | Insight to the "other side" of War! | Content
| A griping story of a families turmoil brought about by a Son's experience of the war. The writer delivers an unusual look at what can, and often does happen when the "prodigal son" returns from Vietnam. The actors,truly captured the essance of the turmoil and bring it to the screen with stark reality. Martin Sheen as the Father, and Kathy Bates as the Mother excell in thier roles, and Emilio Estaves who also directs create an emotional crisis that wrench at the heart of the viewers. Thier powerful performance is only enhanced by the fact that they are Father and son in real life. Kathy Bates is "annoying" as the Mother who simply wont let her "Son" grow up upon his return...yet her performance is outstanding. The entire production brings the audience "into" thier home ... one becomes part of thier "Family" without realizing it.
The timely "flash backs" of the war's actions are well done and allows the audience to see just where the turmoil begins without disturbing the central storyline. There may be many who do not understand this turmoil but for those that do, this small and underated production is a must for everyone's video library. To those who understand,the "War" within the household is far more devastating than the War at the front. The conclusion is the true reality of the piece and allows one to share the heart wrenching sadness that comes with the inablity to cope. The entire cast is a true credit to the acting profession... and Martin Sheen can be proud of his son's ability to continue in the profession he was born into. |
| Rating | | | Date | September 07, 2004 | | Summary | A hard one to critique..... | Content
| The subject matter was not 5 but 10 stars, considering how 'Nam messed up so many of our soldiers. The acting was, at times, superb, excellent, overbearing, and at times, just plain flat.
Bates and Sheen were, as usual excellent, but both characters got a bit too clotting at times. Ditto Estevez. I agree with what another critic said; it was very tough to have complete or long-standing sympathy for, essentially, any character in the film, and some of their reactions, not only emotioally, but time-wise were just not believeable. And the ending did just kind of leave you hanging.... |
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