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Reviews
Tarka the Otter (1979)
Memories...
I see many reviews commenting about whether this film is suitable for children....
I saw this when I was 10. I'm now in my 50's.
I remember this being a beautiful heartwarming delightful story. Right up until the otter is brutally and deliberately murdered!
I love animals and I didn't realize at the time, but this film actually traumatized me. Seriously.
Now as an adult, if there is a hint that the animal star of the show might come to a sad end, I have to get my husband to check the spoilers to see if it dies. If it does; I can't watch it.
So, for those saying it's perfectly fine for kids, and for those saying it isn't.... I would say it very much depends on the temperament of the child, whether they are at an impressionable age, and how much empathy and compassion they already have for animals.
If you watch it and aren't affected, then you must be quite cold and unemotional.
I gave it a 3 because of the traumatic impact it had on my life, but I do remember it being beautiful up until that point.
It's probably dated now, but I suspect the contrast of the love and beauty in the film is what made the death even more horrific.
I would recommend parents make the judgement call for themselves. Watch it first before you let your child watch it if you're unsure. Maybe just let them watch the beauty of the otters and then stop the film before the horror? That would be my personal opinion based on my own experience.
I hope it may help someone.
Thank you.
Airborne (1962)
Interesting historic reflection
I enjoyed this film because my husband was 82nd Airbirne. He did his basic training in Alabama a good few years after this film but he also spent time at Fort Bragg so it brought back memories for him that were fun to share.
The film follows a motley bunch of raw recruits through basic Airborne training at Fort Bragg NC, particularly young farm kid Eddie Slocom (Bobby Diamond) from Indiana who dreams to be a paratrooper like his uncle Charlie, a paratrooper in WWII. Sorting the men from the boys, fellow recruits include Rocky, the bully from Chicago, and Mouse, the "lover" from the Bronx. The two sergeants are tough veteran Platoon Sergeant First Class Benner and his more pleasant but still tough assistant Sgt. White. Eddie is an immature and naive farm-boy, initially mocked by his peers for his solid values but he soon earns their respect even though he's not the best paratrooper, he's a strong teammate with honor, courage, friendship and integrity.
Personal relationships soften the drama as Eddie meets a local farm girl by, Jenny May, providing the "love-interest" as a lighter sub-plot. As Eddie proves himself the teasing subsides, except from Rocky who likes Jenny and tries but fails to steal her away from Eddie, cutting in at a dance, ridiculing his love letters and physically threatening him, but the other members step up. Rocky is overheard ridiculing farmers and 4-H-ers, SFC Benner reminds Rocky that he's a farmer so he instructs Slocum to educate the others by reciting the 4-H values, Rocky backs down.
The sergeant arranges a guided tour of the Division's museum so the recruits can earn a true appreciation of what it means to be Airborne. Rocky isn't really impressed by the courage of the Division during WW1&2, including the Sgt Alvin York, another "country boy".
The film ends with the platoon's first real jump from an actual aircraft. Rocky messes up, collided with Eddie, and Eddie saves them both. The rest of the group all rush over to see if Rocky is OK. Eddie is hailed a hero and Rocky learns the others really do care about him. The group is bonded in camaraderie and the film ends with some new proud members of the US 82nd Airborne Division.
My husband said that while some of the training had changed when he went through it; it's a pretty accurate reflection of the era.
Airborne - All the way!