Green Dragon | Patrick Swayze, Forest Whitaker | I was 4 years old when this happend.

Green Dragon | Patrick Swayze, Forest Whitaker | A Truly Great Story

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Green Dragon

	Green Dragon Patrick Swayze, Forest Whitaker Sony Pictures, 2002 average customer review:based on 13 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

In 1975 refugee camps were set up across the deserts of the United States to house an exodus of over 100000 Vietnamese immigrants before and immediately after the fall of Saigon. When Tai (Don Duong) arrives at Camp Pendleton he is confronted by a camp filled with despair. Jim Lance (Patrick Swayze) is the Marine in charge of housing the refugees until sponsors can be found to help them assimilate into American life. Lance quickly commissions Tai who speaks English to translate for him. Prepare to embark on a remarkable journey as an unlikely bond of friendship is formed between two men from opposite sides of one of the world's most infamous and bloodiest wars.System Requirements:Running Time: 112 Min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: PG-13 UPC: 043396094192 Manufacturer No: 09419

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I was 4 years old when this happend.

I was 4years old when this happend. My mother and father and sisters were living in Savannah,Ga. We were from New England and it was like being a fish out of water. We made frends with a husband and wife who escaped from Vietnam. I think my parents were there only frends. They had a good store(Genrel goods store). Werever they are Thank You very much hope you are well.I saw this on tv WOW! very good!3/29/2006.

A Truly Great Story

This movie was fantastic, I hear complaints about this movie being jingoistic and overly sentimental, but I can't help but feel that those individuals have little connection to the ideas portrayed.

As somebody with ties to Vietnamese, among other refugees, I found this films portrayel of the vietnamese to be tasteful and appropriate. I also appreciated Swayze's portrayel as the Marine Gunny (yes, he DOES do a good job) as a voice for veterans everywhere. The real stars of this film though are the vietnamese actors and actresses that portray the refugees. Though Swayze and Whitaker are important to the story, they are supporting characters. This truly an ensemble cast, and they are able to bring the community of the camp to life.

I highly recommend this film to everyone, but particularly to Vietnamese Americans and Veterans.

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I applaud the authenticity of this Vietnamese refugee story

This 2001 film is set in 1975, at Camp Pendleton in California. This is where Vietnamese refugees were processed after fleeing the aftermath of the American pullout in Vietnam. The place is crowded, emotions are high, and there are multiple individual stories. Written and directed by the Bui brothers, who came to America as babies in the 1970s and there's an authenticity to the film that goes deeper than the surface tales. 1975 seems a long time gone now, but this film brings it all to life as the refuges live in this shadow world between Vietnam and America for several weeks or months. As background, we hear frequent news broadcasts about the situation in Vietnam and the fall of Saigon. It gave me the shivers.

The basic storyline casts Don Duong as an uncle who has escaped with his small niece and nephew. The children believe that their mother will join them soon but it is likely she has not escaped. Trung Hieu Nguyan is cast as the small boy with big wide eyes who discovers Mighty Mouse comic books. He is befriended by Forest Whitaker, cast as a volunteer cook at the camp and who teaches the youngster some valuable lessons in life. Patrick Swayze is the camp commander whose job seems impossible at times. To some, he represents the ugly Americans who caused all the trouble in the first place.

Most of the stories play like a soap opera and the entire film moved much too slowly for my taste. However, it really didn't matter that this film will never win any academy awards. I applaud it for bringing a long-gone time and a place to life. And for raising my own consciousness about the Vietnamese people who made the long journey to America. This is a sad movie and I found myself depressed afterwards. But I know I'll never forget it.

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Provoking and Haunting, but Wonderful

Powerful, provoking film full of raw emotions. The story plods along very slowly and what it lacks in plot it more then makes up for in splendid acting and story telling. You will be a better person for having watched it.

This is a new kind of role for Patrick Swayze, who is still a terrible actor, in my opinion... thus 4 stars and not 5. But, he's not dancing with a doctor's daughter, he's not blowing anything up, instead he's a kind-hearted but stern marine sergeant who's been put in charge of a Vietnam refugee camp and finds himself more involved with the lives of the camp members then he ever expected.

We become familiar with a small handful of the refugees and the pain and loneliness they are feeling. Families have been torn apart, loved ones lost, children left orphans, husbands and wives lost forever. But at the same time, we also see the heeling also starting. New relationships begin, new love is found, old wounds heel, and most importantly, the newly arrived refugees begin to understand the potential of life in America and look forward to finding a "sponsor" so they can leave the camp and begin life in a new world.

This is no action packed thriller, or even an academy award winning drama, but it is most certainly a movie that will tell a story you most likely knew nothing about before, and will leave you more open minded, educated, and compassionate. I would recommend watching as a double header, to be followed up with a light-hearted romantic comedy.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3

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