Mr. Green,
Hello I am Chance Phelps mother, Gretchen.
It's obvious this movie, struck a chord with you, just guessing, but political?

One of the reasons we chose as a family to agree to the filming is this, we thought it would offer a different perspective to what goes on behind the scenes during an escort mission. Just a way to reach out to the 4,000 plus families that have lost a loved one in this war. The stories of the escorts are more than likely very similiar in some way, shape or form.

Also, the bodies of our military fallen are prepared for burial in Dover, Maryland by military volunteers, not Germany.
Until you have been there to see how the process is completed, I think it would be fair for you to concede, that you have no idea how respectfully our fallen our treated there by these volunteers.
I am sure the emotional reactions are very real, and not contrived, as you seem to think.

No, my son was not Jesus Christ as you suggested, neither are the rest of our military dead. Shame on you! The volunteers at Dover are angels on earth in my estimation though, because they do volunteer to care for our fallen.

I hate war too, and am sick of it, but we are one of the greatest nations in the world because of men like my son, and millions more just like him.
I am grateful every day to live in our country and go about my daily routine just like you. But it is not free, didn't come easy and never will. Less than 1% of our US population volunteers to serve this country in our military, so you & I can enjoy our daily lives.

This movie transcends any political affiliation, it is just a simple story about one Marine bringing another Marine home. It's American, very humanizing, and very emotional. A beautiful example of the other side of war that our military personnel experience.

I have found since my son died, that most people that have not experienced a loss like this, truly do not understand the full scope of why we are at war. I can understand their ignorance, but it's painfully obvious they choose to be that way.

My son Chance Russell Phelps was a great son, very proud to be a Marine, and very courageous. Nothing you could say will denegrate him or our country any more. He served FOR YOU & ME...
I will always support our military, and our country and her president, no matter who it is!
I am truly sorry the movie didn't make you just a bit more empathetic towards the fallen, the escorts who bring them home, and of course the volunteers at Dover who prepare the bodies for burial.

Oh yes, please don't forget to hug your wife, your children, or any loved one who is in your life. Our military is standing watch over you & yours, so you can sleep in peace.

Respectfully,
Gretchen Mack

Mr. Green,
Hello I am Chance Phelps mother, Gretchen.
It's obvious this movie, struck a chord with you, just guessing, but political?

One of the reasons we chose as a family to agree to the filming is this, we thought it would offer a different perspective to what goes on behind the scenes during an escort mission. Just a way to reach out to the 4,000 plus families that have lost a loved one in this war. The stories of the escorts are more than likely very similiar in some way, shape or form.

Also, the bodies of our military fallen are prepared for burial in Dover, Maryland by military volunteers, not Germany.
Until you have been there to see how the process is completed, I think it would be fair for you to concede, that you have no idea how respectfully our fallen our treated there by these volunteers.
I am sure the emotional reactions are very real, and not contrived, as you seem to think.

No, my son was not Jesus Christ as you suggested, neither are the rest of our military dead. Shame on you! The volunteers at Dover are angels on earth in my estimation though, because they do volunteer to care for our fallen.

I hate war too, and am sick of it, but we are one of the greatest nations in the world because of men like my son, and millions more just like him.
I am grateful every day to live in our country and go about my daily routine just like you. But it is not free, didn't come easy and never will. Less than 1% of our US population volunteers to serve this country in our military, so you & I can enjoy our daily lives.

This movie transcends any political affiliation, it is just a simple story about one Marine bringing another Marine home. It's American, very humanizing, and very emotional. A beautiful example of the other side of war that our military personnel experience.

I have found since my son died, that most people that have not experienced a loss like this, truly do not understand the full scope of why we are at war. I can understand their ignorance, but it's painfully obvious they choose to be that way.

My son Chance Russell Phelps was a great son, very proud to be a Marine, and very courageous. Nothing you could say will denegrate him or our country any more. He served FOR YOU & ME...
I will always support our military, and our country and her president, no matter who it is!
I am truly sorry the movie didn't make you just a bit more empathetic towards the fallen, the escorts who bring them home, and of course the volunteers at Dover who prepare the bodies for burial.

Oh yes, please don't forget to hug your wife, your children, or any loved one who is in your life. Our military is standing watch over you & yours, so you can sleep in peace.

Respectfully,
Gretchen Mack

...well said Ms. Gretchen. well said. Honor, courage and commitment are still values here in "flyover country" in spite of what the politically correct intelligencia elite have heard professed from the ivory towers of academia. So many points in Mr. Greene's review warrant debate but one of the more troublesome is the allusion by Mr. Greene that volunteers at Dover, MD remove their covers as the body of a fallen warrior emerges and begins the final journey home is portrayed purely for cheap theatrical effect. Mr. Greene, they really do. Just as recovery workers at Ground Zero stopped and removed their covers every time the body of a fallen Police Officer or Firefighter was recovered and carried away from the WTC. This is done out of respect to those who take an oath to serve and protect, and have been injured or lost their lives fulfilling their word sworn to that oath be they military, police, fire or ems. Mr. Greene, a critique of the lighting, dialogue, or acting I can understand. An attack on the values that kept this country free in the guise of a film critique, I can't. Ms. Gretchen, I stand with you and I stand with Chance. Semper Fi...

R/S

Scott Drewlo

Thanks Mr. Drewlo!

I was in the same screening as you were and I think you missed the point of the film, really I do. You're review is laced with political rhetoric, when the movie was not.

The point of the film was the way Americans feel as a whole about their troops, despite the politicians that are behind everything.

I felt Chance represented every military soldier just like the Tomb of the Unknowns. We as a public don't know who these people are, but we feel like we have known them our whole lives.

There's nothing political about a persons life and that person giving their life, regardless of politics.

The fact that this film could've been set in any American post-war era and still had the same impact says a lot. Sure it's set in modern day where Iraq is a big issue, but IRAQ isn't the issue in this film. And that's the point.

I saw Taking Chance on the 18th in Salt Lake but unlike Ray Greene I left my uber-political crabby pants at home.

To Mrs. Mack: Thank you for the service to our country of so many of your family members. My condolences to you and your family for your losses. Congratulations on your new grand baby.

Mr. Greene when are you going to write a review of the movie, Taking Chance that looks at the movie, the story (not in your twisted cankered altered reality)for its accuracy and its human interest, the artists and others involved in this work?

Any thought that this work was on tape before you knew who Bernie Madoff was?

How did Kevin Bacon do in protraying Lt.Coln. Strobl? Did you notice that he seemed to capture his essence while walking, standing, and talking? Yet when standing side by side, not at work on the film, Kevin was himself.

When I am traveling and have the opportunity to cross paths with those who are or have family that is in the service of our country, I make a point to thank them for that service.

Mr. Greene you seem to be a poster boy for the addage that those who can't do - write about it.

Best wishes in finding something you are more capable of doing.

How pathetic that you feel the need to comment on the real lives of Kevin Bacon and his wife. Do you really have so little belief in yourself as a movie critic or commenter that you cant just talk about the film?
Disappointing to say the least my friend.

Sadly.....another Activist turned critic who decides to write about something (War) like he has 3 cents knowledge about it....

Hollywood.....

Most moving movie I have seen in a very very long time.

Sorry you were so disappointed, Ray. I'm sure you really, really enjoyed Mall Cop. That's your kind of "courage".

I have not seen the movie yet, only the trailer.
First I'd like to say Miss Grechen I am very sorry for your loss and thank you for your sacrifice.
I'm a Patriot Guard Rider in SE Texas. What I've seen from the trailer, the events are accurate. I've seen the care that the pilots and ground crews give the returning, fallen soldiers. I have seen 150 American flags, surrounding the tar mac, awaiting the arrival of the plane for a fallen hero. I have seen the streets and highway overpasses lined with people wanting to pay the last respects and to say thank you. Rain or shine. And yes I check the DoD causality list.
Nothing political about it, Americans do want to say thank you, to those who have put them selves in harms way.

Mr. Greene, It amazes me that with all the educational opportunities afforded to Americans, that we still are able to produce complete idiots who go forth and actually find gainful employment providing dis-information to the masses. Really, to paraphase another war movie, 'Did your mommy and Daddy not show you enough attention when you were a small child?' What you fail to realize is that to Marines Semper Fi is more than just a catchy slogan. It is the embodiement of our ethos and culture. Simply put, it is our way of life. It transcends generations, cultures and religions. Had you been paying attention, you might have gleened that. For Marines, a burial detail is a double edged sword. It's a great honor to pay final respects to a fallen brother, but at the same time it is a truely mentally exhausting experience. Until you have had to look into the eyes of a Mother, Father, Daughter or Son and present a folded flag on behalf of the President of the United states, The Commandant of the Marine Corps and a grateful Nation.... You never will understand. You should go home this evening and thank what ever diety you pray too that there are better men than you ensuring your rights to post dribble and call it a critique.

Mrs Mack, You have my condolences on your loss. Know that you are still part of the Marine Corps family and your sacrifice has not been forgotten.

S/F
B. R. Reno

Go see this film. I just saw it at Sundance, and it is a standout. It is not political, other than it shows the effects of war, and the sadness it brings.

I saw this movie in Salt Lake on the 17th, and I cannot stop thinking about it. It was one of the most profoundly powerful movies I have ever seen. I was initially reluctant to go see this film, thinking it might be another anti Iraq-war political statement. It was anything but! I do not know anyone who has been a casualty of this or any other war, and yet my emotions were brought to the surface as though Chance was my own son. Kevin Bacon brought such amazing emotion to the screen, with minimal dialogue, that I was spellbound. It is not a political statement, but a human one, which makes this movie a must see for all Americans, no matter their political affiliation, military involvement, or opinion about this war or any other. Mr Green, I think you need to either find a new job or look deeply into your soul for some well-hidden emotions. Anyone not profoundly affected by this movie has not a shred of emotion in their bodies. Mrs. Mack, thank you for allowing the story of Chance to be told. I, for one, was moved to puddles of tears to know that our fallen soldiers are treated with such respect and reverence during their final journey home. And thank you to every single soldier for giving us the freedom that we so often take for granted. See this movie immediately! It is indeed not to be missed!

Mrs. Phelps --

What can I say? To me, war is indeed a political issue, and my major problem with this film, if I can be so old fashioned about it, is a moral one. I don't question your son's service or the magnitude of your loss -- I lost my twin brother this year, and believe me I measure the hole in my heart this created every day, and I will for the rest of my life. But I have to say that I think it's time for us to move the discussion to causes, and not simply traffic in effects. Your son's death came about because of a war that was volitional, and in my opinion by limiting the event structure of this film so narrowly, to the simple raw and profound purity of his absence, the danger is that this movie becomes a recruiting tool that can cause other mothers and sons to suffer the same separation. When I was Chance's age, I couldn't imagine my own death, but I think I could imagine the honor and respect I might earn automatically by dying in a way the wider world would declare to be heroic. I'm not saying your son's story shouldn't be told, but I am saying it's a bigger story than this film chooses to address. And that makes the movie's emotional arc manipulative and even dangerous in my humble and solitary view.

Again, my heart goes out to you. I respect your son, I am grateful to him for his service, and I know he didn't order himself into harm's way. But I want us to talk about why he was there. If we don't, I find the discussion manipulative, and bordering even on the propagandistic.

Please forgive me if I've caused you any additional pain -- it was not and is not my intention.

I hope you're healing continues -- I know from recent events in my own life it will never be complete.

Sincerely, Ray Greene

Ray,

You don't get it, and may never, but if you bother to read these posts or make the effort to see the film again, I'll try to explain:

It's not about you.

Your response to Mrs. Phelps is a self-centered mope on mortality that still focuses on your politics and personal experience, which is also selfish and disrespectful of the people that serve YOU and allow for the freedom of discourse you engage in, not well, or wisely.

You miss the point of the narrative,and are seemingly blind to the genuine feelings and emotions of those of us who have children that serve our country instead of themselves.

Mrs. Mack's sacrifice and loss are felt by many, bound by common ideals beyond the narrow focus and prejudice you display in your review and response.

Please take time to think over your words.

My husband and I saw this movie in Park City on January 20th, and we both agreed it was one of the most touching movies we have ever seen! What we discussed after wards, is that no matter what your stance is on the war in Iraq, you will still find the passion and meaning behind its message. The best part about Taking Chance is all that is portrayed without your typical Hollywood hype and dialogue. We truly hope to see this opened to the big screen for all to see.

Ms. Gretchen, our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to you and your family!

I was priviged to be able to see Taking Chance at Sundance on the 20th. From the questions/comments made after the four standing ovations it received I can comfortably state that this movie touched nearly all who saw it. That is was non-political and tried to just show without judgement the real messages of service and sacrifice combined with honor and dignity were truly moving.

I can only join the others both who wrote here and who have been able to see the movie thus far in stating that we clearly do no agree with Mr. Greene's review. The movie is not some Hollywood writer's hope of what life and war should be but a true life account of what it is. If Mr. Greene did not like that there are people that paid respects to Chance Phelps during his return to Wyoming that is unfortunate. The beauty of this movie is that it shows that Americans do care, despite what they might hear on TV and see in other movies. In that he wanted a more political movie is sad, beacuse of that he missed the true message of this movie.

Having had the duty to notify next of kin that their military loved ones died on active duty I can testify to the emotionally draining experience it is and to the attention to detail all adhere to throughout. Until you, Mr. Greene, have had this experience you can't write about it and expect anyone to take you seriously. You may be better served doing a piece about Journalism school and how nothing is taught there.

To Mrs. Mack and her family thank you for allowing this film to be made and please accept my sincerest condolences for your loss.

To Mrs. Mack and Mr. Greene - First and foremost to Mrs. Greene - from one Marine to another Marine family, my deepest sympathy goes out to you and your family. To Mr. Greene, sticking to the facts and the elements which make up any movie would serve you well. I have yet to see the movie but have seen the trailer which simply reinforced what I have know for 37 years. Marines take care of their own. And when one falls another really does take them home. It is something only a Marine or family of a Marine really understands. The Macks are part of our family and will remain so forever. This movie, I anitipate, does nothing more than show the depth of respect and love we hold for one another, be it in life or in thier final journey. It is who we are and who we shall always be. United States Marines.

Semper Fi,

Tom Gillespie
USMC RVN 1970

Mr. Greene

This movie is about one Marine taking another Marine home to his family that is all. It's not looking at the war, but what happens if one falls in it. Think about that.

Semper Fi
Cpl USMC

I am Sheree a student from the town Chance used to live in and he is on our patriots wall at school. This movie wasnt meant to get a political view. It isnt for a persuasive. You didnt even know Chance Phelps. I have a question for you, IS THE CUP HALF FULL OR EMPTY? Everybody has a negative side, I didnt know Chance face to face but I know who he was and still is. This Town here loves him and if it wasnt for people like him you wouldnt be able to write your opinion. Think twice before you use your rights.

And one more thing, Just because you cant watch a movie and enjoy it without making a rude hurtful comment about it doesnt mean you need to attack the actor and the actors family at least.

Mr Greene -

i actually understand your point that ignoring the politics of this war is to tacitly support it. And i understand how that scares you. But, respectfully, it's way off base. That very critique ignores the interminable influx of footage, literature, opinions, discussion, even movies over the past 8 years -- about the balance between protection and civil liberty, about self defense vs imperialism, and certainly about this war. it's 2009 and we've ushered in completely new political leadership. how many people in 2009 are still mulling over their opinion of the war? do you really feel that we need more movies to educate us on the war or convince us of its failures? really? is there really no place for art that focuses on an aspect of war that we can actually agree upon? (Do you oppose Obama because he looks for common ground rather than emphasizing the moral pitfalls of his opponents?) if you conflate people saying "i support the troops" with a concrete appreciation of trooops' sacrifice or the meticulousness with which they look after one another, then you're part of an equally dangerous propaganda.

Particularly unfortunate is your inability to recognize this film's place in your political discussion. There's a difference b/w an intellectual mourning and a visceral one. As a nation, we've become numb to the mounting casualty/wounded statistics. 'What's another 7 on top of 4300?' it's a natural, human mechanism. but it's tragic. if this film helps humanize the losses and render that void tangible, it lays the foundation for an honest debate about the war as policy; if we can't fully fathom the value of each life, we don't deserve to discuss the merits of a conflict. if more politicians had recognized the meaning of a life, we might not have gone in to begin with. so please don't confuse those who serve with those who send them to fight, because that's what gave us the shameful post-vietnam era.

I happen to actively oppose this war, but feel that everyone needs to see this film. It put a face back on this war for me and paid homage to those who deserve to be brought out of the shadows. it's a beautiful tribute to americans' capacity for goodness and community. reminders to the contrary are in no short supply. amid all the cynicism, isn't it worth reminding ourselves that we also have reasons be proud?

Ray, have more faith in our intelligence. To honor the fallen and those who care for them doesn't make their death any more acceptable. It certainly doesn't incite us to rush off to war, knowing how well we'll be treated when we're returned home in a box. if that were the case, the military would have publicized this process long ago. they're too dignified for that. There's value in putting politics aside at times. WIsh you were able to see that.

Thank you Gretchen and anyone who has served or lost for us. We are forever grateful and in your debt.

ps - Ray, no matter how you feel about the politics, citing kevin's financial woes is beyond low. is your next spielberg review going to make the same jabs? c'mon man.

Here's something for you to consider (not that it will make any difference): While it may be hard for critics and cynics to believe through their jaded perspectives, what this movie portrays is really the way it happened. "True story?" You bet. As "hokey" and "affected" as it may seem, all that behavior actually occurred. I was here in Dubois on the day Chance was brought home, right here with the 1,000 other people who showed up to our high school gym to pay their respects. What you see in this movie, actually occurred, right down to the crucifix wielding stewardess (how dare she!) and the boy scouts and members of this community who lined main street from the high school to the cemetery with flags in their hands. Were there those in that mass of people who didn't, and still don't, support the war in Iraq? Absolutely. But, they recognized what you failed to: That journey wasn't about politics, policies or agendas. That journey was about bringing a young man home. That's it, pure and simple. The movie doesn't idealize war. It allows those who have not had to experience this loss, and perhaps will be fortunate enough to never have to, to see beyond the war. It brings it down to a level each of us should be able to identify with: One individual. If the behavior of this community on that day and the actions of Americans across this country as Chance was brought home, is somehow trivial to you, then I'm truly sorry for that part of you that is unable to even grasp the depth of respect that was brought forth. I publish the newspaper here in Dubois, a place I expect you would view as some sort of "cornball" town. If the actions that you scoff at in the movie makes us cornballs, that's okay by me. I would much rather be in the company of these neighbors than anywhere near the disillusioned world you inhabit. Because I have never been more proud of this little town than the day Chance Phelps was laid to rest in our cemetery on the hill.

Mrs. Mack, I've nothing to add that hasn't already been said regarding the review. What I can add is that I am one of the soldiers who was assigned with Mortuary Affairs from 2003 - 2005 working at Dover and Aberdeen, MD. Our job, and our honor as fellow service-members, was doing everything necessary to send your son and others home with the dignity and respect they earned, not just by virtue of their sacrifice but because of how they chose to live their lives. The story about the military cordons as our fallen comrades are escorted from Dover are absolutely the way it is done, and the conduct of the construction workers is a memory that will stay with me forever. Mr. Greene doesn't understand because, despite his intellectual grasp of death and mourning, he has never lived duty, honor, sacrifice, and pride that comes with serving your nation.

I was at Sundance and saw this movie. I loved this movie I am a veteran of 20 years and a film maker. I was honored to be a part of this premier. No matter what kind of financial problems Kevin Bacon might be having its's none of our business. He did an outstanding job of recreating Lt Col Strobl's story. You must have been a draft dodger during the vietnam war or spat on the solders who returned. These soldiers, airmen, and sailors are heros no matter what you think. This is a heart felt movie that should be released to the public and not just on HBO. I cried thoughout the movie. I have my freedom and you are able to say what you say because of the brave men and women who have died for us. The liberal media and public forget that.

Mr. Greene, what I REALLY want to do is make you the recipient of some angry statements and accusations, but I'll just cool it. You, sir, have NO decency. Your leftist propaganda piece is masquerading as a review, and your dishonesty is apparent to all who read your sophomoric commentary about an unpopular war. You have disqualified yourself as a movie critic, so go sign up as an advisor to Rahm Emmanuel or some other leftist creep.

I also think the point was missed. It points out that not all Americans have forgotten patriotisms. Some of us give all, while others are very unattached to what is happening with our military forces, Thanks to CNN and other news companies that have banded patriotism.. I will not even watch many of the big news channels such as CNN and wish others would band as well. What better story could they tell or discuss than what our military is involved in.If this was reported in truth, many nations would see us as good and decent people. It is appalling to me that they will go on and on about political scandals while our military has great fundamental stories about the war. NO, don't let us help America band togther in patritism. I have read this story and can not wait to see the movie. This true story needed to be told and many others like it.
It gives me comfort to know my 21 year old son is honored by some and should be honored and respected by each and every American. Every American should have a basic understanding of what our military families must endure.

Mr. Greene, So many have aptly given you your due, so my comments may fall short. But, while I have n;t seen the movie, as a Marine I have followed Chance's road home. I can relate to the Colonel sitting and reading the casualty reports. I have done this as a First Sergeant. I regret that I could not help those in the war, and tried until I retired at 59 years old in 2003. I would still go over there if it could help the troops.
Marines fight when told to, whether in Viet-Nam, Iraq, or Korea. President Clinton sent troops to Bosnia, Truman to Korea, Roosevelt to Europe and the Pacific. We fight for our country and each other, not the politics.
Only you who remanin behind have that luxury. And generally it costs us our lives. So watch the movie and listen to the story. If you want to criticize it, do so on a visual level, ofr you politics seem to taint your opinion.
Smeper Fidelis

Mr. Greene - I truly hope that yours is a "humble and solitary view" when you choose to malign a film which will touch so many hearts and for Vietnam veterans such as myself, sad memories. History, not you, will pass judgement on whether or not the war in Iraq was just and necessary. What is necessary is for us to honor our dead, wounded, and those who have chosen to serve.

Mike Strobl is a Marine, as is Chance Phelps. We are a unique band of warriors, a brotherhood forged in fire and with a bond stronger than mere bloodline. Whether I am attending the funeral of a fallen Marine or making one of my weekly visits to Bethesda NNMC to aid the wounded, I am taking care of family.

"Taking Chance" is not and was not meant to be a political statement. If you want that, film your own version of "Platoon" or any other of the propagandized celluoid garbage so popular during and shortly after Vietnam which portrayed decent Americans as murderous thugs.

"Taking Chance" isn't for you? That's okay. It's for us.

Anyone with an ax to grind should not be allowed to make "official" comments on a subject. It is quite obvious that Ray Greene has such an ax. To this US Marine Vietnam veteran it is deplorable that he be allowed to publish his politically charged critcal words. God bless Chance Phelps and God bless the United States Marine Corps.

Semper Fidelis,

John Wear
Sgt 3rd Tanks
RVN '68 - '69

Mr. Greene, your pathetic attempt to reply to ANYONE about what you have written only shows that you have no idea what Sacrifice and Honor truly are. I can also see you have never really done anything for anyone, but yourself. Much less your Country.

Do you believe that by being a critic you have done some sort of good? Brought things to light that no ones else could see from this film? Or is this just another attempt for you to get your name in the headlines? I believe that is call a 'Attention Whore.' You, sir have earned that title.

Maybe you should stick to what your good at, tabloid writing.

Semper Fi, to these two Marines.
And to all my Marines... Thank You!

Mr Greene,
A quote from a past war.
"for those who fought for it,Freedom has a taste that the protected will never know"
You sir have no clue, please in the future stick to something you have knowledge of!
Jim Davlin
Delta Company, 1st Battalion 5th Marines
1St Mar Div FMF
RVN 1966

Mr. Greene,
you are a loser. Obviously you never served your country. Probably not even a Boy Scout. I hear the Enquirer is hiring writers. Oh wait... You don't have the qualifications...

Mr. Greene, You Sir are a complete jerk. However, Chance Phelps died protecting your 1st Amendment rights, so keep on writing...Jerk.

Ms. Mack, We thank you for the service and sacrifice that your family has given to our beloved country. There are no words that we can offer to soothe or comfort a loss so Great as that of a Son. Thank You for allowing the story to be shown, and told, of our fallen countrymen. We are grateful.

Seamus, thanks for posting this site on All Hands.

Semper Fi and God Bless, Neil

There are men and women on the front lines of this Global War on Terror who do not support the war. Yet, they are there. Doing their jobs like millions of other American service members before them. This movie is not about that. It's about the time-honored tradition of bringing our men and women home -- to America. To the place they believed in so much they were willing to go to war -- despite their personal political affiliations or convictions -- and to die, if necessary.

When people like Mr. Greene miss that point, they also miss out on the beauty of appreciating an act for the act itself. A Marine brought home another Marine. Lt. Col. Mike Strobl didn't have to write about his experiences during that journey, but he did. It's up to us, as Americans, to recognize the sacrifices that he, Chance Phelps, and so many other military men and women -- and their families -- make to protect our rights as Americans.
Semper Fi.

I must respectfully disagree with John Wear. Of course Mr. Greene should be allowed to publish this tripe. As much as it may disgust you, it is what you have fought honorably for, Sir!

I must disagree with Mr. Greene far less respectfully, however.

Under Mr. Greene's logic, a movie made about Nixon's trip to China would be fatally flawed if it fails to discuss the Watergate scandal. A movie about WWII that doesn't depict the gas chambers is "avoiding" the real tragedy of the war. A movie about Che Guevara that focuses on one part of his life without addressing his ultimate barbarism is... oh, wait, nevermind.

For Mr. Greene, one of the few redeeming qualities of The U.S. vs John Lennon for you was "a few brave comments from interviewee Gore Vidal linking Vietnam to Iraq". The Iraq war serves as a useful device for to describe the "brute farce escapades" that take place in In Bruges. A documentary about the savagery in Sierra Leone is a great excuse to draw moral equivalences to Abu Gharib.

We should not be surprised that Ray Greene would believe that a movie that deals with a very real but somewhat peripheral aspect of any U.S. war must address its horrific injustice of the specific war in Iraq head on---or else it simply does not qualify as an acceptable piece of art. If even the word Iraq appears in the film, it must be accompanied by at least one picture of a prisoner with underwear on his head.

Abraham Maslow once said, "He that is good with a hammer tends to think everything is a nail." The war in Iraq may not be the only hammer in Ray Greene's toolbox, but he would do well to put the damn thing down once in awhile.

Sorry for the poor copy editing there. For some reason the preview function wasn't working for my web browser to I took a chance on "Submit". Oops.

To Gretchen Mack - I have been a part of the detail for Fallen Marines on occasion. It is a very moving emotional event. It is often stated, in a very macho fashion, that Marines don't cry. That may be true, but when I read the After Action Report that LtCol Strobl wrote in 2004, shortly after the trip west, it sure made my eyes leak, and it still does. God bless you and thank you.

To Ray Greene - Anything that I could think of to say about you would still be a complement.

Semper Fidelis

Glen Barry Evans
Master Sergeant of Marines
Retired from Active Duty

Mr. Greene,
You have every right to express your opinion. After all opinions are like a certain anal cavity..everyone has one. Believe me you are in a "class" by yourself.Instead of covering this very human story of a Marine coming home for his final deployment, you opted to cover the politics of the war. Somewhere in your critique of this very human story you mentioned human emotion. It is hard to believe after your watching of this film that you posess any emotion at all. Let me ask you this question, "where is YOUR ounce of human emotion"? Your critical assessment of "Taking Chance" leads me to believe that the following quote must have been designed for people such as yourself," it is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool, than to open it and remove all doubt". You sir, leave no doubt whatsoever! In closing let me tell you, I thank my God each and every day that He allowed me to be a United States Marine.
Semper Fidelis,
Boyce Clark, E-2-7, Korea..1950-1951

My dear sebacious dilletante-critic-poltroon who sits on his climate-controlled butt every pampered day and who has never had a mosquito bite or a blister;
Have you ever reviewed a movie entitled "A New Jersey Golden Gloves Knockout?" Well if you ever meet me, you'll get the opportunity.
In the meantime, feel free to ride in the wagon while braver men pull it. And don't EVEN let the title Marine cross your blubbery lips; you HAVE NOT EARNED the right, you rat swimming in sea of pus.
Kelly, (yeah, I'm a philistine Visagoth)out

LtCol B.R. Kelly, USMC(RET)
Proud father of three Marine sons with five COMBAT tours among them.

For God, Corps and Country is a guarantee not words. Honor, Courage and Commitment are a reality not buzz words. Marines are not exactly normal people and they are surely not politicians. Any Marine who reads about Chance or sees this movie will never even think of politics. What we see is a BROTHER whose loss we morn (deep in our spirit) and a BROTHER who was blessed with the pain of taking him home. A Marine taking care of another Marine and his family. In addition we get to see the reception of the common man to us. Very simple yet a very big deal! As Michael S. Betts says above; "Taking Chance" isn't for you? That's okay. It's for us. If Chance were able to speak I believe he would say something like this; "The reason I served and gave my live was so self-seeking and self-centered folks like Mr Greene would be free to show his real colors without fear of persecution or retribution." Chance was not just one of a kind; he was one of a special breed... If you ain't one of them you ain't never gonna get it!! Semper Fidelis Mrs. Mack and thank you for sharing Chance with us. Semper fi Col Strobl and thank you for sharing your story. Lastly, Semper fi my fellow warrior brothers and sisters.

Very well said Ms. Mack. Mr. Greene is able to sit in the comfort of his office and home and throw darts because of men like your son. I would suggest he go down range and see what is really going on for himself instead of having it spoon fed to him. The trouble with American's like him is that he won't "get it" until he is at the end of his life and then it will be too late.

To Mr. Greene- In his short time on earth Chance Phelps (and his fellow Marines) did ten times more to make a difference than you will ever possibly understand. What will you do, besides throw darts, to make such a difference?

God Bless you and your son, our Marines and soldiers and Mike.

Semper Fi,
Joe
LtCol. USMC (ret)
OIF 05-06

Mr. Greene,
In case you forgot, this should help to refresh your memory. The Service Men and Women of this Countries Armed Forces have volunteered to "uphold and defend the Constitution" that ensures your rights to say and write this gargbage you call a review. How dare you! Explain to me, were you supposed to write a review or use this as a platform to express your political views? Does your boss know he is paying for you to express political comment instead of writing a movie review? If you were my employee, you would have 2 choices:
1. Submit a movie review about the subject( content, story, background, etc.).
2. Have you start to edit your resume because you will need it at your next job after I fire you!

My two points of contention are as follows:
You say the moviemakers essentially see the war as "a wound to an essentially honorable American psyche, and maybe even a just cause and a sort of hero manufacturing device". I am a retired combat veteran and have never felt like my psyche has been wounded. We did what we were supposed to do to protect this Country and our way of life. No appologies. I do not want someone attacking this Country and imposing their beliefs on any American. It may look different now than it did back in the early part of the war. Its easy to second guess after the fact and look for blame. Have you been forward and seen the day-to-day operations that are going on in Iraq or Afganistan? If you haven't, you should not say anything about it. Period.
And the "hero manufacturing device". No one in uniform ever wants to be a hero. The loss the Mack Family has felt is overwhelming. My thoughts and prayers go out to them. The emotion LtCol Strobl felt is real and I am grateful for the service he and many like him have performed. To those assigned to Mortuary Affairs, I want to express my thanks.
Bottom line is this Mr Greene, if you are getting paid to write a movie review, you should write a review. No one want to read your irreleviant political views or your observations about financial misfortunes of others. If you want to write about those topics, I suggest you look elsewhere for new employment. I hear the gossip magazines are always looking for unfounded and untrue topics. I see them at the supermarket check-out counters.
I have not seen the movie but I look forward to seeing it in the near future.
Larry Sweet
USMC Ret

Ms. Mack, You have our gratitude.

Mr. Greene, you have our sympathy.

Dear Mr. Greene:

I am a former Marine officer and Iraq veteran who left active duty at the end of 2004 and became a freelance writer. Next week, my review of "Taking Chance" will be published in the Feb. '09 issue of U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings. My full biography, links, etc are available at http://www.danelo.com

I empathize with some of your observations. "Taking Chance" doesn't have a lot of external dramatic tension, which stories have hinged on since the days of Homer, Aristotle, Genji and Gilgamesh. But the inner conflict is subtle and it turns entirely on the protagonist. You glimpse these contradictions when LtCol Strobl (Kevin Bacon) picks up his child's bicycle and then says up late checking for casualties. They come full circle when Strobl meets the old retired Marine at the VFW, who chews him out for feeling guilty about loving his family. Beyond the enduring question of how Strobl will resolve this contradiction, the film is, as you say, somewhat predictable.

This inner conflict may not have the intrigue of "Casablanca" or the drama of "Chinatown," but that does not mean LtCol Strobl's encounter with rural America does not impact viewers. What Strobl sees as the common thread -- what drives him to connect his experience -- is the common devotion to a selfless ideal. As a character, this ideal remains his driving motivation in both his personal and professional life. He feels he needs to choose between the two. But hundreds of civilians, with flickering car lights and understanding tears, tell him that he does not. His emotional drive to remain at peace as a Marine comes not from his senior officers or war itself, but from a rascally Wyoming boy calling out to him from the grave.

You have become an irresponsible critic and are bogged down in your own bias. You feel the director has a moral responsibility to address the politics of the war itself. Have you noticed how poorly anti-war films have performed at the box office? It is not because Americans are collectively pro-war, or because we, as a general populace, wish to justify the cause and effect. It's because anti-war films, by and large, are not very entertaining stories and do not connect with the experience that most Americans have with military volunteers. (this clip humorously illustrates my point http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=163653&title=Marines-in-Berkeley ).

Politics, not religion, is the American opiate of the masses. It dominates our satire, polarizes our conversation, poisons our perspective. Military volunteers, unlike immature citizens, are forced to reject this drug in order to keep their emotional center. Your political addiction, Mr. Greene, is weakening your growth as a writer and your ability to observe truth as a citizen. Do you really think that Gretchen Mack's loss has any connection with the death of your twin brother? It's a question worth going into.

What should you say? As a fellow writer, I will tell you. First, you should engage Gretchen Mack in a deeper dialogue. Listen to her answers. She'll talk to you, particularly if you have the humility to just ask questions and go beyond your own opinions. Next, you should call up and interview LtCol Strobl. If you show decency and respect to Strobl, he might be willing to connect you to Kevin Bacon, who should be your final interview.

Finally, when that process is finished, you should write a story. Write about your incomplete, obtuse and caustic review, your initial bias, your electronic encounter with Gretchen Mack, your reflection on the similarities and differences between your twin brother's death and Chance Phelps (politics vs. selfless service vs. personal loss), and use the interviews with Strobl, etc, as material through the arc of the piece. The article should chronicle your personal growth as a writer, critic and student of American culture.

Good luck on your future literary efforts, and I wish you much success on your life's journey. And should you ever want to kick your political addiction, feel free to pay a visit to your closest Marine Corps recruiting station.

All the best, and semper fi,
David Danelo

Hey Ray,

Get your Code Pink shirt on, and you and your Berkeley buddies go have a pow-wow at the "changed" White House. I'm sure B. Hussein Obama would love to sit down with you have have some liberal hot tea.

Funny how people believe everything they read, including your crap, but question the writings in the Bible. Amazing.

LKH

Mr. Greene,
My remarks will be to the point but brief.Brief because I do not know enough four letter words to express my true and full opinion of you.
You your family,your friends-(both of them)sleep well at night because of American hero's like Chance,who chose freely to help keep our nation free,by going in harms way.
You are able to speak, write and vote freely because of the millions of Chances' who have given their lives for freedom,since 1775. And more will do so.
In your case, you will not ever ever see Chance "on the other side",due to the FACT that it will be considerbly warmer where your going for eternity.
Most Disrespectfully Yours,
Frank

I read the review by Mr. Greene and found that he is cinical about what others (including myself)may consider moving. I will watch the movie if I can, it seems interesting.

More than Mr. Greene's negative comments ABOUT THE MOVIE, what really surprised me was the avalanche of personal attacks he received in return. It seems to me that if I don't like someone's ideas, I show how these ideas are not logical, falsehoods or otherwise mistaken. I DON'T ATTACK THE AUTHOR.

As a combat Vietnam veteran I may not like what Mr. Greene says about the sad (and to some sacred) journey the movie portrays, but I stand ready to defend his right to criticize the movie.

Commenting on politics of a movie is like commenting on the movie E.T. as if it were true. Movies are entertainment and by virtue of their medium, give others opportunity to use to express their personal opinions in the guise of critique. You have that right and every US military member gives it to you, by lacing up his or her boots each day.

Ms. Phelps, this world is a better place because of your son, thank you!

Looking up review in the dictionary is as follows: critical article or report, as in a periodical, on a book, play, recital, or the like; critique; evaluation. Mr. Greene, you did not do your job at all. You reviewed the politics around the movie and not about what the movie is about. The movie is entertainment, plain and simple and tells a heart warming story.

This entertainment tells a story of a Band of Brothers that take care of their own. I am familiar with this, I am a retired Marine helicopter pilot who has had to land, place a Marine in a body bag, zip him up, carry, and load him into my helicopter, and then fly him a few others to another location for their transport home to their families.

Fast-forwarding to a few years later, my spouse received a knock at the door one morning to come say good-bye to me in an emergency room because of an aircraft accident. They forgot to tell me I might die and I woke up from my coma. The care of my family during that time was important to and from the Commandant of the Marine Corps, on down.

That is what this movie is about. It tells a Love story of care of not just one Marine, but any Marine, of another. The movie is true to this element and a good review would make mention of that in a positive tone.

I challenge you Mr. Greene to go to a showing of this movie on a Marine Corps Base. Then re-write your review, this time, do your job correctly.
CJ LtCol USMC (ret)

To Ray Greene --

You have fallen into the reviewer's trap of complaining that the movie you saw wasn't the one you would have made. And you have it exactly backward when you say it should have dealt with the merits of U.S. venture into Iraq. "I have to say that I think it's time for us to move the discussion to causes, and not simply traffic in effects."

Individual heroism and the respect it engenders in others make a far larger story that something Michael Moore could cook up. It is the stuff of classic literature -- for instance, Homer's Iliad, upon which the Brad Pitt movie "Troy" was based. Or the history of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides, particularly Pericles' funeral oration. I haven't seen "Taking Chance," but I suspect the movie you wish had been made would have been a lesser one.

Like many of the commenters above, I served in the Marines. And Marines know they have been deployed both wisely and unwisely -- a fact largely irrelevant to their fiercely held code of "Always Faithful." David Douglas Duncan took unforgettable photos in Korea of Marines, alive and dead, trudging or being hauled back out because superior officers refused to admit that the Chinese might invade and attack in force. Marine General Smedley Butler, who was awarded two Medals of Honor in the "banana wars," later became embittered enought to write a book called "War Is A Racket." We revere him anyway, and there is a camp named after him.

Seven years ago, a newspaper series in the Rocky Mountain News told a similar story about the people who bring fallen Marines home. It earned the writer and the photographer a Pulitzer Prize each. If you ever win one yourself, it will not be for this small-minded review.

Dear Ms. Mack,

As a parent I can only imagine the emotions you feel and I want you to know that while you may feel you grieve alone, the sacrifice of all of the Gold Star parents is part of the bedrock on which this country always looks to in times of trouble.

As a citizen, I want to thank you for raising a son who understood what all patriots have known in this land. Freedom is not a God given right but is a gift from those like your son.

I share your loss and have thought about LTC Strobl's e-mail about his journey with your son many times.

with respect,
Tim Mulina

Dear Ray,

I want to thank you for your review and the ratings you awarded to this movie. I am glad to see you putting to ample use the freedom that the sacrifices so many of my brothers and sisters have given, just as the founders of our country did when they pledged their lives their fortunes and their sacred honor in the endeavor that we should be free of tyranny. Every one of us pledged to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic...just so you could stay in the US and be a movie reviewer.

I have to admit though I rarely pay attention to movie reviews because my taste so often runs counter to the personal agenda of the reviewer except in the case of sequel movies such as Rocky 15. I have only seen the trailer for this movie thus far but for the first time in years I am awaiting something coming out on HBO.

In your review you have made sure to get as many of the five main types of conflicts necessary for a "good" story that my high school English teacher would have wished. Though your efforts were admirable in making sure that you built to a center weighted peak in your writing, only one paragraph truly dealt with the movie so she would have to grade it as a below average effort on your part.

Unfortunately she also would have scored your efforts poorly because you were unable to stick with the assignment of reviewing the movie and had to digress into other subjects where your personal opinion of outside conflicts was necessary to achieve the minimum word count necessary to submit it.

Your comment about the movie not going "...nearly far enough in explaining the real tragedy Taking Chance avoids looking at squarely..." is one I find myself having to agree with fully. You are of course speaking out about the lack of critical thinking skills, the basics of responsible citizenship, and understanding of freedom and pride in community service that so many American schools are not teaching anymore. The fact that this small town American school has kept the fire alight is refreshing.

In closing my commentary to you, I find myself at a lack of words to adequately express my views so instead will quote Harry Chapin, "Full time consideration of another endeavor might be in order", pretty much sums up my review...of your review.

Dear LTC Strobl,

Until now I have not had the opportunity to thank you for sharing your experiences with Chance.

The first time I read your note a few years back when the events actually took place caused the same reaction as the most recent. Your writing filled my eyes with tears, my throat with a lump as big as Texas, and my heart with the knowledge that the sacrifices made by so many in preserving our freedoms over the past 200+ years is not something that will fade away with this generation. The knowledge that there are still places in this country where men like Chance are raised bodes well for our country.

With admiration,

Tim Mulina

Mr. Greene,

You cannot comprehend that which you do not understand; you do not understand because you have no experience.

You sir are one of the sheep of this nation, another member of a large flock which travels where it may; following whatever philosophical view is most fashionable at the time. You blend in well and like other sheep when it comes time for slaughter you will also follow the judas goat that will lead you to your demise.

Chance and Lt.Colonel Strobl are but two of the sheep dogs of this nation. Few in number indeed, but Brothers to every Marine, Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Coastie who has every worn the uniform or gone in harm's way. Sheep dogs go forth regardless of all danger, climate or other impediment to defend their flock with their lives.

Sleep well tonight Mr. Greene the sheep dog volunteers of this nation guard over you. They will kill the wolves and other predators of this world before they reach your front door.

Unless you have experienced the training; unless you have seen the deadly night fireflies red and green passing each other buzzing deadly in an ugly swarm; unless you have felt, heard and trembled at the sound of incoming; seen it's ugly result; unless you have felt the terror and fear then conquered them yourself you have no possibility of ever understanding.

Ms. Gretchen, we have never met, nor did I know your son, in fact I may be older than you but I am still a Marine 44 years after my enlistment in '65. I claim your son Chance as my brother as well as Lt.Col Strobl, it's my right, I earned it when I became a Marine.

With your permission M'am I will also claim you as "Mom" and join your close and extended family both in sorrow and celebration of Chance.

Semper Fi

Cliff Schoeffler
Corporal, USMC 3dReconBn, 3d Marine Division
Republic of VietNam '66-'67

Mr. Greene...As a former active duty Marine and one still involved in Marine Corps related activities I must add to the the listing of of your missinformed comments 'Chance did not order himself into harm's way'. Mr. Greene, he did that when he stood up straght and raised his right hand and became a United States Marine. Do not think for a minute that he thought that he was looking at four years of beer and beach parties. My heart goes out to his family and his many friends.

Stick to being a film critic. You do not seem to have the insight necessary to delve into the human condition. How was the camera work? Was the use of lighting, when required unobtrusive? Were the camera fields well chosen? Were the scenes well organized, did the action flow? You know...,well I guess you don't...the elements that go into making a good, mediocre or poor film. If you ever figure that out, and are able to avoid interjecting bits of smarmy Hollywood gossip into your work you might gain crediblity. Until then, you will remain a politically driven second rate hack.

Richard Laird 7th Marines 1950-51

Mr. Greene: I read your critique of the HBO film, Taking Chance, I am 77 years old and have found throughout my life that the best way for me to judge whether I want to see a film was to pick certain critics I had previously read. The worse they thought of the film the sureer I was that I would enjoy it. I can now add you to that kist of reviewers whose taste is 180 degrees opposite to mine.

Like you, I think Iraq was unnecessary and Bush made a terrible error. But our military serve the nation, not a political party nor its errors. If the military were the ones to choose what wars to fight, I think we'd have far fewer, but our system puts the lives of our military in civilian political hands.

The film avoids politics, as it should, given the intent of the story. It is too bad your partisan emotional makeup cannot separate politics from common courtesy and a tribute to one man who represetents many.

This is a fascinating forum, and I'm enjoying reading it. It being a free country and all, I'm not going to dispute any of the opinions it contains -- they're all illuminating to me in different ways. But I do want to clarify something I said, since some are misinterpreting my meaning, and then getting into an argument with somebody other than me as a result.

When I said in my response to Mrs. Mack that I do think the war is a political issue, I wasn't saying I view this film through a specific political prism. I think the idea that war is political is self-evident; it's politicians who usually start them, after all. And I assume they still teach Clausewitz at our military colleges: "War is politics by other means." He wasn't talking about the current situation when he said that, but instead creating a universal axiom, still remembered today over a century after he stated it, because it holds more than a small amount of truth.

For anyone who wants to believe my opinion as stated here is the basis of wearing leftist blinders, I hope you'll do me the favor of reading the (worse) review I gave Morgan Spurlock's "Where in the World is Osama bin Laden?" documentary, which you'd have to suppose I was in cahoots with and praised to the skies, since it was anti the current Iraq war. Except i wasn't and I didn't:

http://boxoffice.com/reviews/2008/04/where-in-the-world-is-osama-bi.php

I operate under the assumption that all the opinions that have been posted here are sincere and well-meant, even when I disagree with them. For what it's worth, mine is too.

Thanks for reacting, in the end this is one of the great things the internet has brought to the world of criticism. And to those who are veterans or currently serving, believe it or not, you do indeed have my gratitude and thanks. Whether you want them or not is another topic.

best, Ray Greene

Ray, YOU are the one who chose to make the review political. The movie is not. Yet you couldn't resist the opportunity to get your two cents in about the war, despite the fact that the movie doesn't address the war except tangentially and says nothing about it's efficacy or lack of same.

Can you not see how selfish you look? Now you choose to defend yourself by saying, "Hey, look at this other review. It shows I'm even handed."

Seriously, Ray, you're talking to Americans, not idiots. We can see through your baloney. We don't need your lectures about war. We pay the price much heavier than you ever will.

Learn to criticize films for their CONTENT and STORYLINE, Ray, not for their MESSAGE (if they even have one.) This one says something very soul-inspiring about the respect we give our dead, regardless of the circumstances of their deaths or the politics surrounding their particular battle.

There's precious few of us serving now, Ray, and we do it for you and your country, NOT for the President and NOT for the politicians but for America. In the military, we call what you've done here fratricide or "friendly fire".

USN '68-74

Ms.Mack,
I want to say "Thank You" for being the Proud mother of a Marine,my brother.Since the start of the war I have escorted 30 plus marines, soldiers,airmen,squids from the airport to the funeral homes to their final resting place.I will continue to do this,not because I have to but because it is my duty as a marine.
I am sorry for your loss, but I believe this movie is going to be another healing point in your life. Ignore Greene. He like many other politicians,movie stars,musicians,athletes have their head so far up their butts they can't and probably never will be able to see daylight again.

"Semper Fi"
You are always and forever more be in my thoughts and prayers.

Mr. Greene:

Your review sounds as if you were trying to express disagreement with what you perceived as the film’s political message but couldn’t decide whether to sound sympathetic to the Phelps family or to show off your flair for snarky sarcasm, so you tried to do both. You failed at both. Another problem with your review is that you seem to be assuming that others don’t “get it” to the extent you do, but the reality is that it’s the other way around.

I haven’t had the chance to see Taking Chance yet – actually, I first heard of the film last night, when I read the review Colonel John Keenan wrote for the Marine Corps Gazette. But based on different experiences, I have to look at this issue, and this situation, from several perspectives.

First, I can to some small extent identify with Lieutenant Colonel Strobl. I am a retired Marine, and one of the most wrenching experiences of my career was, as a company commander, having first to call the parents of one of my Marines to break the news that their son had been badly injured and was in a coma, then helping the family with travel arrangements, keeping them up to date on his medical status, helping them get set with a place to stay, and just doing my best to be there for a mother who was going through an experience that any of us who have children would shudder to contemplate. And that young Marine hadn’t actually died, so as bad as it was, there was still hope – in that respect, the experience shared by Lieutenant Colonel Strobl and the family of Lance Corporal Phelps, was starker.

I’ve sifted through the wreckage of a crashed helicopter, helping to retrieve and identify the bodies of Marines who had died doing their jobs; it still gets to me sometimes when I remember spending minutes looking at the ID card of a man who had died violently, seeing a picture of a lively, smiling face that was no longer recognizable. I saw that his discharge date was only about a month away and pictured his family, happily planning his homecoming and getting the news that instead of coming home to resume his life their son was coming home in a closed casket.

My two brothers served as Marines too, and I remember the anguish of our family when one of them was shot and left paraplegic – he lived, so again, our experience was surely not as bleak as that of the Phelps family, but even so I remember how our family was irrevocably changed from that day to this.

I’ve been retired from the Marine Corps since 1996, and my second career has been as a psychotherapist. In that role I’ve worked with people in the military and with their families, and seen some of the effects of losses like that of the Phelps family from that angle.

I consider myself a liberal, and I have opposed the Iraq war since it first became clear that it was going to happen whether it made sense or not. I’ve blogged about it extensively, and my Congressional delegation (the old one anyway) is probably tired of my letters by now. Beyond the specifics of this particular war, I am sick unto death of popular entertainment in our culture that makes warfare look sanitized or glamorous, or paints military people as angels (or as thugs), or offers the false lesson that violence is a quick and simple solution to problems, between individuals or between nations.

From the comments of all the people who’ve responded here to your review, though, I don’t get the impression that this film does those things. I will have to see it before I can draw my own conclusions. However, it sounds as if you’re on your own in thinking the film implicitly condones this war. Could it be that you went to see it with an agenda of your own, wanting it to condemn the war, and when the film didn’t address that question, you saw that as a bias rather than having the self-awareness to realize that the bias was in your own mental filter rather than in the film?

You seem to assume that the losses being suffered by our men and women in uniform and their families are such old news that to tell this story renders the film stale or trite. The truth is that the proportion of our population who are carrying the load is about the smallest it’s ever been, and most Americans are not nearly aware enough of what these families are going through and the price this war is exacting and will continue to exact for decades to come. If anything, a lot of Americans of all political persuasions slap yellow magnets on their cars, pat themselves on the back, and don’t give it much more thought. America needs to hear this story and others like it.

The film isn’t wrong because it didn’t transmit the message you wanted it to send. If you feel that what we need is a movie focused on the morality of the war, you’re free to make that movie – I wish you would, because that perspective needs to be part of the mix too. But that story would have to be about a different group of people, because in our society it isn’t a Lance Corporal Phelps or a Lieutenant Colonel Strobl who decides whether or not our country will go to war, whether or not they will be sent to fight that war. Our military people, by law and by custom, rightly leave those decisions to the civilian leadership in the executive and legislative branches. Those of us in uniform cannot get into the position of deciding which wars we consider justified and refusing to fight ones that don’t meet our criteria – that way lies military dictatorship. It’s a dilemma and a paradox: to maintain the system that keeps us free, military people have to offer themselves up as living, breathing instruments of policy, knowing that they will sometimes be misused but also knowing that it’s a job someone has to do. Given that reality, it is entirely appropriate for the makers of this film to set aside questions of the war’s propriety, because the real people this film is about are required to set aside those questions even as they sometimes die fighting the war.

It’s narcissistic for you to take others to task for having the nerve to tell the story they wanted to tell rather than the one you’d have preferred, and in this instance, it’s also naive and ignorant. As one of the other comments on this string said, it’s not about you, as hard as that concept may be for you to fathom. More than anything else, your voice as it comes through in this review sounds like a smirking adolescent rather than an adult – narcissism is normal in adolescents, but it’s ugly in someone who’s old enough to know better but apparently doesn’t.

To the Phelps family, my heartfelt condolences. I hope and trust that as time passes, the joys your memories of Chance bring will come to outweigh the sadness a bit more each year.

Sincerely,
James R. Finley
Captain, USMC, Retired

Dear Mr. Greene,
As many have stated, it is a free country and I, like many others have been honored to serve it.

I am fortunate in that I served with then 2d Lieutenant Strobl as his first commanding officer and was able to enjoy observing his development as one of nation's great Marine Corps Officers. I was thrilled that Mike remembered me with an invitation to his retirement where I was even more humbled with the opportunity to meet Mr. Phelps and the film crew.

That said, it is with disappointment that the much expected, ritualistic pseudo-psychological, politically-motivated reviews of this telling of a very simple story penned by Mike came forward. My initial thought was that I wish you had started with the bloggers ritual "First" for being first in line taking a potshot at this film. At that level, your commentary on Mr. Bacon's financial issues would be viewed as relevant and appropriate.

My last assignment put me in a position to be close to the decision-makers of these wars. There's plenty of fodder there for movie-makers to get the political story right. But, this was not the opportunity. Certainly, Chance Phelps' family would not have let the project go forward.

What is important about making this film is that it does, in fact, fill the information gap for the tens of thousands of passengers who have been on flights with Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen coming from or going to the wars, and those who carried out their duties of escort officer, an honor that like Mike, many volunteer to do.

I've flown almost 80 times since the war began with a dozen of them including escort officers. In every case, the reaction LtCol Strobl encountered was observed on every flight I was on. Politics wasn't the topic although we in uniform are very well aware that it is about the politics and the discussions I had with fellow passengers demonstrated awareness of the politics of the wars, be it pro or con.

Americans understand the politics. Americans understand what went on and who is doing the nation's bidding. They understand the gravity and honor of the process and story told by LtCol Stobl. In closing, I salute my friend, Mike, and send my condolences to Chance's family. Semper Fidelis.

William Hughes
Colonel, USMC (Retired)

Ray,
I'm calling you Ray rather than Mr. Greene as I don't even think you deserve the most basic honorific. Ray, you're a loser. I think as soon as you accept this fact, your healing can begin. Reach down and man up. Look in the mirror and be honest with yourself. Make some changes and join the human race.

UNBELIEVABLE! So there I was reading all this stuff, mostly stating how wrong you are... ANDTHEN YOUR REPLY in the middle of this all. It hits me that you have no integrity (a word known by the lowest ranking, newest Marine to join our ranks). I thought that was just impossible, until I read your reply. You said in your original,and I might say uninformed and predictable shot at a movie, that you support our troops. Then you state how unpolitcal it was, and therefore bad. I am a Viet Nam vet. I was there, while there, there was no politics among us.. until we came home, very few of us had Post traumatic Stress...then we met YOU. and people like you. Soo very full of, we love mankind and we know it's not you who killed the babies... you just pulled the triggers! YOU who DAILY face the horrors of paper cuts! you want us to believe that you support the troops, but get upset because this may cause someone to enlist? You, also stated that Chance did not order himself into the war... MUST understand, he volunteered! Chance had no political aim. He saw the disaster of 9/11 and decided that if not him, Who? Obviously not you, nor anyone who you can talk to.
It is true, Freedom does have a flavor that the protected will NEVER KNOW! For that I truely are sorry for you.

Greene, I would say, "Shame on you" but shame is not a long suit with people like you. Is it? Moreover, your note of sympathy to the Phelps family at the end of your screed is as phoney as your attempt to write an objective review.

As a close cousin of a Marine who has given his life in Iraq, I must say this review is troubling. I understand that my cousin and others like PFC Phelps and the many generations of military men and women serve so that your right to public speech is protected. In fact, that is etched on his tombstone. You see, you are not the first to try to politicize the death of young men and women who have given their all for you. We experienced protests at his funeral and saw the hurtful signs that accompanied that. I'm sure that you don't feel as strongly as those people do, but do you realize that you are putting yourself in that boat? Have you no decency? As I said, you are free to post your opinion, just as we are free to oppose it. I just wish we could all do it with a little more respect for each other, and yes, I found your review disrespectful. I haven't seen the film, but having experienced events similar to the ones I'm sure are portrayed in this movie, things like this do happen. I guess what I'm saying is that if you didn't like this movie because it didn't address the political aspects of this war, I don't understand why that in and of itself makes this a bad movie. Is that the only criteria (besides what you think of the acting). I mean honestly, even if they'd pulled high school actors and asked them to act in this movie, it wouldn't matter. The moral of the story is: American soldiers are dying in this war and it is important for others to see the respect and honor they are given when they come home. Do I think that PFC Phelps and my cousins are heros? Absolutely! Do I think that this film glorifies their deaths? Absolutely not! It is reality -
I don't see how you couldn't realize that this is offensive regardless of your political views. You have taken the story of a fallen soldier's journey home and essentially berated it. I know it's your job to review movies, but is it your job to be disrespectful of the dead and their families? I just feel that this review could have been done with more tact (even if I still didn't agree with it).
When you mention "a longhaired kid with a band who says “No offense” before politely wondering what we’re doing in Iraq, clasps Strobl’s hand emotionally and says, “Will you do me a favor? Let the family know we’re thinking of them” before sending the officer and his charge on their way." I would like to know what you would have said and done if you had encountered Lt. Col. Strobl and PFC Phelps on their way home. Would you even have had the courage to ask that? And if you had, would you have been offensive and rude instead of at least being polite and caring? I doubt it considering at the end you attempted to extend your condolenses to the family. So is it okay for you to voice your opinion and then follow it up with a "no offense"?
Thank you to all Marines and Marine family. Marines, you have taken my family in as if we were your own, especially my aunt. For that, I will be eternally grateful. Few understand what sacrifices you make.

The willingness of Chance' family and LtCol Strobl provided an opportunity for film makers who took that opportunity to make a film which reveals to the Nation part of the bedrock of the Marine Corps. There is no doubt that all involved worked to make this an apolitical film, focused upon the experiences and reactions of Marines, a Marine family and their countrymen to this simple, oft repeated final journey.

Ray Greene focused on himself and his underlying hubris which motivated him to write his review from the perspective of the film HE would have made: but gee, Ray, you didn't make a film, did you?

My thanks to LtCol Strobl, the mother and other family members and friends of Chance Phelps, and the actors, producers, director and crew of this film. Those who are not Marines or of Marine families CAN appreciate much revealed in this movie, much of the truth that is the reality of Marines and the basic decency of the American people who removed their hats, stood in silence, offered their condolences, NOT as political acts but as tribute and recognition of loss. Green cannot: Selflessness is a Marine tradition. Clearly, self-centeredness is the nature of Mr. Greene.

Semper Fi,

Mr. Greene,

I am sure that your type of "war" movie that examines the Iraq war is the one where the Bush administration is raked over the coals, everyone has some kind of evil intent and it is pounded into the audiences head that the war is wrong, Bush lied people died, and on and on and on. If you will check, you will soon find out that the American public is tired of getting this leftist propoganda jammed down our throats. Noone goes to see that crap. So now along comes a movie that examines sacrifice, love of country, honor and courage and you cannot stand that it may touch those that view it, so you attack it. Because you do not understand those concepts. They are foreign to you. And your attacks on Kevin Bacon prove to me you were at a loss to provide real critical analysis. One person who posted here suggested you go see a Marine recruiter. You do not have the sack for that, you seem to thrive on criticizing better men than you. I think you realize they are better and it eats away at you. You are pathetic, your review is pathetic and you should be ashamed.

Mr. Green, You truly are an idiot who will just never get it.

For Gretchen; My deepest sympathies for your loss on behalf of myself and greatful Nation.

Mr. Greene,

I have followed your review and the firestorm that you have ignited from the beginning. Gretchen and her family as well as John and his are very close friends of mine. At first I didn’t think there was any need for me to say anything as Gretchen and others have quite handily spoke volumes. However, upon reading your review and BOTH of your replies I can no longer remain silent.

Mr. Greene, you sir, are talking out of your proverbial butt. You have demonstrated THREE times that you are voicing an opinion based on your own bias. You obviously believe that your opinion of a subject is correct no matter what the reality is. Sir, if you choose to stray form your field of expertise, you need to educate yourself first.

First off you have misplaced the facility that cares for our fallen warriors. You say “When the military hospital in Germany cleans Chance’s body, …” As already pointed out you missed the FACT in the movie that this is conducted at DOVER Air Force Base. Additionally, you bring into your “movie review” the financial status of one of the actors. What does that have to do with this film? I am still trying to figure that out.

Then in your reply to Gretchen you say “I don't question your son's service or the magnitude of your loss -- I lost my twin brother this year, and believe me I measure the hole in my heart this created every day, and I will for the rest of my life.” What the hell does the loss of your brother have to do with anything? I am still trying to figure out your logic behind this statement as well. My sister was abducted, raped, and murdered. An extremely violent and seldom seen crime with in the state of Wyoming and yet I would not dare to equate the loss of a son or daughter to my own siblings death. Anyone who has lost a loved one knows the pain of loss. Are you trying to say you “understand” or “know how she feels” or “empathize” with her? What a self centered assumption on your part. And what does that have to do with what Gretchen wrote or about the movie? Stop patronizing people. It is insulting.

Finally in your latest reply you yet again show that you just spout mindless drivel and do not or will not educate yourself. You say “And I assume they still teach Clausewitz at our military colleges: "War is politics by other means."” Your assumption is short sighted and leads to an uneducated conclusion. Yes it is taught, but the United States Military does not subscribe to pure Clausewitz. Granted some elements are applied, but not to the extent that you seem to assume. The US Military is a MANEUVER WARFARE element. And the form of warfare conducted by our generals is based off of a blend of Sun Tzu, Clausewitz, and lessons learned throughout the history. You forget or refuse to acknowledge that today’s military is an ALL volunteer force. And this FACT is what makes it the premier force in the world today. As alluded to in Sun Tzu The Art of War by Samuel B. Griffith the army is an arm of the body politic. But in the United States Military the warriors are there of there own choice. This is a warrior’s tale……NOT a politicians.

My point being is that there are numerous periodicals, books, and documentaries that EDUCATE the population to all of these facts. However, it is apparent that you choose not to read or view these in order to broaden your view of the world.

I never thought I would compare anyone to Fred Phelps (Westbourgh Baptist Church) and his extremist followers protesting at military funerals, conducting personnel attacks against grieving family members. But YOU and his following are cut from the same cloth. I do not dispute his or your right to freedom of speech. I devoted twenty years of my life to ensuring you had that. I spent ten of those twenty years separated from my family to ensure you had that right. I have sweat, bled, and laughed with Americas Warriors all over the world to ensure you have that right. But you, as the Rev. Phelps, abuse that right, he by his choice of venue and you by yours.

Stick to the cinematography, acting abilities of the cast, effects of the score on the storyline, and other elements of film making you are supposed to be an “expert” on. Leave your slanted personnel agenda at the door and review the films for what they are. NOT what you think they should be. And stop assuming….it makes you the fool.

Ding
CWO-3 USMC(Ret)

Greene-

I cannot add much to the articulate and passioned responses to your ill-conceived review of the movie. I think that it is very interesting that in both of your entries that you have tried to thank veterans for their service. I have a tough time believing that your inability to see the movie for what it was coincides with your hollow appreciation for service. I spent 26 years in the Marine Corps and am a combat veteran; I was finally thanked in public in 2007 for my Vietnam service at Sea World in San Diego. Now It seems that the popular and, sometimes, politically correct thing to do is to thank veterans and active duty personnel for their service. It is obvious that you have never served in the military and that your thanking veterans for their service is vacuous and insincere at best. When I hear a thank you from people like you I am immediately suspicious of their motives or intentions.

Ms. Mack-

From one Marine to another Marine's family: I am truly sorry for your loss. Thank you for letting Chance's story be told in the manner in which it is told. It is told with all of the utter respect as it should be. It is too bad that Greene did not show the same respect when delivering his personal diatribe.

Steven R Sanford
Colonel USMC (Ret)

Ms. Mack,

The source of your son's character is obvious. It is with the deepest and greatest heartfelt gratitude that I extend my condolences for your loss. Not only for you, but also for the rest of the world who has lost someone who was a tremendous contribution to the human race.

Semper Fi,

Arnold Gasper

Greene,

Unfortunately the world has known many like you; a subset of humanity technically referred to as a numb nuts. A perfect example, the most ardent argument, and purest justification for abortion. Obviously the better part of your father leaked down your mother's leg at the time of conception. Someone who can only justify their existence through criticizing, demeaning, and marginalizing anything that even remotely resembles integrity, duty, honor, and self sacrifice. Someone who feels no inhibitions, remorse, or common decency in using anyone or anything to promote their degenerate, hedonistic, and narcissistic view of the world which revolves around themselves.

G-d have mercy on small children, dumb animals, and U.S. Marines if there are any more freaks of nature like you. Why don’t you crawl back into whatever hole you came out of, find the primordial ooze that spawned you, and hope you are reincarnated as something a little more useful to the universe like fungus, bacteria, a virus, or something.

Arnold Gasper
PFC, 1st Recon Bn, 1st Mar Div, RVN 69-70

My Second Comment.
To Arnold Gasper about you comments above this one."Right On Marine Right On
Semper Fidelis

Dear Mrs. Mack,

As a former Marine (Vietnam War, 66 to 70) and having been on detail (we called it burial detail)to inform parents of the loss of their child in Vietnam , I understand what you are trying to say and say so well. If it is of any small comfort, know that when one Marine Passes the Bar, as we call it, we all grieve. We don't like loosing our beloved Marines. Please accept my humble condolences for your loss.

Semper Fidelis,

Mark Stanton

Citizen Green,I think you need to step outside and get a good breath of American air, America, which exists today because of people like Chance, remember him, who gave their lives protecting this our nation.
I read your review of the HBO movie Taking Chance
and actually other than the names, and that a United States Marine died, and was taken home, I find nothing in your review other than those facts, and your liberal short sighted views.
Find a job better set for your abilities, Comrad
Green.
Semper Fidelis
The Walrus
1st Recon Bn
Viet Nam 69-70

Mr. Green, you are the type that abused us when we Viet Nam Marines returned home in the 60s and 70s.

Shame on you and your anti-military agenda-driven pals in the entertainment and new media. You people will stoop to any low to take a political shot, no matter who you attack, insult and slander.

Semper Fi to Ms. Gretchen. Your son will always be our brother.

Bill McNair
USMC 1967-71
Viet Nam 1968-69

Dear Mrs. Mack,
As a former Marine, 64-68', may I add my sincere condolences on the loss of your brave son. You and your family will remain forever in the thoughts and prayers of all who have proudly worn the eagle, globe and anchor.

Semper Fidelis
Jack Quigley
B Co. 11th Motors
Vietnam 68'

I have not seen the movie yet but have watched the trailer for it and I do plan to watch the movie when it airs on HBO

Dear Mrs Mack.
I walk each day the same path as a Gold Star Marine Mom God Bless you

I lost my son in 2004 and just this past week I attended the graduation from Marine School of Infantry for my youngest son. I continue to support my Marines as we are one family and there will always be those that never get "it"

Semper Fi Marine MOM of 2

Ray Greene,

Political correctness is part of what is killing America. So let me say what others may not! The only reason America was as great as she “was”, is because of our military! America is dyeing now from a cancer, you are but one of those deadly cells. So know in that cold black socialist space in your chest where an American heart should beat, you may sicken America, but you will not kill her! PFC Chance Phelps is not alone and never will be! In fact he joined my dad and those who I saw fall on the battlefield, and our youngest is in Afghanistan as I type! So I wish to make you an offer. My wife and I paid 7 figures in income tax last year, proudly! So I am personally offering you a one way 1st class ticket to North Korea, Iran, or Somalia (your choice) with the catch that you remain there for at least 2 years, hopefully much, much longer! And I will pay for it out of my enlisted retirement pay, with pride!

Elliott H Gray
MSG USA (R)

Mr. Greene

I feel really sorry for you. Maybe that is because I have had some different experiences then you. I am not one to cry, but I could not make it through the preview without crying. Maybe this is why…

When I was a young Marine a good friend of mine was killed in a non-combat related accident. I and several other Marines from my squadron were allowed to travel back to his home and participate in the funeral services. Only one of us went as the official escort for our friend Kyle while the rest of us paid our own way to attend the services while on official temporary assignment of duty (TAD) orders. The entire process was and still is the most emotionally exhausting experience of my life. I do not get paid to write as you do but I wish there was someway that I could describe just a small bit of what I feel inside right now just thinking back some 14 years. I still remember meeting his family and childhood friends for the first time after his death. I remember taking turns standing at attention next to his casket during the visitation. I remember carrying his casket to the hearse for the trip to the burial site. I remember arriving at the cemetery only to find out it was on a steep hill where I remember praying to God that we would not drop our fallen friend as we unloaded him from the car. I remember laughing with tears streaming down our faces as we tried to shake Kyle’s body even in the coffin after he had fallen more to down hill side of the casket. I remember trying to hold it to together as the 3 volley salute was rendered and taps was played. I remember leaving his family at their home knowing their lives would never be the same. Their son, their brother would forever be 21 years old. He would never get old like the rest of us. Never have children. Never finish his enlistment. Basically, simply, I remember. I remember. I am very glad to see that someone has tried to tell this story that I and thousands of other have experienced. Freedom is not free for those that give their lives for it or those they leave behind.

Joshua Flory
USMC 1991-1995

Mr. Green I am very glad that movie critics do not mean very much in the scheme of things in this world.

CWO-5 Peter O'Hare
United States Marine Corps

wow. it seems most of the people commenting on this board don't like to see the exercise of free speech even if they have fought for it. mr greene is perfectly within his rights to share his feelings about this film. it is not mean-spirited nor is it insulting to any soldiers. he makes some very good points and the questions he raises are honest ones, not political ones. just because a film happens to deal with a very emotional subject should not make it immune to intelligent criticism. i happen to think this is a a very thoughtful and intelligent review of the film (which i also saw at sundance).

Mr Green,

I am a Cuban refugee who arrived in 1962,and have lived and/or travelled through most of this, my adopted and beloved country. I have no military background. I have two grown children, one of them a son.

Living in South Florida and having done extensive travel abroad, my exposure to foriegners is probably a bit more than average.

I am always dismayed at the warped perception many foreigners have of what kind of people we Americans are. Our media is to blame for this. I have met many foreign women who try to emulate what they think is a "typical modern american woman" by what they see in shows like "Sex in the City" and "Desperate Housewives", not to mention the cartoonish portrayal of americans in Hollywood's most succesful products.

A colleague sent me an email yesterday about "Taking Chance" which included the personal narrative by Lieutenant Colonel Michael R. Strobl. I had no prior knowledge of this project. I had tears in my eyes after the first few paragraphs and was openly sobbing by the end. It evoked a sense of pride in my fellow Americans I knew I had, but seldom had experienced in my readings and never in a film (I've only seen the trailer). This is what we truly are as a nation and a people. We value individual lives above all else, and yet, as individuals, we sacrifice our lives for the benefit of the masses and the wellbeing of the country we love. We are a great nation and a great people not because of our monetary wealth or our military strengh, but because simply put, we care for each other, we value each other, we sacrifice for each other and we honor those who unselfishly sacrifice themselves for the common good.

I gave up reading the above coments after the first 15 or 20, because I totally agreed with them in their indictment of your stupidity. You are a little man. You do not represent anything good, moral and constructive. You have only your words, nothing else. You have diluded yourself into thinking that your words are meaningful. They are not. You have done nothing to make you have any credibility. How dare you indict a filmmaker for simply portraying a true story? A story that needs no embellishment to evoke deep emotions. How dare you, little man? Reality not good enough for you, just because it does not fuel your pesudo-intellectual need to create a negative image of everything good about the USA and the American people?

Thank God you are in a minority, Mr Green. The great majority of Americans like myself may not write as often as we should to counter your kind, but when you cross the line, as you did this time, we'll stand firm and crush you!

Dear Mr. Green:

One of the great things about Sundance is that you get to see movies before they are reviewed. This movie did what movies should do. I rarely see a movie that grabs you by the throat from the beginning and doesn't let you breathe until the end. There wasn't an ounce of fat in this movie. A great story told with minimal dialogue. You apparently didn't belief anything about this movie. My wife and I saw several terrific movies at Sundance, Taking Chance moved us the most. It just doesn't get any better than that.

My name is Madison Stauffer, my brother is Mason Stauffer. Chance was very close to us and my mom, Sherri Stauffer. When we heard about what happened to Chance it tore my whole family apart we loved him and his family... Glad to see some one is making or made a movie about Chance. Chance and my brother went to school together at Palisade Co. and played sports together so thats how we all were so close.
Personaly I now in fact hate the war so much because the ones who died for us in the war has torn other peoples families apart also.
I just wanted to leave my comment say I LOVE YA CHANCE WE MISS YOU SO MUCH!!!!
Thank you,

Love Mason, Madison & Sherri stauffer

Mr. Greene I have to say that you don't know $#%@ about the American military, its culture and its history. This movie happens to treat an American hero with great respect. Your unwillingness to see that tells me that you sir are a insensitive jerk.
I was in Iraq as a 51 year old recall serving in a active duty Military Police company during the surge 07-08.
The admiration I have for these kids in uniform go beyond words.

It saddens me that the so many military people spent so much time spewing such hateful comments as the ones I have just read here.

If you are the ones out there "protecting" my right to have free speech we are all in trouble. The hate and anger all you marines have inside of you is twisted and sick. I suggest you all should leave the marine corps and spend some time reflecting on what it truly means to be a human being.

Another thing.....why do you want to spend your lives taking orders from some other sick individual that in turn gets his or her orders from those "above" them. Start thinking for yourself. You can do it. It's not that hard.

All war will end when we stop sending children off to fight them for us. Grow up.

Finally, haven't seen the movie, only the trailer. The trailer was enough.

Pablo,

I have an earlier post, and I am a Marine. First, Marine is a proper noun and always capitalized....... Apparently my educational system failed you. Why don't you get with the thousands of green card holders that currently serve in my beloved Corps. They will set you straight on basic grammer and the validity of living in a free America. Secondly, If it weren't for people like me, you my little ****tard, would likely be a slave in some other retarded country. Get a life boy, get an education, and never doubt the bloodshed that enabled you to do so!

SSgt Reno

So what if you are a marine. It looks like you can be a marine and an ignoramus at the same time. "retarded country"? Your name-calling is like that of a grammar school child.

I will use capital letters as I please, thank you. If I don't, does that men you will chase me down and force me to? This planet doesn't need any more bullies. I repeat....you and others in the military need to figure out how to live in this world without taking orders from others that you perceive have more intelligence or power than you do. Think for yourself. Stop hiding behind your weapons and be a true man. Not a pawn in an army of murderers.....only then will war cease to be the way we attempt to solve problems.

I was born within these borders. So were my parents. How quickly you assume I came from another country because of my name.

The previous post is from Pablo and directed to sgt reno

Ray!

how can you be so blind to what is upsetting everyone??

it's not about right vs left, liberal vs conservative. the posts on your board come from people who span the gamut ideologically.

we're frustrated because you can't take politics OUT of the equation. that war is political on an intellectual/theoretical level is totally irrelevant. this film is key in any political discussion. but the assumption that any art that deals with war MUST take a political view is ABSURD.

IS THERE NO VALUE IN DEPICTING IN EMOTIONAL TERMS THE HUMAN COST OF WAR?

this is not a hostile post. this is not a provocation. stop quoting thinkers and think for yourself. can't you see the effect this film has on so many people?

can you at least apologize for evoking Madoff in your review? completely irrelevant and not funny. you seem smart enough to acknowledge that.

save some face here and do the right thing.

The reasons for war are always political but as long as soldiers line up or are put into harm's way, war is personal. It is about the guys and gals that you serve with, have trained with and may be subject to die with. Has anybody noticed how the Vets of WW II have become the "Good Generation" mainly in comparison with our post Vietnam American culture?

There were plenty of stupid decisions made by the Allied civilian and military leaders in WW II; decisions that cost thousands of lives for tactically unsound reasons and worthless goals. But all of them knew they had to win the war. And the contribution and sacrifice of the American people was deep, broad and powerful enough to turn the tide of the war in just over two years.

Mr. Greene is a product of the post Vietnam society that thinks utopia is possible in our world of today; that behavior modification applies to only a selective and powerful few. He should turn his attention to Capitol Hill and start at Ground Zero; at least to stop the bleeding of our Nation.

To One Who Has Served-

"But all of them knew they had to win the war."

No one "wins" a war. Even WW II was never "won". And, it wasn't the "good war " either.

I agree with you about starting at Ground Zero. Let's expose the fraud and deceit that surrounds that day on 9-11-01.

I agree with Mr. Greene that we need to address the causes and issues surrounding this country's entry into a war in Iraq. However, I also see that there is room for films that address other, more personal issues pertaining to this conflict. There are many stories to be told about any war - more than just examinations of how we got there. A film such as this may actually be more thought-provoking and change-catalyzing than a more political film would be. Sure, we should bash Mr. Bush and his administration for getting us into this conflict, but leave some space for other stories that illuminate the human cost of this war.

Personally, I am more affected by a film such as "Taking Chance" than I would be by one more attack on Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld.

For Pablo: please leave the 9/11 issues to another forum. This one isn't about that.

TAKING CHANCE is the story of LCPL Chance Phelps, USMC and his last journey from Dover AFB to his final resting place in Dubois, WY. Chance was killed on April 9, 2004 in Iraq. LtCol Michael Strobl, USMC volunteered to escort Chance’s remains home for burial. TAKING CHANCE is the complete story of this journey. It is not a war movie, it is not about politics or policy. It is simply the true story of one Marine escorting the remains of a Fallen Marine home for the final time. TAKING CHANCE starts with the arrival of Chance’s body at Dover AFB and its cleaning and preparation for his last trip. The attention to detail is unbelievable! Together Chance and LtCol Strobl travel from Philadelphia to Minneapolis to Billings to Riverton and finally to Dubois, WY. There LtCol Strobl meets Chance’s parents for the first time and delivers to them Chance’s few personal effects along with his personal condolences and those of almost everyone they met during their journey across the Country. The movie ends with the funeral service and several childhood photos of Chance.
I had the pleasure of viewing the movie on February 10th in the same Marine Corps Base Quantico movie theater as Chance’s parents - Gretchen Mack and John Phelps, LtCol Mike Strobl, another Gold Star family and several hundred United States Marines of all ranks.

Please take the time to see this movie. I promise that you will not be disappointed. It tells a true story that every American should see. Not only does Chance’s story need to be told but it is one that deserves your time and attention. It is a representation of the sequence of events that occur for every Armed Forces member that loses his/her life in the service of our Country. It transcends everything else. It is a fitting tribute to all of our Fallen American Heroes. It is about America!

TAKING CHANCE makes it television debut on February 21, 2009 at 2000 (8:00 PM) on HBO.

Semper Fidelis!

Stan Clark

Gettysburg, PA

Pablo

When you uttered these words "Let's expose the fraud and deceit that surrounds that day on 9-11-01", my suspicions about you were confirmed. Something is jammed in your brain housing group, a condition which inhibits proper function.

My apologies to Chance and his mother for not being able to articulate my feelings as well as others have on this forum. Semper Fi

GEB
USMC, RVN/1969

Mr Green
How easy is it to point a finger at the military when you write you review from the safety of your office or cube. Your description of the construction workers saluting LCPL Phelps as he left the Military Mortutary in Maryland was not only wrong but also insulting. Remains of fallens service members are prepared in Dover, Deleware not Maryland, and certanly not a hospital in Germany! Once again if you had taken the time to google Fallen service mens remains you would at least gotten that part of your review correct. I have worked as a police officer at a major airport on the east coast of the United States that assisted with flight operations from Dover, DE to Arlington National Cemetary. When military affiars officers notified our department that remains of a fallen service man would be transported through our airport, the police department would "Shut Down" the entire roadway system inbound and out bound until the service member was off of the property. I have scene constructions worker stop their work get off of their equipment and salute the procession as it went by. I have scene people get out of their cars and salute with their children and firemen stop their trucks in honor of the fallen heros. For you to make that assumption that this does not happen, take time out of you busy day and schedule and make a trip to Dover Deleware and wait outside the gate at the airforce base because that about as far you'd get. You'll see people from all walks of life stop what their doing and give thanks to the fallen service members. Thanks for giving them the freedom to live, work and yes even write your style of crap that our country provides us.

To the Phelps family and all service members
Semper Fi

No, GEB

It is you with the jammed up brain.

Unjam it and begin to think for yourself. You will then realize that you have ben duped.

To all the military families who think they are the only enlightened ones - who think that the US military in this godforsaken war is what is keeping us safe. How dare you. My step brother returned from Iraq in 2006. He returned an utter shell of a human being, shattered by all that he had seen and done. Driving by dirt villages where our bombs had missed their targets. Kids missing limbs. Accident upon misguided accident. After about a month he had no idea what he was doing there. These people did nothing to us. Why were we engaging in door to door combat with these villagers, overthrowing a government, and then leaving innocent civillians to fend for themselves in the chaos we created. Do you know how many Iraqis begged him to help them find their kidnapped children? Do you know how many innocent lives were lost because we Decided to invade this country that had nothing to do with 9-11? You cannot separate the PURPOSE - THE MISGUIDED, MISSTATED PURPOSE of this war from the people who died fighting it. You cannot separate the young men and women over there from the reason they are there.

He came home thirty pounds lighter. He couldn't stop scanning highway overpasses for snipers when he was in his car. He didn't think his life was of any more value than any of the Iraqis he met and he Did. Not. Understand. Why this "great" country would do such harm to so many innocent people. He thought he had made this country less safe by doing what he did over there and he was never the same.

He hung himself eight months after he got home and nobody in this blessed military you all seem to love so much could have cared less. He left his loaded gun by his hanging body with a note that said he refused to fire that gun one more time.

Spare me the Hollywood talk of how lovely everyone is to soldiers and what a great thing that is. These guys thought they were on a good and true mission and the whole thing is a lie. The VA knew he was a suicide risk and did nothing to help him. The United States Military has no respect for the sanctity of human life in this country or any other country and this was an unholy, illegal war and in any story told about this war that fact has to be addressed. These young men - Kids - were doing what they were told to do and perhaps that is honorable. But this entire mission was anything but honorable and does not deserve the Hollywood-shine it is getting. Just the preview to this film makes me nauseous. None of this ever should have happened. This is not something to be proud of. Why must Hollywood continue to celebrate this war (as you say) as a hero-making machine/ flag-waving reason to be proud of America. I am disgusted by what my country has done to my step-brother and all of the innocent Iraqis he could not get out of his mind.

Spare me the patriotism oozing off this board about soldiers in this war being the the reason I can walk down the street or hug my mom at night. You have no idea what you're talking about.

I'm glad the mother of the kid in this movie had her son brought home in an honorable way. My step-brother was not afforded such graces. But I tell you this, neither one of them should have been there in the first place and this war is a shameful black mark on this history of this once-great nation.

One of my kids is a marine (that's lowercase in Webster's, by the way). He's serving in Iraq, helping with the orderly drawdown. Even when he's stateside, his particular duty is very hazardous. Of course I worry, and it's not the career I'd have encouraged for my son, but he's a grown man with his own mind.
Ashley Doughty's is the one of the first comments on this board that makes any sense.
A movie review is an expression of opinion. Greene's review is thoughtful, well written, and appropriately subjective. He says the movie cops out because it doesn't address the stupidity, cruelty and disregard for human life behind sending our troops into Iraq. Another reviewer might see it differently. That's OK. That is, in fact, the point of reviews.
The ugly response I'm seeing throughout the comments section worries me. Many appear truly ignorant. They attack the writer for expressing his opinion. Many identify themselves as marines. I really had hoped for better. It's certainly not an attitude I hear from my son's friends. The marine officers I've spoken with are powerful supporters of the Corps, and of free expression of ideas.

Mr. Green, The opening words in your review "Apparently war is still hell..." are neither original nor illuminating. Sadly, it only gets worse as others have already pointed out. I struggle to understand why you would politicize your movie review just to make it clear that you stand against war. I also struggle to understand why you call it an "Iraq war movie". Okay, I will take it on faith that you consider escort duty of a fallen warrior as an aspect of war. I fail to understand your reference to the American psyche as if the people you refer to in the movie are somehow disingenuous in their words and their emotions. On second thought Mr. Green, I disagree with you and do not believe this is an Iraqi war movie.

For the few Mr Green sympathizers who posted on this forum and are appalled by the attacks on Mr Green and his freedom of speech, that freedom extends to the Marines and non-Marines who have shared an opinion of Mr Green. Their criticism of Mr Green at times had more substance than his article.

Personally, I think Mr Green should re-read the post written by the mother of Chance Phelps. Possibly, you can learn from her eloquence and advance your writing career.

Mr Green

For the same reason that you would not call someone in the Air Force or Navy a soldier, you would not refer to a Marine as a soldier. It is not well known, but the United States Marine Corps is a component of the department of the Navy. The first Continental Marines were formed on November 10, 1775. We celebrate our birthday each Nov 10.

I am sure that Chance Phelps would forgive you but the proper reference in you article should have been "the body of one Marine"

to "anonymous" and everyone who has commented -- "soldier" is incorrect when referring to a marine, and that's a point worth making. But please do check the case in any number of reputable sources (AP Style, Chicago Manual of Style, Webster's New Abridged, and so on). A marine is a member of the United States Marine Corps. The Corps takes an initial capital. A marine does not. So Greene goofed, but so did everyone who capitalized "Marine."

The word "marine" as referenced earlier and being small cased in Webster's Dictionary is correct due to the fact that it is a simple noun. However, a United States Marine is a proper title and not a mere noun. Anyone with any knowledge and/or respect of our United States Marines and the effort and dedication spent earning that title would not argue such a stupid point. They would in fact accept it and capitalize the word Marine or better yet, use the proper term "United States Marine". Failing to do this is not only incorrect and shows the writer's lack of knowledge but also disrespects the title of "United States Marine". Many uninformed people, especially those in the "press" and other writers have tried to dumb this down just as they continuously and unacceptably substitute the word soldier or soldiers to describe a Marines or Marines. No disrespect intented to our fellow servicemembers but I am sure they would agree that they should be referred to as soldiers, sailors, airmen, guardsmen and not Marines. It works both ways. Again, the culprits in making this mistake only demonstrate their lack of knowledge on the subject and their refusal to admit and accept their mistake only shows disrespect and lack of ability to accept and admit their own mistakes. Try showing a little respect and you might be surprised to find that you receive more respect. "It is always best to remain quiet and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt".
Semper Fidelis!
Stan Clark
Gettysburg, PA

Of all the comments on this page I think the most eloquent and accurate is that of Ashley M. Doughty.

I have close friends that still relive the horror of what we did in Vietnam every night when they try to sleep. Not only do they carry the never ending physical damage that was done to their bodies, but their souls will also never be at peace.

And when I realize that we are doing this damage to thousands of other young men and women right now I cringe at the problems this will create for them and their families. And, let's not forget the millions of innocent men, women and children that we have maimed and murdered all over the world in our so-called quest to "spread" democracy. What a joke.

One final note: I do not consider what is happening in Iraq and Afghanistan as "wars". They are the illegal invasion and occupation of innocent countries. A "war" usually implies that there are 2 sides fighting each other. We are merely fighting ourselves over there. And, it comes home to us every few days in the form of body bags.

To Stan Clark,
This may seem to be a trivial point to you, but to those of us who write professionally, it is not. The U.S. Navy Style Guide does indeed make the exception to which to refer:
"Navy editors and writers should follow the most recent edition of the Associated Press Stylebook except as noted in this U.S. Navy Style Guide."
Using that style guide, for Navy editors and writers, it is correct to capitalize Marine:
"Marines - This is a proper noun. Capitalize when referring to U.S. forces (the U.S. Marines, the Marine Corps). Do not use the abbreviation USMC."
However, the rest of us follow AP Style (most newspapers), Chicago Manual of Style (most book and magazine publications) or the individual style manual for our own publications.
To cap or not to cap -- that tells the reader something about the bias of the writer.
If "Marine" is capped, the writer is either writing for an official military publication or else simply hasn't a clue.
My reason for raising this seemingly insignificant point is that, as a professional editor, I have for the past 35 years noticed and, to borrow stylist H.W. Fowler's word, "discriminated."

To Stan Clark,
This may seem to be a trivial point to you, but to those of us who write professionally, it is not. The U.S. Navy Style Guide does indeed make the exception to which to refer:
"Navy editors and writers should follow the most recent edition of the Associated Press Stylebook except as noted in this U.S. Navy Style Guide."
Using that style guide, for Navy editors and writers, it is correct to capitalize Marine:
"Marines - This is a proper noun. Capitalize when referring to U.S. forces (the U.S. Marines, the Marine Corps). Do not use the abbreviation USMC."
However, the rest of us follow AP Style (most newspapers), Chicago Manual of Style (most book and magazine publications) or the individual style manual for our own publications.
To cap or not to cap -- that tells the reader something about the bias of the writer.
If "Marine" is capped, the writer is either writing for an official military publication or else simply hasn't a clue.
My reason for raising this seemingly insignificant point is that, as a professional editor, I have for the past 35 years noticed and, to borrow stylist H.W. Fowler's word, "discriminated."
It occurs to me that it might be helpful to everyone who has commented to be aware that the IS an official U.S. Navy Style Guide -- it's in the public domain and you can just google to find it. Note, by the way, that if you are using the U.S. Navy's style guide, you are also obligated to cap Sailor:
"Sailor - "Sailor" is to be capitalized in all references except those who belong to foreign navies."

To Linda - Yes, indeed it is a very trivial point. And as to who is and is not a "professional writer" - we will leave that to the individual opinion. I am sure there are many "professional writers" who are "legends in their own minds" amd totally insignificant to the rest of the civilized world. Again - if you wish to "dumb it down" that is your perogative however if you look at writings from several years ago - you will find that most prescribe to what I have indicated and only the minority of them prescribe to your methods.
Stan CLark

Apparently Mr. Greene's review of this movie all comes down to the old adage "consider the source". I was deeply moved to read Lt.Col Strobl's own account of the journey home in the Marine Corps Gazette. In reading Mr. Greene's review I am stunned that a fellow American who walks the same free ground and breathes the same free air could be so devoid of an American Soul. Too bad for him. The rest of us can feel uplifted and renewed when we read of Lcpl. Phelp's service and the wonderful response our fellow Americans gave him on his journey home. Mr. Greene can go back to searching for crumbs on the highway to humanity, while the heros in the story of Taking Chance can fully feast with a full heart and free spirit.

Chance was a friend of mine. I am entirely too glad that this movie did not use his death as a crutch for a political message. If you have a problem with this war, that's fine, but expressing disappointment that your views were not expressed at the expense of my comrade smacks of utter ignorance.
I respect that you expressed sincere sympathy to the Phelps family. I'm annoyed that you completely missed the point of the movie. I'm outraged that you think its not only OK with, but are encouraging moviemakers to explore a politcal arena through the memories of a real American war hero. If you feel that the avenue of the movie was too safe, and that there is room for something less palatable to people of opposing political views... I'd have to agree, but not with the memory of a real American Soldier, Marine, Sailor, or Airman. Why would you want to roll his memory through the muck?

Corporal, while you have my condolences, there isn't a viewer alive who wouldn't understand this movie's point. And that's my issue with it. It simplifies something very complicated, and presents easy emotional epiphanies instead of any sort of reflection on root causes. If Chance had been murdered walking down the street and someone made a movie about it without addressing the reason for his killing, I think most people would consider that a strangely incomplete vision of his death. Yet TAKING CHANCE does the same thing, and yet for some who have spoken here this puts it beyond criticism.

I think this is understandable up to a point. Within the military tradition so many in this string are products of, it is part of the training to never question the mission. As a member of the general public whose country has opted to go to war, I have a very different set of responsibilities. I encourage you to read Ashley M. Doughty's post earlier in this thread, and to ask yourself if a film like TAKING CHANCE is capable of dramatizing the proximity of her loss to that of the Phelps family. Both are equally real, both are equally tragic. And I would add that in my solitary view, both are closer in origin than many of the posters on this thread will ever care to think.

This review was filled with sarcasm and name calling from the beginning. The story line was written by Lt. Col. Strobl about his personal experiences, not the Iraq engagement. To make it about the political conflict is a different story. I guess critiscm about the title is fare game but trite. Personal attacks about the leading actors are just cheap shots and filled with hate. I served two years with the Marines in Vietnam and I admire them greatly. Upon returning from Vietnam, my car with a military base sticker was pelted with tomatoes and eggs in California. The people who threw them did not know what I did or who I was, but their hate spewed out without caring. This review is written from the same state of mind. There is no objectiveness or caring here, just hate.
To Gretchen and John, my prayers, gratitude and respect. I am so sorry for your loss.

Mr. Greene,
The premise that any film must address every historical, moral or ethical reason for the actions within a film or it will leave us with an incomplete vision of the truth is ludicrous. We as Americans, military or not, politically motivated or not, have the capacity to look beyond and understand more than the strict "story line" of a film. So, in that respect, each individual can inject his or her own logic, as is evident that you have done. However, your explanation seems to indicate that the rest of us are not intelligent, insightful or thoughtful enough to do that.It's like saying we are unable to read a book without pictures to really get a flavor of the story.

This film is not contrived in someone's mind or a sad story to get tear jerk ratings. It's not a commercial for the military. It is not a history lesson and it was certainly not a political statement. It is, however, and should be, to your point, a moral statement. A moral statement to the extent that we have a moral obligation to show respect to all servicemen, especially those that have valiantly given the ultimate sacrifice.

I view it as a re-enactment of the PROCESS and true to life EVENTS that an escort for a fallen US Marine, in this case Chance Phelps and his military escort, in this case Lt. Col. Michael R. Strobl's life that (thankfully) some people thought worthy enough of putting into a film so that those of us who haven't seen it first hand or experienced the level of respect shown our fallen servicemen, could do so. They were brought to life by Kevin Bacon and the rest of the cast with class and reverence.

I want to express my condolences to Ms. Gretchen Mack and her family for their sacrifices and loss.

Pablo,

I knew you were a "Kool-Aide drinker" the moment you referenced the "fraud and deceit of 9-11." You want Marines to "stop hiding behind our weapons and become true men" do you? Okay, I'll give you your wish. Stop hiding behind your keyboard, Pablo, and become a true man yourself. Name the time and place, and I'll be happy to teach you some respect.

By the way, you expose your ignorance of the REAL world when you say "All war will end when we stop sending children off to fight them for us." What about the OTHER side? Would you stand there and let someone punch you in the face without fighting back? I hope I get to find out, you sickening piece of pond scum...

Andy Bufalo
Retired Master Sergeant of Marines

P.S. - You may have been born within our borders, but it sounds to me like you need to leave them!

Ah, Mr. Green, if you only had a clue. Honor, Courage, and Committment are not just buzz words, but a creed inwhich Marines live and die by. You cannot just read them you have to live them. That's is what makes Marines who they are for the past 233 years. That aside, the only reason you even aplogized in your own little way is because of the heat you were getting. That does not say a lot about you, however Chance and so many others are still proud to have fought in the name of FREEDOM to give you that right in this great country. I have buried more than my share over the years and it is never about how they died, but how they lived. I suggest you get on your knees each night and thank God for men like Chance who gave their all to defend what is right. God bless you Gretchen and your family. About 100 of us will gather in Nashville on Saturday to watch this film. It is our HONOR to stand with the memory of your son and SALUTE him!

Semper Fi

Andy Bufalo

"Name the time and place, and I'll be happy to teach you some respect."

How might you do that? With hate and anger? With fighting and bloodshed? Sounds like you need to relax and do some deep breathing.

"Would you stand there and let someone punch you in the face without fighting back?"

I hope I would be able to not strike back. Turning the other cheek was one of the important lessons I learned as a child.

mr green may god or who ever you believe in feel sorry for the your state of mind and soul is in.its a shame you have no honor or respect for those that have served mine and your country.

One of the proudest things I ever did in this life was to serve as a soldier assigned temporary duty with a Marine Rifle Company for a month near Da Nang.

Mr. Green should be ashamed of himself.

Mr. Greene,
May I ask to which country you are a citizen of?
It is ashame we live in a time where a beautiful story is picked apart by someone who does not seem to have warm blood running through his veins. My prayer for you is that you take some time off and take a long look at yourself.
Sincerely,
Kate Conn

Mr. Greene,

Those who can, do.

Those who can't write movie reviews, evidently.

Film critics are like members of academia. The only prerequisites are narcissism and failure to be a productive member of society.

Perhaps if this was the banal story of an unaccomplished mayor who happened to be homosexual, it would be met with critical acclaim. Instead it is the story of ultimate sacrifice, which apparently evokes too much patriotism (which, despite what you hear, is not a bad word) for pseudo-enlightened film critics.

"This just in - war is still hell?" With that crack, your protestation that you empathize with this bereaved family rings pretty hollow.

How would you have felt if someone had covered your brother's death in a story that started with "This just in - losing a brother is still hell?"

You're the kind of person who would jeer at a funeral - that's what you've done here. You don't seem sadistic, so perhaps you're just shallow and self-absorbed. If I were a member of your family, I would be deeply ashamed of you.

Mrs. Mack, Mr. Phelps and the Phelps family:

I just finished watching "Taking Chance" and my words are coming with difficulty. As you might suspect, I am from a military family and am familiar in particular with the Marine Corps.

Thank you for allowing this to be made. In all honesty, even after viewing the clip I was pretty sure it was going to be another hostile portrait of our military. However, it was not. It was done with all the respect that has been lacking in Hollywood and many in the United States itself for our families and loved ones who serve. It wasn't about judgment or politics or turning the other cheek, it was about honor, courage and commitment.

May God and Chance continue to watch over you and your family

How sad that a movie review causes so much vitriol and hatred - it reminds me of the wars around the world. I just finished watching Taking Chance on HBO and, yes, I sobbed like a baby. But, there again, I sobbed seeing An Affair to Remember. Mr. Greene appears to have asked more of the movie than it provided. Of course, it is terribly sad that young men and women die in war. But especially for a phony war. Chance's mother has suffered the agony of having one's child die before the parent - an unbearable tragedy. This could have been prevented if we had not listened to the blandishments of Haliburton, et al. Let's listen to Bobby Darin's Sing a Simple Song of Freedom and reflect.

Movie Critic Huh?
No wonder you don't know anything about Honor and respect.
Just because the W and the Dick, should be brought up on charges of being war criminals, lying to everyone, etc
Does not change the fact that this was a very well done movie.

I just watched Taking Chance. I was so touched by this movie. I am a mother of 4 and come from a military, police & fire fighter family. I think everyONE should see this movie. It is about humanity. It is how people deal with loss and with their own mortality. Kevin Bacon was so good in this film. I felt like I was their at the scene the whole time. I felt the soilders sadness, the friends and families sadness and I felt the pride and honor as well. I am sorry for the loss of this family, but I am honored for the service to my country that this young man and his family chose to give. I am honored that film makers chose to tell these stories so that my children can see that there are heros everywhere. I am please with all the performances in the film. God Bless the Chance Phelps family and God Bless America and Americans

Actually, we should just let Mr. Greene be. This type of reaction is exactly what he wants. It's what promotes him and his living. After all that's all he's doing,...his job. That is to say, he's trying to make money with his comments on the movie. Nothing more. It's obvious by reading his comments he cares nothing for the person Chance was, or for what I discuss below. Before you get angry with him, remember, a commentary or critic's review is nothing more than an opinion. There is no basis of fact! Except perhaps in the writers mind, it is not news. Their comments are only made to achieve a reaction, whether for good or bad...

Meanwhile..., Chance and his story is about the love, respect and honor that came about because of those who "met" him on his journey home.

When I first read "Taking Chance", I was at a loss to contain my emotions. The tears fell, hard as I read his story. The tears, however, were not necessarily due just because of Chance's death and sacrifice to our Country...

Yes, the story is about Chance, but it's also so much more! It shows us all, that no matter what walk of life we come from, no matter what our beliefs are, we as a people can be as one in showing respect for a human being who lost his/her life serving our Country. That's what his story is all about. That is why it's important. So many times we are told on a daily basis of how hateful and self-centered we are as a Country, as a people. We are beaten down with this mentality by the newpapers, broadcast news and even movie critics, ...but this story, this one last gift from Chance, shows us that we are so much better than what those on the outside say we are.

Sure I had/have tears of sadness, but also tears of joy. Tears of joy in knowing that when it comes down to it, we care about each other. Complete strangers, taking a brief moment to say a prayer, bow a head or remove a hat for someone they've never met, just to say...I care.

That Mr Greene is what this story is about. That Mr. Greene is what you should have wrote about. I feel sorry for you that you do not understand this and worse even yet, that you deter from it.

This story is important and will live on, despite what Mr. Greene thinks, as long as we remember Chance and all of those that lost their lives in serving our Country.

I'm happy knowing that there are people who still care about the stranger next door... but, for some reason, I think Chance is more of a brother to us now...

David L. Schneider
US Army Vet.

Greene -

You should familiarize yourself with this quote from Theodore Roosevelt, since it describes you perfectly:

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

Your review was evidence that you don't "get it". Your responses to everyone's comments is further evidence that you'll likely never "get it".

You seem to think that you've earned some sort of right to publish your opinion and think people should take you seriously, but in reality that is the furthest thing from the truth.

I would suggest that maybe you should try to grow a set, then man up and do something in return for the country that provides you the right to publish your opinion without fear of censorship or oppression. Maybe in the process you'd learn a little something about what this film was trying to convey.

But, it's most likely you'll continue to think your opinion counts for something and keep on being clueless about the Americans who have sacrificed everything.

I have no sympathy or pity for you or your type.

M. Taylor
USMC '89-'02

Embrace The Hate

Simply,

The review was way off base...

The comments are right on and are the true story of this blog...

Gretchen Mack, I am sorry for your loss and all of our thoughts are with you.

Thank you for this movie...

Art Roth
Former USMC
1st Rad BN FMF Pac
R.R.T / MEWSS
Desert Storm

Mrs. Mack and Mr. Phelps,

I watched this movie last night and was moved beyond words as I watched it again this morning with my 17 year old daughter. I am profoundly sorry for your loss and thank you for your son's enormous sacrifice doing what he believed it. I was so touched by the care that was taken of Chance at the Dover, DE mortuary. The love and compassion was so evident and the response from all those along the way was evoked so much emotion. Chance was quite a young man. Whether folks agree with this war or not, Chance represents every single loss and seeing this story personalized those losses in a powerful way.

My husband is a Marine and would be honored to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Chance.

Semper Fi,
Kelly
San Antonio, TX

I sometimes wonder why a great journalist and writer was beheaded, while Mr Greene gets to keep his head. Doesnt it seem rather unfair?
Unfortunately, we will continue to be assulted by the clap-trap Mr Greene writes for a few more decades. Alas.

Mrs. Mack- thank you for the sacrifice you and your family have made and thank you for agreeing to have Chance's story be told to us. The movie has had a profound effect on me. The fact that it was so non-political was something HBO is to be commended for.
Mr. Greene- I was wondering who could not simply and tenderly be affected by this movie. Whose heart could be that stone cold as to politize it? Congratulations sir. You've taken the prize.

Linda,

You may be a professional writer, but you are dead wrong on the correct use of "Marine". Marine is a title. Whne used to refer to a specific individual it is, in fact, correctly capitilized. As an example, a group of sargeants is not capitilized. But if I am refering to an individual, it is Sargeant (even if I don't say his name). And I think siting the AP style guide is probably foolish as a defense of your error, the AP issues enough retractions to make it pretty clear they make a fair number of errors.

Pablo,
Perhaps you should read others comments before criticizing them. The majority of the posts here from either active duty or retired military members (many of whom are also retired Navy, CWO is a Naval rank) have stated they think his comments are stupid, but would die to defend his right to say them. Also both Pablo and Ray Greene appear to confuse freedom of speech with freedom from criticism. THis is especially odd from Greene, since he is a professional CRITIC. In this country you are free to SAY whatever you want. OTher people are also free to disagree with you, as almost every poster on this site has.

Every Sunday, thanks to ABC and George Stephanoolis, I read with sadness the names of soldiers who are lost in Iraq and Afghanistan. This movie assured me that these men and women have the undying gratitude of many silent citizens, who daily appreciate the sacrifice their charges have made, even if like me they don't truly understand why it this sacrifice is being made.

Ms Gretchen,
Please believe that each and every member of our great nation owe you and your son a great debt of gratitude. If some are not thankful of that sacrifice, please don't take that to heart. I thank you, Lt Col Strobl, and those that took the time to send this amazing message.
EMC

Kevin Smith said, "you are dead wrong on the correct use of "Marine". Marine is a title. Whne used to refer to a specific individual it is, in fact, correctly capitilized. As an example, a group of sargeants is not capitilized. But if I am refering to an individual, it is Sargeant (even if I don't say his name).And I think siting the AP style guide is probably foolish as a defense of your error, the AP issues enough retractions to make it pretty clear they make a fair number of errors."

Dear me, where do I start?
I stand my ground. Check the dictionary or any common usage manual-- "marine" is a noun, not a title (unlike "sergeant" which can be both). I might address you as Sgt. Smith (the abbreviation is correct), and that is correctly capitalized as a title. But if you were, say, a colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps, I would address you as Col. Smith (not a Marine Smith). So please scatch the notion that "marine" is a title. It isn't.
As for the "AP issues" -- perhaps I was unclear. I wasn't referring to Associated Press news stories, but to the reporter's bible, the "AP Style Manual," which gets updated every year, and does indeed see changes from time to time, but those aren't "errors" -- just updates to keep up with our changing language.

mrs mack,mr phelps,and the phelps family Your son was a hero, as all that serve are. my deepest sympathy to you and your family. mr.greene and pablo both of you go stand on the freeway, i'll be there shortly..

Mrs. Mack: My condolences to you and yours.
Your sons memory shall always be held in the highest regard by his brothers in arms.

Pablo: Mr. Greene's review smacked of lazy ignorance to military custom (do your homework) and was crudely off topic with the sloppy insertion of tabloidesque jibes at Kevin Bacon, not to mention the inane political rhetoric which was ultimately a distraction from his message.
While I am sure Mr. Greene's punctuation and grammatical execution are impeccable, his review was clunky and lacked the critical ingredient of all persuasive writing...Relativity.
By making irrelevant satirical banter and waxing; rather puking political, he alienated his audience, by default negating whatever well-founded criticism he wished to convey.

Furthermore Pobrecito, I find your ignorant comments about the Servicemembers of this country to be quite offensive. An overwhelming majority of the Marines I served with were the Polar opposite of your vision of blind jack-booted thugs. Marines are Americans just like you, except they loved their country enough to serve on the front lines in its defense. We swore to uphold the Constitution, including the 1stAmendment to which your hypocrite's lips are quick to give service, neverminding the blatant irony of such comments.
Long story short: Walk a mile in our boots, bitch. Until then put up or shut up.

Lcpl Becker
1/7 A Co
USMC
'04-08

To Linda -

My dear Linda - Again let me reiterate. To be specific - the word "marine" in Webster's Dictionary is an adjective. When referring to an individual of any rank, that has earned the title of United States Marine, whether prefacing the word Marine with United States or not - needs to be capitalized. A United States Marine has earned that title and it is a title - not a noun or adjective! You stated in a previous post that "one of my kids is a marine" (your spelling). I am greatly surprised that you, as a Marine Mom, would deprive your own son of his rightful title and in doing so minimalize his accomplishments, as well as that of millions of other Marines. I hope you attended his graduation and I imagine that if you did - you would have a totally different opinion.

The AP Style Manual, to which you have continuously referred, may be your bible but is not to the rest of the civilized world. Just because it says something does not necessarily make it correct as evidenced by the fact that it is "updated" in your words - corrected in mine, every year. In many instances it may well be another case of "dumbing down" our society as today's reporters seem fond of doing on a frequent basis. If it does in fact indicate that the world Marine, when referring to any United States Marine, whether specified by name/rank or not, is not capitalized - then it too is incorrect.

Another point of clarification is this. No matter what position or rank is held in our Marine Corps - everyone is a Marine. It is the only branch of the Armed Forces where you can call the top man, the Commandant for instance - a Marine and be correct. Not only that - but he is proud to be referred to, simply, as a Marine. No other service affords that appreciation and respect for the title and its members. Just one more example of the importance of the difference between a title and a word. You can argue until you are blue in the face and you will be hard pressed to find any Marine to agree with you on this matter. In reporter circles you are sure to find allies in this discussion but also as reporters you have earned the distinction of side stepping the facts in order to sell or write a story.

Marines have fought and died for our Country for over 233 years. Please, at least, afford them the respect and courtesy that they have earned and certainly deserve!

Sincerely
Stan Clark
Gettysburg, PA

Mr Clark - Ditto on your remarks regarding capital "M" for Marine.

Except for one note...similar to the USMC use of "Marine", the Air Force now refers to all members as "Airman", from general on down.

Mr. Greene

I hope that you have come to learn some truths from all the people who have responded to your agenda driven revue. Most importantly,I hope that you learned that your words can and do hurt others greatly.

This was a beautiful story about the love and respect that our country has for those who serve and protect us. It is a true story not one of fiction contrived to drive a politically driven point home.

I do not know the first thing about you so I will not make any personal attacks. I only hope that you realize that not everyone shares your views on the war and our heroic men and women who risk their lives on a daily basis. It is because of their sacrifice, that people like you and me can sit home and safely bicker over the politics of the day. As a Catholic Priest, I remember our military at each one of my masses. I thank God for them.

"Taking Chance" is a story about these heroes and the people who respect them and are grateful to them and for them. Please don't try to take this wonderful story and dirty it with your political comments. It is a beautiful story about a wonderful young man who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country and how proud we are of him.

In closing, I would like to thank the Mack and Phelps families for raising such a young man. He is what America is all about. May God bless you and your families.

Fr. Kevin - New York

THINK ABOUT THIS. This country could survive without actors and film critics, but not without people like Chance. My wife and I thank you.

"If Chance had been murdered walking down the street and someone made a movie about it without addressing the reason for his killing, I think most people would consider that a strangely incomplete vision of his death. Yet TAKING CHANCE does the same thing, and yet for some who have spoken here this puts it beyond criticism",
Mr. Greene writes in his response to Corporal Ski's post. Therein lies the proof that Mr. Greene completely missed the mark in his review. There are innumerable movies/stories told about one sequence of an event without exploring the backstory that led to that event. This does not make those movies/stories any less relevant nor enjoyable. I have only seen the trailer and was so moved by it that I 'googled' it up hoping to find a way to see it soon as I do not subscribe to HBO. From what I can gather at this point, the movie is the story of one marine's journey taking another marine home for burial. That is the story. Period. Your review should have addressed the quality of the presentation of THAT STORY. Period. Quite frankly Mr. Greene, your politicizing your review rendered it irrelevant. Oh, and by the way, I am in no way related to the military and I am a left wing, tree hugging liberal who doesn't understand this war and hopes they all come home safely.

To Chances mom and family, Bless you and Bless Chance. As the mother of sons, one 17 and one 20, you are living my worst nightmare. While heartbroken, how proud you must be! Thank you for sharing your family's story.....Like Mary Jones, I too, try to read the name, rank, age and hometown of the fallen soldiers each Sunday on ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulis. This movie will help put a face on those soldiers and their families.

Mr. Greene,
You are a pathetic self-indulgent little man. You write a mean-spirted politcal commentary that masquerades as a movie review.Your follow-up to Chance's mother "is all about you". You write "in a world where even Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann support the troops, does this really tell us much that isn’t patently obvious to anybody with a brain and a heart?" Here is firm grasp of the obvious, your lack of heart is impeding your brain function.

Go grind your ax on George Bush - not Chance's family. You piece of crap.

I saw this HBO movie on Saturday, February 21,2009.. I saw it again, later that evening because I wanted to be sure that I got every single minute of the movie as carefully as I could.

This movie has no political agenda at all! It is nearly documentary in its devotion to detail and I felt it was meticulous in making sure it reported the events as facts and not otherwise. It did!

This movie is a MASTERPIECE and must and should be seen by every American citizen and those that aspire to be, citizens.

Our Nation has understood, maybe not uniquely but, it is truly American that we hold fast to the duty, devotion and honor of those amongst us, who serve and have served our country, for whatever cause, right ot wrong, North or South, over our history..Soldiers, Marines, Air Force or Navy sailors have no political agenda for the most part. It's their job, their duty and their service that gets them to do, what they do!

And, for those who have given the final sacrifice and have lost their lives or limbs in service to our country, we owe a deep debt of gratitude. Our repayment can only be in trubute to their loved ones and family left behind.Americans do this well! Maybe better than most others.And, we should continue to do so, in our Memorial Days and Veterans Days services.

"Taking Chance," is just such a movie, guaranteed to deliver only a message of what happens to the people along the way that have participated in getting our hero's remains from the battlefield , back home to their loved ones, friends, neighbors, etc.

Kevin Bacon's performance might be his most outstanding one and he delivers it in a manner that is realistic, human and touching. And, who amongst us, cannot be moved by his portrayl of LTC Strobl..

No,Mr. Greene, the movie you saw was much different from what most of the rest of us SAW.. A pity for you , not to understand, what we saw!

We saw a well done film that told a story that too often is not told.. What effect the passing of 1 American serviceperson has on our entire country.. WE shall not forget their sacrifice and the pain their loved ones must bear as a result of their devotion to duty and Comrades.

I have no connection to the Marine Corps, past or present, as I served in the US Army but, that does not diminish the duty performed by all the Servicemen and women who serve our county's military ..The Marines are special, no more than the others but, who cannot be overwhelmed with the Dress Blue Uniforms that the hero, Chance, is buried in, or the ones worn by the attending Marines.

It's a small thing but, made a impression upon me 2 years ago.. I had the opportunity to attend a football game at West Point that coincided with the Academy's homecoming weekend..Well, Army football has always opened the grounds of the Academy to fall tailgating and this Saturday was no exception.. Like many of these weekends, a Parade of the Corp of Cadets is part and parcel of the event.. And, if you ever need a reminder or nudge to renew your patriotism vows, take an opportunity to get to West Point or Annapolis or Colorado Springs and catch one of these Parades! You might want to catch this a time or two, Mr Greene.

You WILL be proud to be an AMERICAN , if you do!
This particular day the temperature at West Point was 97 degrees and the Cadets marched in their dress uniforms for 30 minutes, past the reviewing stand. I stood there, sweating myself but, I could not help but, know that many of the Seniors marching that day would soon be in Iraq or Afganistan, after graduation.. It was a grand sight and one I will never forget..

A well done to filmmaker, Ross Katz and to,Kevin Bacon for giving us, CHance's story. We will not forget him, ever..

It's ironic that if Mr. Green had written an uncontroversial movie review, we would not have witnessed the emotional outpouring since he wrote the review. I imagine his bosses have taken note of the traffic to this page. I wonder if other movie reviews generate this much attention. I came across a movie review by Rob Owen of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He was refreshingly objective in his assessment of "Taking Chance." Perhaps, Mr. Green can compare his piece with that of an other writer. You can find Mr Owens review at http://www.mercurynews.com/lifestyle/ci_11731313

Another well written review of "Taking Chance" authored by Gary Strauss, USA TODAY. He also gives the movie four stars. http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2009-02-19-taking-chance-interview_N.htm

How could anyone watch this movie and say thoes things? My god, what has happened to our country?

I have supported this war from the beginning and still do.

After viewing the film last weekend on HBO, it was Chance and a life cut short that consumed my thoughts the most. Because of those thoughts, of course I reviewed my constant belief in the necessity of this war.

As someone stated above, we are not idiot's, the producers didn't have to inject politics for viewers to re-examine their moral belief's.

That is where I believe you really missed your mark Mr. Greene. Any loss or gain as a result of this war should make any honest American re-examine his or her position. Including but not limited to the unknowables.

Mr. Greene,
I was incredulous as I read your review. You have no idea what this movie was about.

I still remember and mourn for Mike Gorchinski, someone I knew well, who was in the baracks in Beirut.

I remember what it felt like to take my best friend, who was still in the Marine Reserves, to the airport to send him off to Camp Lejuene for the replacement pool for the first Gulf war. We had been Lieutenants together back in the day. I looked him in the eye and said, you stay alive, and you come home to your family. He looked me in the eye and simply said, I will, and turned and left. (He came back.)

Every Nov 10th, we send each other emails that say, "Happy Birthday." I don't know what day is his actual birthday, to be honest. But Nov 10th, we celebrate the Marine Corps' birthday. We celebrate duty, honor, country.

And you try to trivialize the care taken to prepare Chance's body for burial, to trivialize Lt.Col Strobl, and you even have to attack the actor who portrayed him?

Like I said, you have no idea.

C Jackson
Lieutenant of Marines, 1972 - 1976

I just wanted to say to Mrs. Mack that your son has returned my pride in my country. I did not know Chance but wish I did. It would have been an honor to shake his hand. I think I can speak for most of us when I say that I am terribly sorry for your loss and that we are truly indebted to you and your family. You have helped show us another side of our military that we do not get to see. I cannot believe that the movie just received 2 stars. I personally think it should have received 5. Our nation owes you and your family a great deal of gratitude and I know in my heart that most Americans feel the same way.

God bless Chance and all the men and women who serve in the armed forces.

Respectfully,

Bill Kazen

I just watched the show on television. It was of the most heart warming films I've seen. To see people have so much respect for those that have lost their lives in war is truly amazing. I cried so much of this show, having empathy for the family, friends, and of Michael Strobl. He must realize that it takes different people to make this work for our country, soldiers at war, and soldiers doing our work for Quantico. All different kinds of responsibilities lie within each department and rank. My brother was in the intelligence department for the Marines, he couldn't actually go to war, he was injured picking up someone who had gone AWOL. I don't believe his work is countless. Great work!!!

Mr Greene. I do not have the ability to respond to your review as well as everyone else has. Let me just say that in my opion you are as big an anal canal as ever there was.

Mr. Greene,

As a former active duty US Marine, my comment may seem a bit more straight forward and simpler than some of the others in this forum...

If I knew where you lived and didn't have anything better to do, I would hunt you down and put a boot in your a-- for the disrespect your review of this movie not only shows towards Chance Phelps and his family, but also towards every Marine, soldier, sailor and airmen that has ever served this country.

Scott Lain
Staff Sergeant
United States Marine Corps
1991-2002

First: I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to the parents and family of Chance Phelps. My prayers are with you.

I am writing this today after seeing the movie twice in the last four days. I have no political agenda; I will probably make mistakes when it comes to capitalization and grammer... I have no intentions to disrespect anyone that reads this... it is simply my opinion. That cleared...

I come from a family who has served our country for four generations... I myself have not due to medical restrictions...

My wife was a marine and is a very strong, independent woman... that is why I love her so. We have three beautiful (opinion) boys who are 10 and twin 8 year olds.

My son Jacob (8) and I watched "Taking Chance" last night... I was iffy on the content of the movie... just because it might be over his head. We watched together in silence while I was watching his reactions to the various scenes. I noticed him tearing up at points, and slightly smiling with what I could only think to be pride.

I have sat reading these views of others for almost an hour now.... there truelly is two sides to every coin. It saddens me to read the harsh words of some... it makes me proud to read others... the whole while contemplating how I would write my opinion in a "PC" way.

I understand the freedom of speech... I understand the pride that comes from being in the ARMED FORCES... and I understand what it feels to lose someone close. My family just laid to rest my Uncle P.C. John Craemer USAF retired on Monday. The only conclusion I have is this... I simply asked my son Jacob what he thought of the movie... his response was even more simple and heartfelt than I thought possible. He simply said "He is a HERO". (Yes, I capitalized it because it is worth capitalizing).

I tucked him into bed, kissed him goodnight, and left his room. I then cried. My wife and I went to bed later... I kissed her, told her how much I loved her and then thanked God that I live in a place that allows me to do just that.

The United States is filled with ordinary people... After seeing this movie, I was thankful that it reminded me of how great our lives truely are... regardless of our finances, our jobs, the size of our homes, and the cars that we drive. There are more important things in life... be a HERO to someone, ANYONE!

Thank you Chance Phelps for being a HERO to my son... Thank you to all people who give their lives to a bigger cause and thank you Ms Mack for allowing your sons story to be told.

God Bless

Mr. Greene because I don't think your ultimate goal in life is to be just a movie critic. I hope you read all of these submissions and take them as valuable life input. Not sure what type of writer you eventually hope to be, but you have an opportunity to learn from your future readers.

As a writer you know each and every story has limitations. They may be time, scope or word count. What amazes me is your inability to recognize these limitation when viewing a story you did not write. A truly touching story is often of an experience of single person, an experience that touches everyone who reads, hears or views it. I believe LtCol Strobl did this.

You may want to go off in the middle of LtCol Strobl's experience to some other tangent you think is important to point out. Maybe just to show another side you would prefer to add more protesters that were never there, or even have more lackadaisical, uncaring and mistake prone unprofessional gnomes that were never there. I mean we have to make it realistic for you.

It is their story, not yours. Your seemingly or apparent lack of understanding of this simple fact may be what holds you back as a writer, much less a critic. If you must, critique the story, the movie, the actors, the actor and wifes finances, Madoff and this war. I just don't think you are on topic, and obviously neither do any of these other people.

Furthermore, I suggest you write a movie script yourself. Although, what have you ever put on the line, experienced or shown that would interest me. Sounds like your movie script would try to identify all the wrongs in the world, go off in all different directions, identify everything in a jumbled mess. I think your writings would not tell a story we may all feel or grow from, and thus not want to read.

Maybe this sounds like some of your writing instructors?

Obviously, this movie did not touch any important parts of your humanity. And with that realization I feel truly sad for you.

Lastly, here is a hint. Humanity makes a good writer and story teller, not grammar.

Mark

Who the **** is Ray Greene?

I am a veteran of this war. But it doesn't matter.
I remember on my little FOB on the eastside of Baghdad when we had a KIA.They transported the Soldier fom the hosptal to the Helo pad and both sides of the roadway were Soldiers rendering honors. It was a very emotional experinace for me. I often wondered what happened and what the process was after thay were gone.
This movie was very well done and treated our fallen and other military members with great respect and honor. In fact this is the first Iraq war movie I have seen.
After reading the review by ray greene I wasn't surprised. Cowards like him are a dime a dozen.

Greene is a fine example of Forrest Gump's saying about Stupidity; (or would it be Stupidity and Narcissism in Greene's case?)

Don't mean to insult you, Mr. Gump; you're leagues above the small little man hiding behind his pathetic little piece of the Boxoffice website.

It's hard to be happy unless you're thankful, and it's difficult to be thankful without some context to appreciate what you have.
Taking Chance gave me some new context to appreciate what I have to be thankful for as an American. I think it was a wise decision not to try to analyze the political context of the Iraq War in this film. We all have plenty of opportunities to learn about the politics of Iraq in other media. What I appreciated most about this film is that it stripped out the filters of politics and showed something about the soul of America that we can be deeply proud of, but that many of us have never seen with our own eyes.

Mr. Greene,

Its obvious you have never served your country and it is you who has missed the point of the movie. Maybe a few less journalism classes and a few more in real life would help you understand. Have you ever stood in respect at a military funeral, have you ever found out that a good friend who you have counted on to have your back has been killed, have you ever had to pack up a friends gear to send home....Walk a mile Mr. Greene....!

I will give you that the movie doesn't cover the in depth reason of the war etc., but then it wasn't meat. What it does show is the love for a fallen warrior, by his brother and sisters in arms and everyday Americans. When yo u go to sleep tonight why don't you say a prayer for Chance and tell him and all the rest of the fallen, "Thank You," for protecting my rights and my way of life.

David S.Lis
U.S. marine
Middle East Conflict War Memorial
www.ILfreedomrun.org

There has never been a statue erected to honor a critic.

It's very obvious that Greene's liberal point-of-view not only flavored his poor review, but he demonstrates how is limited vision contributes to what is currently wrong with our great nation.

This movie was as apolitical as you can get. It was a story of two Marines and their journey. It was about honor, fidelity, esprit, and faith.

The liberal left claims to be compassionate and caring and yet they continue to be the most harsh and uncaring lot the Marine has ever witnessed.

My respects and well wishes to LCpl Phelps' family and to all my fellow Marines who decided to make their voices clear and distinct about this mean-spirited review.

Semper Fidelis,

Carl C. Norman
Former Captain of Marines

U.S. Marines - No better friend; no worse enemy

First of all, I want to express my deeply heartfelt thanks and condolences to the loved ones and friends of PFC Phelps. I deeply admire you, Mrs. Mack, for your sacrifice, for letting your son's story be told, and last but not least for your kind response to Mr. Greene's review (had I been in your shoes, I might not have been so kind!...).
Like many people since the 1960's, Mr. Greene seems to think every movie that comes out of Hollywood should "address issues," and no doubt from his point of view at that. (Would he welcome a movie casting the Iraq War in an even somewhat favorable light?) As such, he seems to feel threatened by the absence of politics in what must be an excellent movie (I hadn't heard of it until today, but now I'll make a point to try to see it). I see his point that the politics behind the war can't be separated from the war itself, but good grief, each and every attempt to portray some aspect of it need not address the entire scope. From the sounds of it, this movie portrays a very human aspect of war and of our military, and also the personal cost of war (the risk of which is freely chosen by those who enlist). What Mr. Greene seems to feel threatened by is the fact that the movie is deeply moving, and just might give people a real glimpse of a side of the military that is not often seen. He seems to be afraid that people who see this movie might (gasp!) actually approve of the job our troops are doing in Iraq. That may or may not be the case, and even if it is, believing that our troops do their job well doesn't necessarily equate with approval of this war.
I'm looking forward to seeing the movie.

My deepest condolences to Chance's family for their loss and to Chance's mother for having to read such garbage. The shock is not that someone in the press would be against telling the truth about the war and its heroes (which this movie clearly does); it is that in the writer's voice one hears a clear inference that everyone reading the review will agree. I assure Chance's family, that is not so. My husband and I were deeply moved by all aspects of the movie, including Kevin Bacon's performance (as has every person to whom we have spoken who also saw Taking Chance). We are grateful for the sacrifice of the soldiers and their families. We are in awe that such care is taken in bringing men and women home to their families. And, we appreciate the family allowing this story to be told. I want to assure Mrs. Mack that there are still Americans who believe in America and that we thank God every day for the men and women who are the guardians at the gate.

I'm sorry, but I lack the amazing tact that Gretchen Mack displays.

Taking Chance is a spell-binding work that should be required viewing in every classroom in America, and in reading Gretchen's comments it seems pretty obvious where a big part of Chance's core of valor and self-sacrifice came from.

Ray Greene is yet another poster child for self-righteous liberalism. I think it's safe to say he would never take action to defend his neighbor, so hopefully you don't live next door to him when the **** hits the fan. He'll be easy to spot with his butt hanging out of his poodle's doghouse. Sorry, that last statement is unfair to poodles, and I retract it.

Selfishness is the basic character trait of any liberal I have ever met, and it's why you won't find many liberal Marines.

I'm not a Marine so I'm not comfortable using the phrase "Semper Fi", but I can sure as hell say "Always Faithful". You rock Gretchen, Chance is a hero, Lt.Col Strobl is a light on the truth and Taking Chance is a message of hope and dignity.

USA Today provided a much more balanced and accurate review: http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/reviews/2009-02-19-taking-chance-preview_N.htm

Mr. Greene:

I'm commenting again for three reasons.

One, to distinguish myself from other "David" names on the thread.

Two, to check in and see if you are working on an article as I suggested.

Three, as the only other person on the thread who has a published review of the movie, I'd like to offer my review for public comment and analysis.

http://www.danelo.com/uploads/Taking_Chance_review.pdf

All the best,
David Danelo

Mr. Greene, you feel the movie fails because it doesn't address why we are there. People like Chance understand exactly why we are there and don't need it explained in a movie. We are there because a brutal dictator was overthrown, freeing one of the oldest societies in the world while planting a secular democracy aligned with the West in the geographic center of a hostile Middle East. By physically separating Iran, Jordan, Syria, Israel and Saudi Arabia, the 22 members of the international coalition have provided a foundation to gradually break the cycle of illiteracy and the hateful dogma that too often fills that education void, providing future generations of Iraqis and eventually the entire Middle East with a more temperate world view while marginalizing the blind extremism that resulted in 9/11 and a widespread culture of terrorism as a political tool. Why is that so difficult to understand? A large part of our spoiled and lazy population will never understand the necessity of justified conflict because they can't get their brains around the concept of self-sacrifice for a greater good. You reek of that, while Chance Phelps sure as hell understood. The deeper tragedy in all this is that he gave his life for you, and despite your crocodile tears you could really care less.

To Joe Kirklin

You live in a dream world. Do you really think we are destroying Iraq in order to put in place a secular democracy. I can't believe you could buy that BS from Cheney and the other neocons. They sure conned you.

"What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy?"
----Ghandi

Mr, Greene
As everyone's time must come....so will yours.
jUST A FEW REMINDERS as to HOW, WHERE AND WHEN WE GO....keep the following in mind.
REMOVE YOUR ROLEX, RINGS AND CHAINS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOUR I.D. AND CREDIT CARDS....BECAUSE
YOU WILL NOT HAVE A MARINE STANDING REVERENTLY BESIDE YOU TO PROTECT YOUR PERSONAL EFFECTS, AND INSURE YOUR PASSING WILL BE ONE OF HONOR RESPECT AND DIGNITY IN YOUR AFTERLIFE....
CHANCES WAS!

A slight addendum...

your journey may very well be as you stated in your review:
"Ritualistic (and ultimately predictable) as stations on the cross."
Chance's will be far from yours!.....Can U feel the heat. ;

l/cpl. richard-

I and many others here posting likely hope that we also don't have any angry, vitriolic marines within a thousand miles of us when we die.

I say this based on the sheer number of hateful messages you and your marine friends have posted here against anyone that doesn't agree with your sorry view of the world.

DEAR JUDAS RAY BIN GREEN...E
YOU HAVE NOT ONLY CONSCIOUSLY TRIVIALIZED
A MOST REVERENT MOMENT FOR THE MILLIONS WHO HAVE SUFFERED FROM THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE....PAST AND PRESENT!!!!....YOU THEN SET ABOUT TO ENGAGE YOUR OMNIPRESENT CONTEMPT FOR ANY EMOTIONS THAT INVOLVE COMPASSION, LOVE, DIGNITY, HONOR,....AND AMAZINGLY YOU LIKEN YOUR REVIEW TO THE STATIONS ON THE CROSS....WHO THE HELL RAISED U?
A prior blog asked...."Didn't you have enough attention as a child?.....LOVE?
In 13 yrs. of internet experience, I have never responded to a movie review as I felt everyone is entitled to their opinion....but you have in your own sick way have shown that 'YOU' need to walk the 'STATIONS OF THE CROSS' and be nailed to it!..........Mistakes are made, and we as an American people can easily forgive, but in your second comment you truly showed how blind and unrepentant you are.
But, thanks are due to you because you have brought together a forum of proud and respectful people from all over this (greatful) nation that will not forget .......CHANCE

To Mr. Tom:
Thank you for your response in kind....you are true to your beliefs I feel....Firstly, I know of no 'Marine Friends' who have responded to this irreverent review....we are 'Marine Brothers', Yes,and I also have a sorry view of the carnage around the world whether it be Ireland, Sirre Leone,Columbia or the .....World Trade Center.
We cannot (unfortunately), solve the world's problems, as some have existed for hundreds of years, if not thousands.
I live in Brooklyn, N,Y,and shared a wonderful view of Manhattan and the WTC with all my (3 million) Brooklyn neighbors.
Sept. 11 is history......so is my memory of that magnificent skyline.
Are there questions and answers.....many.
Is there religious hatred? race? ethnicity?
Yes there is, and I feel helpless at times.
You used the word hateful in your response.....to that I take high offense....Why?
There were three words my children were not allowed to use....at any time (Marine Discipline). In order oof priority!
1). HATE---- Is an emotion of the highest order, and carries a perrenial weight with it. Alternate = Intensely Dislike.
2), UGLY----- ALLOWS ONE A NARCISISTIC VIEW OF THEMSELVES AS BEING VISUALLY SUPERIOR= "NOTHING GOD MADE IS UGLY' They still catch themselves if used in my presence.
3). STUPID---- If applied to humans, as some are inherently smarter, or slower.
So Tom, I would like for you to understand, I am not much different than yourself, maybe more stupid, uglier,.....but I do not hate!

To Tom:
Actually I'm damn good-looking....and smart as a fox!

Tom:
Correction.....For a Geezer .....not that bad!
My wife made me correct it....I'm under duress!

A quote from John Stuart Mill:

"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."

L/Cpl. Richard

Have you read some of the above posts? The threats of bodily harm by marines to anyone that doesn't agree with them are numerous. From your words I can tell you are not among those that would physically abuse another. But many of the other replies do not speak very well of the training these others have received as marines.

Since you brought up the events of 9/11 and you live nearby may I ask you a question about what I perceive as a coverup of what happened that day?

Why has our government lied to us about the real story of the towers coming down? You say you are smart as a fox......do you think those planes took down the twin towers? And tell me why the 3rd world trade center building collapsed, the one that was not hit by a plane.

Tom,
Thank you for responding.
AS FOR THE TRAINING WE MARINES RECEIVE....IT IS NO DIFFERENT FOR ANYONE....HOW ONE REACTS TO THE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF THEIR NEW ENVIRONMENT THE SAME....IT VARIES EXPONENTIALLY.
mORE IMPORTANTLY, I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT YOUR INQUIRIES ABOUT 9/11, and our governments role in this disaster. But, before I give you the essence of what i know, tell me a little about yourself, and your religious/political persuasions.....I would feel more comfortable and it would be more personable.....Thanks

TO R. GREENE
HERE IS WHAT MR. GREENE SAID IN 1860....
"what the South does with their negroes is not of our concern, we do business with the South, and their treatment of their slaves is necessary to contain the labor force and maintain affordable goods for the North.

HERE IS WHAT MR GREENE SAID IN 1915-1918....
"we have no business in Europe. We trade with everyone equally and should remain neutral in their disagreements....it doesn't affect us!

HERE IS WHAT MR. GREENE SAID IN 1939-1941....
"President Roosevelt is antagonizing the Germans by passing the "Lend Lease Act" providing
substantial military goods to England and Russia....this will only prolong the conflict....If we cease to aid the warring countries, it will hasten the end of the conflict. Furthermore, Herr Hitler has agreed to stop any expansionist plans with PM CHAMBERLAIN, AND HE SEEMS SINCERE....
The conflict in Asia, between JAPAN AND CHINA does not affect us....IN TRUTH, I DON'T BELIEVE ALL THE ALLEGED REPORTS OF KILLINGS AND RAPES FROM NANKING AND THE OTHER PROVINCES....WE HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL NAVAL AND GROUND FORCE IN THE PHILLIPINES, WAKE, MIDWAY, AND PEARL HARBOR....AND THE BRITISH ARE CERTAINLY SECURE WITH THEIR NAVAL MIGHT IN HONG KONG, SINGAPORE, AND MALAYSIA.....I THINK WE'VE COVERED ALL OUR BASES, AND THOSE LITTLE SLANT-EYED NIPS WOULDN'T STAND A CHANCE ..............MORE TO COME

TO DICK ...LIKed your approach to RG's psyche, but you have been a bit off on your times, Lend Lease did not pass Congress until may 1942, BEFORE THAT, there was a series of agreements whereas we would aquire British bases in exchange for American goods.

To L/Cpl Richard-

Heating/AC Contractor

Roman Catholic

Happily married, 3 grown children making their way in this world

Conservative/Progressive

Veteran

I'm curious why my political/religious leanings have anything to do with how you would respond.

DICK,
JUST A REMINDER...YOU FORGOT BAATAN AND CORRIGIDOR, PROBABLY NOT INTENTIONALLY, BUT VERY SIGNIFICANT OMISSION.....CORRIGEDOR, LASTED THE LONGEST, AND BAATAN THE BLOODIEST.
Hundreds of thousands perished, because we were somewhat smug and superior. This truly could have been avoided by a bit of insight and more preparedness. Sorry for getting off the subject...of this forum, please excuse me.

THANKS AGAIN TOM,
My Puggle puppy is licking my face....we have approx. 6 in of snow...this is the first time Iv'e dialogued on ....'ANY KIND OF FORUM', and I'm wondering why I'm here with you?
I feel that my attempt at humanizing Marines to you was important....and in order to vent my emotions, along with hatred, ugliness and stupidity, I needed to know at least your basic building blocks.
Now you really confuse me.....Especially about your thoughts that the U.S.Gov't had some sort of involvment in the WTC attack.
It lends credence to the fact that you are dissatisfied with something?.....Fill in the blanks for me....that would help

Please, let us not forget that this is a film that portrays the brotherhood of the Marine Corps and the spirit of Semper Fidelis.

It is an honor and privilege to view this film. And, it is an honor and privilege that we all were able to get to know Chance Russell Phelps. I am grateful for his service and his sacrifice.

Semper Fidelis,
PJW
Very Proud Mom of another PFC

TO MARY KATHYRN

VERY WELL SAID, AND VERY MEANINGFUL..

To Mother Marine:
Forgive them Mother...for they know not what they say......Semper FI

GREENE:
Why you could not disseminate political/non-political....is a mystery.
As a reviewer......WHAT IS YOUR JOB?
You have crossed sooo-many boundries, and in an inciteful way, for something so reverent. Whomever employs you?.....What gives you the right to unsanctify everything and everyone!
I have no agenda....I mean I had no agenda.
But, your critique has hit a chord.
I know some people in your Co., and believe me,......YOU ARE HISTORY!!!!!!!!

GREENE,
Correction... I know who employs you!

MR. GREENE.
You don't deserve the Mr..........but I have some LOLLIPOPS YOU CAN SUCK ON......while our sevicemen and women are exposed to .......what the hell....you wouldn't know,
By the way......WE ARE VOLUNTEERS!.....WE HAVE THE RIGHT.....AS DO YOU....TO DO WHAT WE FEEL IS RIGHT......GET THE F--k outta my face......REMEMBER JUST AS THE POLICE AND FIREMAN MAKE THEIR CHOICE....SO DO WE!
We signed and chose to be in the military.....what in God's name gives you the right to question my choice....MY MOTHER DOESN'T

TO CEO BOXOFFICE,

I believe it is time for you to understand the thought provoking,irreverent, and callous review that Mr. Greene has shown to our fallen heros. He has also integrated a sacred Christian event.....'SEVEN CROSSES'....It is beyond comprehension that someone could equate a 'deeply religious and painful experience' to a movie 2009 A.D. THAT HAS NO REVELANCE TO THE MOVIE.........................FIRE HIM!!!!....HE IS A HATE MONGER AND HAS NO FEELING FOR THE BRAVE FALLEN......OR FOR THAT MATTER....HIMSELF

DAVID,
Although you were not a Marine, you seem to understand......We are your best friends.....OR YOUR WORST ENEMIES.......I see you have written a book on the Marines in Iraq.......I will preview it!

Tom in Virginia,

Browse '7 World Trade Center', Wikipedia has extensive info. on it's collapse....I'm sure it will alleviate any 'conspiracy theories'.

To Ashley Doughty

When your loved one joined the Military........was he mentally capable of knowing what it entailed?....or was it done to justify ones appreciation of Life Liberty and the persuit of happiness?

Your Loss is understood.

L/Cpl Richard

Please check out this link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controlled_demolition_hypothesis_for_the_collapse_of_the_World_Trade_Center

WTC1, WTC2 and WTC7 are the only steel-structure buildings ever to have collapsed (allegedly) as a result of fire. How incredible that this all happened on one day. Steel buildings do not collapse because of isolated fires. Do some research and I think you will agree that there was foul play in that took place on 9/11/2001.

Burning jet fuel never reaches the kind of temperatures needed to melt steel. Thermite does.

TOM IN vIRGINIA,
I believe it was in 1864....Shermans March to the Sea in Savannah, Georgia. It was the main rail link from the port to the rest of the South. His men (military) uprooted a good portion of the 12"x12" wooden ties and 16ft x 6' steel rails. He had his men build bonfires with the wood and laid the rails on top. When the rails were hot enough, the men wrapped and coiled them around trees.....Thusly the name "Shermans Bowties"..given the fact that mere mortals could wrap this 6" steel rail in almost a figure "8" configuration with a low temperature bonfire, I wonder what millions of pounds of pressure from the upper 15 or so concrete floors could accomplish. You don't have to melt steel to change it's shape.....Capish?

L/Cpl. Richard

You must not have read any of the excellent technical papers that have been written about the impossibility that those towers went down because of fire.

Here's a link for you:

http://www.wtc7.net/

If you open your eyes and open your mind you might not like what you see. But it is the truth.

Tom,

I love your ending in your last blog!

"IF YOU OPEN YOUR EYES AND YOUR MIND, YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU SEE....BUT IT IS THE TRUTH!!!!
IT SEEMS THAT MOST AMERICANS ARE BLIND, OR JUST PLAIN DUMB!

YOU LEAVE ME NO ROOM FOR DISCUSSION....YOU ARE THE TRUTH!!!

TALK ABOUT CONSERVATIVE/PROGRESSIVE....
HITLER HAD THE SAME LACK OF PERIPHERAL.....AS THE SOVIETS WERE KNOCKING AT HIS '1000 YEAR REICH'.... MOST COWARDS IN HIS 'ENTOURAGE, EITHER PUT A GUN TO THEIR HEAD, OR LATER HAD A TASTE OF CYANIDE....GOBELLS SAID..."WE ARE THE TRUTH....THE THIRD REICH"

Ray,

How did you get a job as a movie critic? Clearly you never really watched this movie and just mailed in your review or just don't know anything about what you are doing.

This movie needed to be made. It was a very moving and poignant tale of honor, respect and dignity.

Bacon's performance was possiblty his best. This is a movie that everyone needs to see. I hope that idiots like you don't derail anyone from seeing a very good movie.

I am not as eloquent in speech as so many of you are so I have never posted on a blog before. I felt that I had to here. My husband encouraged me to watch this movie. He has been telling everyone he can that it is a must see movie. I agree! I was very moved and touched at the care our fallen military HERO’S receive.
As a woman, I am thankful to our servicemen that have provided the change in the environment in Iraq that was necessary for women to now have rights. Under the ruthless and tyrannical regime that was in place women had no rights. They could not be educated, those that were educated before the mass murder took power could not practice as Dr’s or hold other important jobs. Ask them how they feel about the freedoms we helped them get.

Pablo:
This government that was in power was ruthless and the people had no freedoms and lived in fear. How would you like to spend your cushy life like that? He was also harboring terrorist that wanted to destroy our country. You obviously don’t understand how much the other Arab countries want to destroy the USA. How many terrorist they give safe haven and support to in their countries.

The brave military personal fight these battles overseas so the battle doesn’t come to your front door here. Or would you prefer it that way? Then your comments would be all about how someone should have protected you. Ignoring the problems in the world will not make them go away.

Mr Green:
How dare you attack a movie that was not meant to be about politics and want to turn it into something less than it is? Don’t you get it? It’s about honoring those that gave their life in battle for our country. I had no idea of the process of returning our fallen HERO’S to their homes. What a moving experience. If this didn’t touch your heart, you must not have one. Did someone leave a rock there in its place?
I guess I had a lot more to say than I thought. I will close with a repeat of an earlier quote for Mr Green.

You should familiarize yourself with this quote from Theodore Roosevelt, since it describes you perfectly:
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

I am proud and thankful for all the service men and women who are on a constant watch so that I may have freedom. I mourn the loss of all who have freely given their life so our county remains free. Thank you and may God watch over you and bless you and your families. You are in our prayers and thoughts.

A grateful American and ex-Navy wife

HEY RAY,,,

GET YOUR COLD-HEARTED HEAD OUT OF THE SAND AND LOOK AROUND....DUTY HONOR AND COURAGE ARE WATCHING YOU....COULD YOU PASS THE TEST FOR BEING AN AMERICAN CITIZEN ?

Mr. Greene,

I have no idea if you ever served or not. I honestly do not care. You are entitled to your opinions whether others agree or not, as am I. The thing is I, and my brother Marines, fought for your right to express your opinion. Although some disagree with me, I believe the sacrifices of those who have served give us just a little more insight and just a little more weight to opinions on such matters as freedom, honor, justice, sacrifice, democracy, and so forth. We know the value of such things because we, and others before us paid for them. I served in the Marines, both Infantry (under Carl C. Norman for a while) and Force Recon. Having many friends still in Iraq and Afghanistan, I have to tell you I was deeply moved by the movie. I found myself feeling guilty for having left the service before 9/11 and not going back when all my friends did. I found myself emotionally shocked and tears streaming down my face watching the care given to the bodies of our fallen brothers in Dover, each time that coffin was moved and people saluted I had tears well up. My 14 year old son watched me as I watched the movie and he could not understand my reaction. My ex wife could not understand my reaction, but I am absolutely certain my brother Marines could.

I can only think that you have decided to make a political judegement of the war instead of truly appreciating what the film was meant to depict. I disagree with the war in Iraq and I am sure there are those who do and those who do not. The right or wrong of this war was not and is not the point of the film. You have totally missed it and for that I feel sorry for you. Perhaps only someone who served can truly appreciate this film, perhaps not. I pity your inability to see and feel what this film was meant to portray.

Semper Fi to my brothers, I only wish I could be with them now.

My appreciation to our families who have supported us.

I am a 48 year old man, and I visibly weeped through this entire movie. Not just at the sadness, but the respect and reverence given Chance on his journey home by both the military and civilians of this country. It shows what truly lies at the heart of our nation.

Ray Greene is quite the opposite of this. He shows what has become of many in our media and other parts of our attitudes. It has become a political agenda. I personally am tired of it. Our freedoms are privilages. You have the right to say anything you want in the country, but do you have the respect, honor and compassion to not say it?

To Ray Greenes' bosses. Are you getting what you pay for? This is not a movie review but a blind political editorial. Written with an preconceived agenda and viewpoint. Perhaps you should find someone who watches a movie and reports on that movie.

Mr. Greene,

Why are you continually answering these posts? Is there some possibility of some guilt for having showing derision by amplifying your personal political view of the current war in Iraq? Actually, this is the first I have heard of you, I have been in film and TV in Hollywood for over 40 years and I have never heard of you. Do us all a favor, nobody cares now what you have to say, nobody wants to hear your explanations of what you meant or what you think. Chance Phelps and the impact of this film will have far more impact in years to come than any of your snide comments. So, do us all a favor here on this thread, go away.

I have been sitting here for an hour or more now trying to think of the right words to confront Mr. Greene, but have decided it's a total waste of time. I am a baby boomer and have had the honor of knowing men that fought in WW II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and the two wars we are involved in the present.Some of which were wounded in the Battle of the Bulge, and some that were on the Batan death march and many more. But there has always been a feeling of loss for those I never got the chance to know because of their ultimate sacrafice. This movie to some degree seemed to somewhat fill that void. This wonderfully done and respectful movie has not just put a face on just one fallen hero,but so many others! Thanks to Chance, his family and LtCol. Strobl, in a small way we all knew Chance and i'm sure most of us will never forget him. There was never any intention of injecting politics into it although there will always be those few that will inject their own shades of gray into the simplest of messages. I give my heartfelt and tearful thank you to Chance and his family for the greatest of sacrafices!


Dennis, Princeton, Ill.

I just watched this movie on HBO. It was a moving tribute to the military and to all the young men and women who, like Chance have given their life for our country. Thank you to the Phelps for sharing their story. Please know that this movie made me sad to see the sacrifice that the Phelp's and many other families have endured, but it also made me proud that I live in a country where I know my family and I are safe from harm with people who like Chance, watch out for us. I wish God's blessings and peace for all US military personnel. And thank you Gretchen for your comments to Mr. Greene. Well said.

Adam, You are wrong. As a nation, we will NEVER ne numbed to the casualties of our wars. NEVER. The media may depict so, the politics may convey so. But the great thing about this "movie" is that -- it shows how much Americans care about our soldiers, support them and most importantly honor them for their sacrifice when they fall. That was the whole point of the "movie". We ALL care....because we are AMERICANS.

If that damn TSA officer was doing that to LTCOL Strobl, I would personally kick his ass and go to jail but protect the honor of our marine escort. I would personally pay for first class upgrade for any escort that I came across. I am not a military type person, never was, never will be. But I do know what patriotism is.

People like Greene supposedly "earn" their living by publishing remarks intended to evoke a response. They are scum of the earth.....but the sacrifices of soldiers like Phelps assure even the scum its rights to post crap as "revoew"..

Fred: It is not "guilt" on part of "MR. Greene". He is the lowest scum of the earth who is wasting the life given to him for evoking reaction from people based on their emotions.

Just ignore him. He does NOT understand that life is unpredictable AND short. It is better to do GOOD with life than to chase the almight dollar. He will "get it" only when i is too late.

As for the rest of us, we know in our hearts what we are talking about and honoring.

Greene is immaterial. Chance, and all other fallen brave souls, are of all the value to us Americans.

Bless you, Mr. Phelps. Screw you, Mr. Greene.

To Mr.& Famliy I am sorry for your lost. I say forget what prople say the movie was good but cant really show the true feeling of losing a hero. I just lost my older brother in the war to he was S.S.G Hector Leija he was a good man. I could not ever thing that would happen but the good thing is we got hem home now. No body will ever no the true feeling till ure there. Our community and the last patrol was alway ther for us with out them it would of ben hard. We also had problems with the midia if u didnt no thay had a video of my brother kia on the net thanks to the new york times even before we new of my brothers pasing. So just stay strong thay will never be forgten. Love Robert Leija &Famliy P.S My mom & dad loved the movie. The would like to have a picture of ure son my mother is in gruop call gold star mothers and r trying to get a V.A hospitol started down here in texas were doing everything we can for them lesat we can do thay gave there lives for us. (bob_4_play@yahoo.com)

Your a very weak reviewer. Its ok to dist a movie if you don't like it. When you get personal with the people who made it you show a hidden agenda. Anyone with a brain can see you didn't like the subject matter. So what Kevin Bacon is having money problems? What the hell does that have to do with the movie? And to say the Stations of the Cross are predictable, your true heart shows through. You have a sad heart. You don't like yourself as much as you think you do.

Mrs. Mack I am deeply sorry for your loss.

1. I NOTICED THERE WAS NO MENTIONING BY MR. GREEN
OF HIS SERVICE IN THE MILTARY AT ANY POINT IN
TIME, WHICH IS SO TYPICAL OF AMERICANS TO SPEAK
WITH AUTHORITY ABOUT SOMETHING THEY ABSOLUTELY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT AND WILL NEVER EXPERIENCE. I
KNOW OF EXPERIENCING THE IDEA THAT YOU
COULD LOSE YOUR LIFE IN COMBAT, AND MR.GREEN CAN
SPEAK OF A GREAT MARINE LIKE CHANCE WHO GAVE HIS
LAST BREATH OF LIFE, SO PEOPLE LIKE MR. GREEN CAN
SIT BEHIND A COMPUTER AND EXPOUND SUCH WARTIME
BRAVADO. MRS. MACK I AM SO SADDENED BY THE LOSS OF YOUR DEAR SON AS WELL , I KNOW THAT I WILL
WATCH THIS MOVIE AND I LIKE MOST AMERICANS WILL
CRY OVER AND OVER AGAIN EACH TIME I VIEW IT.
WITH DEEPEST SYMPATHY;
JOSEPH H. ARNOLD

I looked up "taking chance" because some girl on an internet site, said she had cried over it. I went to "rotten tomatoes" to find out what this movie was about, I had not heard of it.

I noticed 3 of 4 reviewers didn't care for it, I clicked on Mr. Greene to read one. All I can say is "freedom of speech" is alive and well.

I did not feel he was overly political, I assume any talk of Iraq might pose the question why are we there? I don't feel someone who might question the war (if thats his crime)would find that as any reason to not like this film. The Kevin Bacon stuff was just out of place on a serious subject.I really did not pick up on any strong political stance.

I have not seen it, I will and I hope for whatever reason.....If I don't care for it, that my patroitism will not come under question. If it moves me and I do cry, I hope my manhood will not come under question.
Because the Pentagon has not allowed us to see so many of these casualties of war, like I did see every day growing up with Vietnam. I think there has been a disconnect of what is really happening.
I pause when I go (On-line)and see the soldiers bodies wrapped in flags. I think it is shameful that every American has not been seeing this everyday since the war started, people in Government went to great lengths so we would not see these stories, still do.
I have read some very fair critisms of Mr Greenes review, and some, nothing more than name calling, and others still downright scary. He is no less of a American than anyone who wrote on this page. You can be Patroitic in all kinds of ways.
Including saying things that might make you unpopular, but we need those people. This was only a movie review, one that ended with Mr. Greene saying he was sorry for the loss.
To the one lady who said to Mr. Greene, "I don't know which diety you pray to."
I would say this, neither do I. He could pray to one, all of them, or none at all, just like our forefathers intended it.

Mr. Greene:

Just as I express my sorrow to the family of Chance, I also offer my condolences to you on the loss of your twin brother.

I sincerenly hope that like Chance, in death he received as merited the honor due a life of service and sacrifice to his family, friends and country.

To John Dale: Who the hell to you think you are. Sitting on your high horse looking down at us liitle people for saying what we really think about you and your anti- military opinon. Screw you...and I hope you are offended. People like you make me sick. if you think that what is written here is scary then you don't know. You have never face fear like these kids have in combat. So don't lecture me.

John Dale

So you wanted to find out what this movie was about. If you really want to know, you might want to go to other sources than "rotten tomatoes". Your source is inherently biased (or uninformed)from it's concept. Just google the movie name and you will find an overwhelming majority of favorable reviews. You really should watch the movie before defending one side or the other.

IMHO: 1. Marine Lance Phelps was a hero, but no more so than any other person wearing a United States Military uniform. 2. Mr. Greene is a wannabe editorial writer that got stuck writing movie reviews due to lack of talent. His was not a review, but an editorial on several subjects. 3. Great movie.
Lastly, speaking of politics, as I remember, it was NOT a republican administration that sent my ass to VietNam. ....58,260...

I am a fact-driven, uber-logical organizational psychologist. I measure minds, not hearts. Yet I, as with the craggiest of us who saw "Taking Chance," found myself teary from start to finish. This was a slice of life movie; showing a layer of loss that most of us never experience. As you pointed out, "any person with an ounce of human emotion ... must grieve with this family;" but then all the words of grief you expressed in your review, and subsequently to Chance's mother, rang hollow. Your review resorted to allegory and mixed metaphors; weak imagery and tired political cliches. It's pretty clear why you needed to take pokes at politics and the personal life of the actor. You were at a loss for a way to swipe at the substance of this sweet and moving film. Some folks are just not cut out to experience the raw emotions of a thing. Like a nervous kid who spits out inappropriate chatter, you dig yourself in deeper the more you say. You missed it on this one Mr. Greene; hopefully you can take a moment and try to learn why.

Quick response to returning vet,and(others)
too those who might have read what I wrote.
1.I am not anti-military, I am anti-lying and anti-waste, as in blowing up a bridge so we can re-build it for a billion more. I would argue that I am putting a higher value on human life, there is nothing to be won in this war. We will always need a strong military, I happen to like having the best.

2."Who are you sitting on your high horse, looking down on us little people, for saying what we really think." I don't think I need a high horse to have a opinion and I am all for free speech.
3. "people like you make me sick," not sure what that means, seems you are just re-saying what I had said, that name calling is not the same as making a point.
4. "I never face the fear like those kid's"
I forgot where I said "I had" (if I had , we both know it wouldn't have mattered) so you are mad over something I did not say?

5."If I think what is written here is scary then I don't know." I only have a problem with threats, at least the ones I can decode.

6. (combined) "screw you," "don't lecture me"
Does that mean you liked the film?

"Rotten Tomatos" is a site that takes reviews from all over the country, For instance, type in "Batman" it will have reviews from all over the country, let's say 90 reviews. Rotten tomatos is a misleading name since quite often movies are "fresh tomatos" it is very fair because it takes a huge cross section. With that said, it did not have a lot of reviews for "Taking chance", because of a limited release? (I'm guessing)

I do know Vietnam was started under Kennedy and Johnson (Democrats) and ended under Nixon (republican) I was not picking one party over another, I was saying the same mistakes don't need to be made twice.If we are going to make them, don't sweep it under the rug, I saw vietnam every night, you can not say that about Iraq.

To John Dale:

I agree with your thoughtful comments on this site.

What bothers me is the rabid responses from all those on this board that have a problem with Mr. Greene's review.

Kind of makes you wonder about the brain power of those in our military. I think most of the guys wearing uniforms need to take a chill pill.

Mr. Greene's review was just that, his review, and his opinions. He has expressed his thoughts and I have my thoughts of Mr. Greene and his review. It is wonderful that in this country we still have the freedom to say what we please. That right is God given and yet was only achieved by our fellow citizens donning uniforms and fighting, sometimes giving all, so that we can voice our opinions. I once donned such a uniforn, but gave little, and received a lot. The movie "Taking Chance" struck a cord with my family and we wish to offer "Peace" to the Phelps and Mack families, to all that serve or served and all that are Blessed with being able to understand the value of our God granted freedoms.

Let me boil this critique down to what it really is…

Mr. Greene is a film critique. To keep his job he needs to write critiques that promote “thought” and generate “interest”. Whether the “interest” is positive or negative is irrelevant. Mr. Greene affirms my conclusion in one of his responses by shamelessly linking to another one of his “critiques” as some sort of evidence that he isn’t a left leaning liberal or that he is a professional above letting his political views cloud his critiques. Yes, he is a professional, he understands that a negative critique will most likely generate anger, which will in turn lead to more “interest” in his review.

Mr. Greene, I’m going to let you in on a little secret, most of us ignorant Americans don’t pay any attention to what film critics say about a movie. Your opinions on a film are irrelevant to us… if I want to find out whether a movie is good or not I go see it myself.

Your “critique” of Taking Chance received so much attention because you made it political and
you insulted all of us. Most likely, this was your intent to garner interest in your critique. You assumed that most Americans who may watch this movie aren’t smart enough to understand the political background of the Iraq War.

What’s so unforgivably shameless is that you chose this opportunity to further you own career under the righteous ruse that you are somehow attempting to educate the ignorant masses.

In your response to Chance’s Mother you said:
“Your son's death came about because of a war that was volitional, and in my opinion by limiting the event structure of this film so narrowly, to the simple raw and profound purity of his absence, the danger is that this movie becomes a recruiting tool that can cause other mothers and sons to suffer the same separation.”

You make the impossible assumption this movie is presented in a vacuum to the viewers. The “event structure” of the Iraq War has been well played out by every media outlet available in America. Actually, one of the most refreshing things about the film is that they leave the politics of the war out of it. Don’t worry, our sons who choose to serve do so under their own convictions. What you fail to accept or comprehend is that they have different convictions than you do. You indirectly have insulted every person who has every chosen to wear the uniform of one our Armed Services

The movie was about honoring the sacrifice of a man who chose to serve his country, we honor him regardless if we agree or disagree with his reasons for serving. We honor him for volunteering to protect our nation and for following the orders given to him by the government whom we all elected to lead us. He served with honor and integrity… something you probably will never comprehend. The movie was about bringing Chance home and honoring him.

One last question. As a fellow human being I offer you my sympathy for the loss of your brother. However, unless your brother died serving his country in uniform I can’t see how it relates at all to Mrs. Mack’s situation. So, for clarity… did your brother die serving our country? You may think the question is heartless… however, I feel the relevance of your loss to this issue is directly related to whether he was serving or not.

K. Ray
Semper Fi

First and foremost if you are going to write a movie review, get the facts from the movie correct. This movie purposely left out the politics of war. It was a breath of honest fresh air to see another side of war. You can watch this movie without being a liberal, a republican, a democrat or whatever. The plot of this movie is the process of bringing home a fallen Marine and how it can affect so many people and that’s it. The “politics of war” were purposely left out. This movie is not about whether or not this war is successful. Although the last time I checked this war is not over and isn’t ending anytime soon. I’m very honored to be an American with so many men and women ready to serve our country to protect it and its rights. You surely express your right to freedom of speech every day; it’s a shame that they also defend your right to be cold and ignorant also. I have to follow “K Ray” in asking if your twin served or not to make the comparable on the topic of this movie. If so, I hope they received the same care and respect in coming home. As a twin myself I can understand the bond that you must have had and it’s a shame that it was obviously taken away from you too soon in life, you have my sympathy in that regard. I know as the twin of an Army soldier who had been deployed for a total of 3 years how hard it is to go to sleep every night wondering if they are alright and the stress of waiting for those weekly or bi-weekly phone calls and most importantly his safe return home. The bond of twins is so strong. I have to bring up again that if your twin was a service member or not and if it justifies comparing their death to someone like Chance Phelps. It doesn’t make it is less significant, it’s just completely different if they were not killed in action. I also know what it feels like to be the wife of a Marine who has been deployed. The wife of a Marine who worked very closely with and was with Chance the day he was so sadly taken away from us too soon. Real hero’s either never have the chance to tell their story or are too humbled to tell just anyone. I seriously dought that you have ever met someone that truly has done an act of heroism selflessly. Anyone can do a good deed, but sadly most of us do them to impress or get ahead for selfish reasons. I honestly believe that you have never met a true hero because I think if you had you would have actually had a heart in writing your review on this movie. Instead you talked about Bacon’s financial situation and let’s face it, you’re not him or his accountant so I highly dought you truly know what it is, I’m sure it’s much better than yours so why talk about it, its irrelevant to the movie. Also Bacon and his wife’s hair care line….once again irrelevant. You claimed that there is a lot of “saluting,” well that’s what they do for our fallen every time they are moved. It’s the least someone can do for them; they gave their life to this country. The Dover AFB in this movie is in Delaware, not Germany as you stated. If you couldn’t make it in the real writing world and you fell into movie reviews, at least be good at it and get your facts straight. As a writer you are critiqued by your words, not who you think you are or aren’t. I fell upon this article by looking up information on Chance Phelps and it has left such a bitter taste in my mouth since then. I’m lucky enough to have people surrounding me that do acts of selflessness every day, people who do right in the world. I pity you because you probably sit in a cubicle where you were applauded for getting so many comments on your poorly written review. Instead of making an educated review, you went for topics that would anger so many on a more personal level. I took the time to read some of your other reviews and it is obvious you know how to do them correctly, yet on “Taking Chance” I think you maybe just had something against Kevin Bacon. Then to top it off you had such and insincere comment to the Phelps Family. To the Phelps/Mack Families, thank you so much for raising someone so brave, caring and selfless….for giving the world a hero. For turning such a terrible event in your lives into something positive, for raising awareness and money to help buy supplies for our Marines. This family has every right in the world to be bitter and angry, but instead they move forward in a positive direction. This is what I believe Chance would be so proud of. And just one last note to Mr. Greene, once again you are critiqued for your words, why not pick them more wisely next time and use information that is strictly related to the movie itself. You and others don’t have to like this movie, but you don’t have to be disrespectful either.

As a retired military wife whose husband spent 22 years in the United States Navy, I would like you to know that we are proud of the years we spent in the military and would do it all over again if we could. We understand the meaning of loss. It is really sad that you were chosen to review this movie. Why don't you get a life? Being a movie critic is NOT a job. It's a hobby and I can't believe any decent newspaper would hire someone to review movies. In my opinion, this was a wonderful movie. Thank you to the family of Chance Phelps for allowing the network to broadcast such a teriffic film. It honestly does aggrivate me Mr. Greene that people like you are making a living as a critic. We, and by we I mean Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Army and Coast Guard all work toward peace so that people like you can breathe fresh air every day. You need to write a letter of apology to the Phelps family. Shame on you.

I saw the movie. Like the critic i agree that is an
emocional one and its a movie for who is in war.
For the general public the movie can be "empty". It´s a simple an emocional one. Im not American, so, for me, the movie don´t said to me nothing... I was expecting for a diferent thing!
For Gretchen Mack my my sincerest condolences for your loss.
Other important thing, the Iraq war was not a war for liberty or an fair war. It have political objectives. Who don´t understand that it´s wrong.
The masses don´t have fault. It´s important to talk about some subjects. If people just see this kind of movies and don´t ask about the object, they can be easly manipulated. It´s important to remember that Iraq don´t had massive destruction weapons. It´s important to know (and its consensual), that it was not a legitim invasion.
No support from the ONU, lies of the massive weapons and the other argue that it was for the democracy in the world. The contrys have selfdetermination, America it´s not the police of the world. Democracy it´s not the absolute true.
Never forget that America for years sell weapons to Iraq. United Nations and many contrys don´t agree with the war. It was a illegal war.
It was more a capitalist and imperialist war.
So, don´t said that USA fight in that war for freedom - its not TRUE.

Mr Ray Green,
Permission to speak freely and pardon my french, but you can go fist yourself. I have had the honor and privilage of escourting the body of a troop of mine that had perished in combat. That, by far, has been one of the hardest things I've had to do in my life. But the honor and respect that was given by many civilians, even a family pulled over on the side of the road, got out of the van, and the whole family took their hats off and put their hand over their hards, all this while in the pouring ran. Do the military, and the rest of America, a favor and decide on one of the two options: 1) Pony up, put your big boy pants on, and respect those in the military, past and present, dead or alive, since both have put there life on the line for AMERICA, or 2) get out of our country, go were there is war, and provide us some good target practice.
I doubt Mr. Green will read this message, but to everyone who does, thank you for the everything and we will all be home, dead or alive, and will all arrive with honor thanks to those that support us. Thank you again and may GOD bless.
Cajun Military Man

I just finished watching the movie "Taking Chance" on HBO May 23rd, 2009 and it left a deep impression on me. As a son of a former Green Beret that served 2 tours in Vietnam and a brother of a US Air Force C-130 Load Master who served 2 tours in Iraq, I must say I am proud to be an American and grateful and thankful that Americans such as PFC Chance Russell Phelps served and died for our country. This is the greatest nation on God's green earth and I say that will full conviction.

Sure as Americans we all have the freedom of speech and freedom of religion but I also feel that we should NOT speak to the point of being disrespectful to our military who have fought and died for our freedom. I thank God everyday that I do not live in a country that is run by someone such as Adolf Hitler, or Saddam Hussein. I was raised in a small town in Montana and my wife was raised in a small town in Georgia and we have always been very patriotic to the greatest nation in the world. It takes Americans such as Chance Phelps and all the other heroes that have fallen in our country's history to keep this the greatest nation on earth!

Thank You Chance Phelps for fighting and dying to protect my freedom. As for Gretchen Mack I am sorry for your loss:(

Danny Jimenez aka Numanoid17

Mrs. Gretchen: Words cannot express how I feel as a Mother and for the loss you and your family went through. I just watched this movie last night at such a time as Memorial Day -- a fitting tribute to your son and to all those who have given their life for our freedom. Thank you for allowing the story to be told and to share the honor, valor and commitment but most of all to know that our fallen are brought home with such dignity -- as a Mother of 4 boys (2 of which are recently returned from Afghanistan) I cannot imagine the pain you have endured -- but know that everyone's prayers are with you to give you the strength to continue and the courage to share your story. God bless you!

Upon seeing this film last night I was embarrassed for my country. Not because we are treating our soldiers who fight for our country with some dignity, something we did not do for the Vietnam vets, but because the film honors war. It honors a country who went to war because our President got the wrong information about the threat Irag posed. Thousands died because WE sent them to a war that we are now trying to get out of as fast as possible. War kills people, it maimes, it destroys families, relationships, whole countries. This young man in the film DIED. He should have been out playing baseball but he died. For what?

Ray,

You're not alone. I'm a Vietnam combat veteran and found your review quite appropriate ... it's all about survivor guilt.

n/a

How can we get rid a reviewer like Ray Greene? Stupid liberal political correctness run amok.

Mr. Greene:

The nicest thing I can think to say is - you are one cynical S.O.B.

Mrs. Mack and family,
I, like so many thousands of others, feel your loss daily and are so appreciative of our military and the young men and women who do their duty voluntarily so that we may enjoy the freedoms we now have. Freedom isn't free. Never has been. Never will be. But the price of that freedom also allows us to disagree with the policies and laws we have been given. Other countries on this earth would deal differently with those who choose to voice their negative opinions. My dad was 85, a veteran of WWII and recipiant of 2 Purple Hearts. He came home. We were blessed with his stories, wisdom, jokes, advise, guidance, and love until July of 2009 when he took his final flight. He was a glider pilot. You and your family were not blessed as my siblings and I were with the long life of your Marine, but the blessings you were given, and the memories that will stay in your heart forever are shared by many. Rest in peace Chance. You have truly touched many lives, and we will be eternally grateful for your service, and your life. A soldier's daughter.

Dear Mrs Mack & Family:

I just watched this amazing story and know that Chance will be stay with me for a very long time. I loved this movie as I learned more about the honor and respect shown to our fallen heroes than I could have found out otherwise.

It is sad that this reviewer saw the movie through a prism that the rest of us did not. It was a simple, wonderful straight forward story of honor and country. I have never been for war but still I can be proud of our men and women in the service of our country.

It was so hard to hold back tears as I felt that I had lost a friend. God Bless.