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| Born on the Fourth of July | 
| Category: Movie
Buy New: $2.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  85 reviews
Sales Rank: 3892
Media: Video On Demand
Running Time: 145 minutes
ASIN: B000ICXQR4
Theatrical Release Date: December 19, 1989
Release Date: October 1, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Welcome antidote October 25, 2004
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
'Born On The 4th Of July' was originally supposed to have been made in the 1970's with Al Pacino playing Ron Kovic. However, after major financial backers pulled out of the project the film collapsed, but Stone made a solemn promise to his fellow Vietnam veteran that when he became more successful, he would try a 2nd shot at it.
We see the innocence of early 60's America in Cruise's eyes as well as a heavy dose of Polish Catholic guilt. 'Born On The Fourth Of July' acts as a useful antidote to hero worship. Cruise's performance is powerful and unrelenting and Stone manages to pull off something poigniant in his writing, (personal relationship dialogue has never been his strong point).
Although many seem to disparage the film on historical grounds, both Kovic and Stone are veterans of Vietnam, which in my mind lends the film a tinge of authenticity. Stone has chosen to be a popular film maker and popular film is always more emotional than intellectual. He has used Kovic's experience as a symbol of the U.S. experience of Vietnam in general. Stone himself has even admitted that there were inaccuracies in the film and that he has used 'generic' historical moments. But the fact that there were protests against the Vietnam war cannot be denied.
As a popular film-maker Stone knows that the majority of his audience do not read history books. If film can make history come alive more than books can and help drive the discussion about the war among a mainstream audience, then Stone has done his job.
 An Oliver Stone Masterpiece October 20, 2004
3 out of 6 found this review helpful
Oliver Stone captures the feel and look of the era, and Tom Cruise nails his role as Ron Kovic. This film will hit upon every emotion you have...it is a brilliant film. Wish there were more extras on the DVD though.
Stunning Achievement: Cruise's Best Role October 19, 2004
31 out of 39 found this review helpful
Oliver Stone gives Cruise his best role as Ron Kovic in "Born on the Fourth of July." Cruise forgoes his easy way out with a smile and shows (as he has in several other films) he really has acting chops.
It is impossible not to be moved by Cruise's inhabiting the life of Ron Kovic and to feel the pain, the displacement and abandonment Kovic - and thousands of other soldiers - must have felt. That Kovic was a patriot, a hero actually born on the 4th of July makes his outspoken acts of anti-war activism resonate all the more.
Those - like me - who have accused this actor of not being to act his way out of the proverbial paper bag should take a look at Mr. Cruise here. Watching his Kovic from idealistic young man, to disenchanted hero, to miserable self-pitying to inspiration and a voice the voice of realism for a generation realist will be nothing less than wowed. At each step, Cruise puts Kovic first and foremost and makes believable every emotion. There is more than self-pity when, knowing how he's going to spend the balance of his life he cries "who will love me?" It will break your heart and fill you with rage all at once.
The supporting cast, under Stone's direction bring alive a harrowing story - a true story.
The extras on this special wide screen version are not worth shouting about - but are worth noting. As is standard with many DVD's these days the director gives an informative narration during the film which is worth listening to, but (in my opinion) inteferes with the film (unless you watch it twice in a row).
Worthwhile and recommended.
Platoon is better. September 23, 2004
1 out of 5 found this review helpful
Tom's performance is the best thing in this movie, the score is good, the cinematography is good, its pretty powerful and has some shocking things in it, it also explains alot about the truth of vietnam, everything else is good but not great. There is some smut that could have been taken out, it also ends to abruptly and i would like to know what happened to him, did he die, or live happily or well as happily as he could ever after, what happened? Besides those 2 flaws its pretty good, but platoon is better. Toms best performance is in The Last Samurai which is also a better film. I hope Alexander proves to be Stone's best which i think it will be. 7 out of a 10 for this movie.
A powerful, engaging film August 20, 2004
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Ron Kovic, Oliver Stone and Tom Cruise form a creative triumvirate (as story source, director, and lead actor, respectively) in this moving Vietnam War saga. Together they achieve a piece de resistance in filmmaking. Cruise's performance is particularly scintillating in the role of crippled war veteran Kovic. Under the aegis of Stone he efficaciously moves through the vicissitudes of Kovic's life and personal ethos. Cruise's style lends itself well to a character that has one enduring passion that does not diminish in intensity, but does change focus (the strength of purpose is just as strong as he explains to his father why he must go to war as when he denounces the conflict to reporters at the Republican convention).
As for Stone he adroitly avoids trying to parlay the `period piece' aspect of the film, and instead concentrates on the bitter ironies (a friend gives the recently paralyzed Kovic some trite business advice `you've got to walk before you can run') and adumbrations (a man brags that his family has participated in all that nations wars and will continue to as the camera shows his grandson). And by keeping the actual Vietnam combat footage in perspective with the whole of Kovic's experience he avoids making `Platoon II' (not an easy feat by the way considering that Tom Beringer and Willem Defoe play key roles in the movie, and some other cast members of Stone's previous Vietnam epic sneak in and out of scenes)
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