This
quote, “I think now, looking back, we
did not fight the enemy; we fought ourselves.
The enemy was in us. The war is
over for me now, but it will always be there, the rest of my days. As I’m sure Elias will be, fighting with
Barnes for what Rhah called “possession of my soul.” There are times since; I’ve felt like a
child, born of those two fathers.” I believe really tied the ending of the
movie together. It makes you think about how the people you meet can change and
be a big part of your life. They can affect the way you think and analyze
situations.
I think
that Elias was like the angel on your shoulder in this movie. He wanted to do
the right thing, and influenced you to want to do the same. He stood up for
what was right. He in a way looked out for or protected Chris and showed him
the ropes, taught him what he needed to know to survive. He wanted the best for
his squad and the men he fought with. He was a good man with only the best
intentions, and he always stood his ground.
Barnes,
to me, was the devil on your shoulder; he did whatever it took to survive, even
if that meant killing his own team members. He didn’t have a single care for
anyone but himself. Barnes thought he was indestructible and no one could touch
him. If you got in his way, he was going to make the rest of your time in the
war a living hell. Honestly I don’t think he had a single care if one of his
men died, just as long as it was them instead of him.
I think
Elias’s death was a little bit emotional. I got attached to him and liked his
personality, how he stood up for the good in the world and tried his best to be
nice to everyone. He wanted to contribute all he could to the war. He was shot
in cold blood by his own “friend”. But, he didn’t die from that, if Chris would
have gone back to check and see if he was dead, he might still be alive. What truly
killed Elias, was being left behind. He was a great man and died a terrible
death. He didn’t deserve to die, at least not like that.
When Chris
says this quote at the end of the movie how I interpret it is he learned from
Elias to do what is right and stand up for yourself, and from Barnes that you’re
on your own out here and you have to do what you can to ensure your own safety.
Barnes got his karma when Chris killed him, and Elias will be remembered as a
great fighter and man for serving his country.
I really
liked this movie I learned more about what it was like for those in the war. You
are fighting a battle with yourself along with the Vietnamese and your fellow soldiers.
You’re going to dislike people you are fighting alongside with and they aren’t
always going to do the right thing. You have to stand up for what you believe in
and what is good. We are always fighting a battle with in ourselves.
