Gran Torino (the movie)

[AggieDave 6]

What an exceptionally un-PC movie. It was, however, a good performance by Clint Eastwood and an enjoyable movie. Good enough that I'll probably buy it when it comes out on DVD.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[dgskydive 0]

I have been looking forward to seeing this. Looks like a good movie.

Dom

[raftman 12]

Years ago I used to own a car just like the one in the movie, baby blue w/a dark blue strip down the side. Great car, wish I owned it today!

[AggieDave 6]

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Looks like a good movie.

It is.

Clint Eastwood's character reminded me a lot of my grandfather on my mothers side. Although he fought in WWII and not Korea. Very similar in outlook and views, although he was a much more religious man.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[pilotdave 0]

Really? I thought the story was ok, but the acting was awful. Clint Eastwood was fine, but his character was so over the top. Most of the movie was predictable. And none of the intimidating people were intimidating at all. Overall, I pretty much hated it.

Dave

[ryoder 1,590]

So he has moved from a "Pink Cadillac" to a "Gran Torino".

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[RALFFERS 0]

It's a GREAT movie, I loved it! It's 1 of the best movies I have ever seen in all my 27 years of existence; it's going on the favorites list. I'm definitely buying it when it comes out on blue ray

I don't see how any could at least enjoy it.

Just 1 thing, what do you mean by "un-pc movie"?

Dialogue/commentary between Divot, Twardo & myself -

"from your first Oshkosh when the three of us were riding to or from one of

[AggieDave 6]

What I really should have said is that Clint Eastwood's character is exceptionally un-PC. If you need that explained, then you're going to have issues in the modern work place.

I agree that it is a really good movie. For those who said that the acting was poor by the other actors, the other actors were nearly by and large non-actors. They were from open casting calls and I think they did a really good job.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[grimmie 186]

The trailers look like it's "Dirty Harry Retires", but still like to shoot bad guys.

[RALFFERS 0]

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What I really should have said is that Clint Eastwood's character is exceptionally un-PC. If you need that explained, then you're going to have issues in the modern work place.

now I really do feel dumb.

Dialogue/commentary between Divot, Twardo & myself -

"from your first Oshkosh when the three of us were riding to or from one of

[pilotdave 0]

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For those who said that the acting was poor by the other actors, the other actors were nearly by and large non-actors.

Is that an excuse? Poor acting is poor acting. But it was also the writing. There were just so many stupid lines. It was like watching a rehearsal for the real movie or something... before they finished writing it. How many freaking times did the head ninja repeat "can't I just hang out with my little cousin?" Always sounded like they were reading their lines throughout the whole movie.

I just can't imagine what anybody loved about it or why anybody is talking about awards. It was like they wrote a movie just to let clint eastwood groan repeatedly and talk in his low voice. He must have had such a sore throat after every scene.

Dave

[RALFFERS 0]

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I just can't imagine what anybody loved about it or why anybody is talking about awards

The storyline was not like your typical Hollywood movie; it was refreshing in a way. I for 1 was laughing nearly the whole move, the whole theater was. The jokes were a touch racist, but tough shit if people can't handle that. I really enjoyed watching Eastwoods's character; he reminded me of 1 of my older friends.

And bad acting...I wouldn't say that at all.

Dialogue/commentary between Divot, Twardo & myself -

"from your first Oshkosh when the three of us were riding to or from one of

[AggieDave 6]

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And bad acting...I wouldn't say that at all.

Nor would I. I was commenting that PilotDave thought the acting was bad and I was saying that they were new actors. Really from Hmung (sp?) communities in the US. The stuff about the gangs was well played. Change the race and name of the gang around and I've seen those people and dealt with those people (gang bangers). I thought it was pretty true to form.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[squirrel 0]

Having spent some time on set with Clint Eastwood, he directs in a different way, which may be the reason the movie is the way it is. He will let the cameras roll as actors are rehearsing lines, to catch a more normal and realistic feel. He never shouts "Action!!" This to him throws actors out of character. In person, he is not a Dirty Harry type of guy, very nice and calm.

________________________________
Where is Darwin when you need him?

[lekstrom10k 0]

I got to see it a couple of weeks ago at an exclusive showing {blah Blah}. It was filmed about 7 miles from my house in Hamtramck for hie house. The hardware store was in St Clair Shores . The VFW hall , church and barber shop were also in the neighborhood. He worked at the Ford plant in Dearborn. A definition of a star is when you will go to a movie just because that person is in it. I went for that reason too but also to count the places I knew. I wont say more as not to spoil it for others. Ther are a few things that didnt seem real to my military point of view.

[JohnRich 4]

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Just 1 thing, what do you mean by "un-pc movie"?

He means that it's not "politically correct". Clint is the main character playing a grumpy old man who hates everyone, and he frequently refers to various classes of people as swamp rats, niggers, wops, dagos, and so on. He also took plenty of jabs at the white youth of today with baggy pants, nose rings and an electronic device in their face.

But then the movie goes on to demonstrate how those stereotypes aren't true at all, and that all cultures are really pretty much the same, and are full of genuine caring people.

I loved the movie.

Didn't care much for the ending, but I saw it going that way, and expected it.

[JohnRich 4]

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Ther are a few things that didnt seem real to my military point of view.

Such as?

I thought his handling of the M1 Garand and the Colt .45 were pretty realistic.

It's a tricky thing to load a clip in a Garand, but he did it correctly. Even slapping the operating road to close the bolt when that 1st round was too tight in the clip to slide into the chamber.

Although one time in his truck when he chambered a round in the .45, he didn't check to make sure that the slide hadn't skipped over the top round in the magazine. He just racked the slide and jumped out to confront the black gangsters. I like to pull the slide back a quarter inch or so and verify that it actually picked up a round and chambered it.

Better yet, just carry it cocked & locked, with a round already in the chamber in the first place. Flip off the safety and you're good to go.

[AggieDave 6]

A lot of people don't press check their weapons, if the weapon has proven its self to be reliable in going into full battery. So that didn't bother me too much, although I'm still pretty bad about press checking.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Belgian_Draft 0]

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A lot of people don't press check their weapons, if the weapon has proven its self to be reliable in going into full battery. So that didn't bother me too much, although I'm still pretty bad about press checking.

I used to check, but I never had the slide fail to pick up the top round. But I did have, on occasion, the slide fail to go all the way back to battery and my pistol would not fire. Auto-loaders are designed and made for the slide to slam back into position, not eased or bumped, so it is not surprising this happened to me. Now, I just pop in a clip and let the gun do it's thing.
Besides, if it won't pick up that top round, I wouldn't have confidence in it picking up the second, or the third, etc.

HAMMER:
Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a
kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the
object we are trying to hit.

[JerryBaumchen 1,425]

Hi John,

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Better yet, just carry it cocked & locked, with a round already in the chamber in the first place.

I am having visions of someone named Plaxico.

JerryBaumchen

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

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Hi John,

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Better yet, just carry it cocked & locked, with a round already in the chamber in the first place.

I am having visions of someone named Plaxico.

JerryBaumchen

At the risk of getting this thrown into SC, Burres had a Glock. No safety except on the trigger. A 1911 is designed to be carried C&L.

And after you've worked with one for a while, you can feel/hear the difference between picking up a round and closing on an empty chamber.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[JohnRich 4]

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I just pop in a clip and let the gun do it's thing.
Besides, if it won't pick up that top round, I wouldn't have confidence in it picking up the second, or the third, etc.

Yeah, but in a self defense situation, that first "click" could be the difference between life and death. You need to know that there is a round in the chamber ready to go.

[punkd 0]

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Although one time in his truck when he chambered a round in the .45, he didn't check to make sure that the slide hadn't skipped over the top round in the magazine. He just racked the slide and jumped out to confront the black gangsters. I like to pull the slide back a quarter inch or so and verify that it actually picked up a round and chambered it.

We call this a "Press Check". The name comes from when you bring the action back a bit and press on a shotgun shell to make sure its not an empty round you just haven't ejected yet. You don't want to be walking around with a "dead mans gun".

This applies for most weapons however you just don't "press" on the round you visually inspect that the bolt has picked up and chambered a round. If someones shooting at you the last thing you want is to be pissing around tap+racking stoppages.

Overall I thought the movie was pretty well done. Clint Eastwood can still look badass even with a finger gun.

[punkd 0]

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Besides, if it won't pick up that top round, I wouldn't have confidence in it picking up the second, or the third, etc.

Surprisingly quite a bit of stoppages are caused by the operator and not the weapon. Not picking up a round or double feeds can easily be caused by riding the action forward. Or people still tend to hit the bolt catch on rifles when changing mags versus racking the weapon.

[Belgian_Draft 0]

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I just pop in a clip and let the gun do it's thing.
Besides, if it won't pick up that top round, I wouldn't have confidence in it picking up the second, or the third, etc.

Yeah, but in a self defense situation, that first "click" could be the difference between life and death. You need to know that there is a round in the chamber ready to go.

Like I said, my carry weapon (a Springfield 1911-A1) has never (NEVER!) failed to pickup that top round off a clip. After loading and emptying several hundred magazines of ammo I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that there is a round in the chamber. And before you ask, yes, I am willing to bet my life on it. My opinion is that if you don't fully trust your weapon to function perfectly every time, then you need to get a different weapon.

HAMMER:
Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a
kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the
object we are trying to hit.