The Vietnam War is one of the darkest spots on the long scroll of American history. One of the bloodiest battles in one of the most violent wars in recent memory was the Battle of Xa Cam My, the repercussions of which are chronicled in Todd Robinson’s first feature since 2013, The Last Full Measure. This film follows the trials undertaken by Pentagon lawyer, Scott Huffman, thirty-two years after Xa Cam My to get the Medal of Honor awarded posthumously to war hero, William H. Pitsenbarger. Pitsenbarger, affectionately referred to as ‘Pits’ by his comrades, was an Air Force Pararescueman who stepped in to assist the wounded on the ground of Xa Cam My after the Infantry’s medic was injured. Pitsenbarger was unfortunately killed during the battle after continually opting to stay on the ground. A group of his friends and the men he rescued initially petitioned for his Medal of Honor soon after the Vietnam War ended, but it was denied. In 1997, one of the men, Tully, approached Huffman with a renewed vigor and a new attempt for the Medal. Ultimately, they succeeded in earning the Medal for Pitsenbarger, who ultimately rescued over 60 men.
Review: ‘Spiderman: Far From Home’ Falls Short of Potential
Spiderman: Far From Home, the highly anticipated sequel to Spiderman: Homecoming, is the first film to take place after Avengers: Endgame. Unfortunately, Spiderman: Far From Home falls below its potential and is only a meager addition to the Marvel Universe. Packed with moments of intense action, drawn out humor, and sloppy character development, Spiderman: Far From Home leaves its viewers entertained, but not impressed. Jon Watts returns to direct, with Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jon Favreau, and Marisa Tomei reprising their roles from Spiderman: Homecoming.
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Review: ‘Captain Marvel’ is Another Great Superhero Movie That Points to an Exciting Future
The twenty-first installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is Captain Marvel, a film stricken with controversy, contention, and opinionated takes before it even hit theaters. Marvel’s long overdue, first female-led film was sure to draw the ire of internet fanboys, but now that it’s out, it’s clear the hate was unwarranted as Captain Marvel is another great entry in the blockbuster-superhero genre whose female representation will hopefully have a positive ripple effect in the culture it resides within.
UW Film Club Podcast #21 – Unbreakable
“Do you know what the scariest thing is? To not know your place in this podcast . . . to not know why you’re podcasting.” This week club alumni Jacob Carlson brings M. Night Shyamalan’s super hero film, Unbreakable, onto the show. Before the genre as we know it, Shyamalan made this comic book film that talks about the very notion of the hero and the tropes these heroes are sourced from. We talk about how Unbreakable differs from the recently released Glass, the context in which the film was released, and where this film fits within Shyamalan’s diverse filmography. Get ready for the twist in the 21st episode of the UW Film Club Podcast!
On this week’s episode: Jacob Carlson, Cynthia Li, and Greg Arietta.
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