Field of Honor (1986) Poster

(1986)

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4/10
Field of Honor
BandSAboutMovies17 March 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Dutch mercenary Sergeant De Koning (Everett McGill) has been left alone in Korea after his platoon, who have been committing numerous war crimes, are attacked. Then the Korean girl he'd pushed into prostitution ends up becoming more important to him and he tries to help her little brother alive. De Koning also makes the journey from the kind of soldier who would get everyone drunk on the front lines - leading to that deadly attack by the Red Chinese - to some level of redemption.

Directed by Hans Scheepmaker and Dae-hie Kim, who co-wrote the script with Henk Bos, Field of Honor was delayed in its native Netherlands for more than a year because of the bad reception it got at the Cannes Film Festival. It's not as horrible as reviews at the time suggest, but in no way as good as other similar war films of the 80s like Platoon.
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6/10
the Dutch Battalion needed a hero
cissycricket18 January 2010
Warning: Spoilers
but McGill's character wasn't the guy they were looking for. If this movie was supposed to show how his Sgt Sire went from drunken violent lout to caring protective father figure, it fails. Sire is, in my opinion, responsible for the near total destruction of his platoon due to his planning a drunken party at the front lines, during which Red Chinese troops infiltrate and ambush them. even the small amount of redemption he awards himself by saving a Korean girl whom he'd pressed into prostitution earlier, along with her young brother shocked into silence, isn't enough to make up for having to execute his own friend burned horribly in the attack. there had to be a better story than this to exemplify the exploits of the Dutch Battalion.
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A sensitive movie!
Scott-1667 June 1999
"Field of Honor" is a movie with a great point: although it's a war story, it's a movie about how a soldier could feel lonely, tired of so many slaughter and anxious for love and compassion. In this way, "Field of Honor" is a remarkable movie and the character played with subdued mood by Everett Mc Gill deserves to be remind as one of the most strong and convincing war/phisochology type already done. If you not pick this film up until now, do it. You'll see a real and painful story but a very sensitive one too. (3 stars of 5 = rating).
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1/10
Ugh
uzielis7 August 2001
This is the worst film I've seen. No wonder its release was delayed for two years due its notorious reputation at Cannes, or so I read. Who wants to look at a close up of a man's foot? Still, Everett McGill seems to have done better in other films, most notably his appearances in Twin Peaks and The Straight Story. He is a good actor, even in this one, but his later works served him better.
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1/10
Incredibly lame
ipfaneyte20 January 2000
This must be one of the worst movies ever made. For those accustomed to Dutch TV series for children: you will be delighted to know that half the cast of 70s classic "TiTaTovenaar" makes some sort of (cameo) appearance in this waste of celluloid.
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9/10
Authentic and somewhat gruesome!
Huskarl106623 January 2008
This film was actually done in the ROK, and is very authentic. The equipment, uniforms, and other gear of all the combatants is well researched. The tribute to the Dutch by making this movie is much deserved. I find no problem with either the action, or the ability of the actors. It is believable to the point of being gruesome. Since I myself have served as a soldier in Korea near the DMZ, I know what I am talking about. This film deserved a better rap than which it has received. I have a bit of difficulty with the part where the young Koreans are eating dog meat, but I suppose the locals find it tasty with boiled rice, and kimchee. The Field of Honor is much more real than the widely acclaimed Gregory Peck film "Porkchop Hill". I suppose one would have to have been in the ROK to appreciate what was done with this movie.
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Ron Brandsteder is great!
LauGuy8 December 2001
The movie itself isn't really special, but Ron plays the stars of heaven! His incredible acting talent shows up on the screen and lifts the whole movie up. See this one!

Ron's talent for television really got an impulse after this movie. And now he does "Let Them Laugh" on dutch television. What a show it is!
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great movie
wellie12 August 1999
The best Ron Brandsteder yet! Even Grijpstra and the Gier couldn't tip to this movie. Great dialoque, fine action. Casulties of war, eat your heart out!
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