Men of Honor (Full-Screen Edition)

Starring:Robert De Niro, Cuba Gooding Jr., Charlize Theron, Aunjanue Ellis, Hal Holbrook, Michael Rapaport, Powers Boothe, David Keith, Holt McCallany, David Conrad, Joshua Leonard, Carl Lumbly, Lonette McKee, Glynn Turman, Dennis Troutman, Joshua Feinman, Theo Nicholas Pagones, Ryan Honey, Chris Warren Jr., Lester B. Hanson
Director: George Tillman Jr.
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Men of Honor presents a great role model for younger viewers, yet it's rated R due to abundant use of the F word. With appropriate discretion, parents should allow their preteen and teenaged children to see this rousing if altogether conventional biopic inspired by the life of Carl Brashear. Played with gravity and gumption by Cuba Gooding Jr., Brashear was the first African American to become a master diver in the U.S. Navy, despite the lingering effects of segregation, opposition from Navy brass, and the amputation of his left leg following a tragic on-duty accident. Robert De Niro adds marquee value and salty bluster as Billy Sunday, the drunken, redneck (and fictionalized) Master Chief who watches, with gradual admiration, as Brashear attains his ultimate goal through sheer force of will.

Product Description

Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Robert De Niro deliver powerhouse performances (Chicago Tribune) in this triumphant epic inspired by the life of Carl Brashear.

Men Of Honor tells the courageous tale of an African-American sailor (Gooding) who dared to dream of becoming a U.S. Navy Master Diver. Despite a ruthless training officer (De Niro) and a tragic shipboard accident, Carl's iron will is never broken. Against all odds, he pushes on to achieve the impossible in an incredible finish that will leave you cheering.

System Requirements:
Starring: Robert De Niro, Cuba Gooding Jr., Charlize Theron, David Conrad, Joshua Feinman, Ryan Honey, Theo Nicholas Pagones, Michael Rapaport, Hal Holbrook, Aunjanue Ellis, Joshua Leonard, David Keith, Powers Boothe, Dennis Troutman, and Holt McCallany.
Directed By: George Tillman Jr.
Running Time: 128 Min., Color.
This film is presented in "Widescreen" format.
Copyright 2000 Twentieth Century Fox.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

Men of Honor presents a great role model for younger viewers, yet it's rated R due to abundant use of the F word. With appropriate discretion, parents should allow their preteen and teenaged children to see this rousing if altogether conventional biopic inspired by the life of Carl Brashear. Played with gravity and gumption by Cuba Gooding Jr., Brashear was the first African American to become a master diver in the U.S. Navy, despite the lingering effects of segregation, opposition from Navy brass, and the amputation of his left leg following a tragic on-duty accident. Robert De Niro adds marquee value and salty bluster as Billy Sunday, the drunken, redneck (and fictionalized) Master Chief who watches, with gradual admiration, as Brashear attains his ultimate goal through sheer force of will.

This is all quite uplifting on its surface, but in attempting to hit the requisite highlights of an inspiring biography, director George Tillman Jr. (Soul Food) reduces Brashear's achievement to a succession of clichés, forcing Gooding and De Niro to battle sentiment with their noteworthy performances. As Sunday's neglected wife, Charlize Theron is completely extraneous; Hal Holbrook's diving-school commander is a ranting caricature; and newcomer Aunjanue Ellis barely registers as Brashear's wife (in part because their obligatory romance is handled with an utter lack of finesse). There's no question that Brashear's efforts are heroic and worthy of recognition, so Men of Honor serves its basic purpose. Still, one can't help but wonder if Brashear's story would be even more impressive with a more authentic treatment. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

There Should be More Movies Like This.......2007-03-22

I have seen some of these reviews and they couldn't be more wrong about this movie. Cuba Gooding Jr. does an excellent job playing the role of Carl Brashear. I like the fact that George Tillman brought to life a story about a great man who is widely overlooked in our history books. Robert Deniro put everything he had into Chief Sunday and then some. I have had this movie for years now and I keep watching it over and over. If you like biographies you need to buy this movie and even if you don't you will still love it.

Honorably Courageous.......2007-01-09

Has everything: a remarkable true story of a determined hero and the love of family in making his accomplishment even more special. It makes you want to applaud his courage in many scenes, especially when he succeeds an incredibly painful test to stun his supervisory review board, winning their applaud as well. This is a don't miss story told by tremendous acting throughout...20 star performances! Thank you for sending me a copy. - Q

What Mettle defines Honor?.......2006-11-22

I was really impressed by this film. This story takes place at a transitional time in history when men, real men, were measured by their mettle not their color. At least that was the way it was supposed to be. I really like this film. It's not flashy and has a good old-fashioned look and feel about it. Cuba Gooding Jr. enters the Navy with all good intentions but the lingering effects of a segregated military, even though recently abolished, weigh heavy on him. Military traditions good or bad are hard to break. Robert De Niro plays a Southern bigoted washed up Master Chief in charge of training at the U.S. Navy's diving school. Ordered by commanding officer Hal Holbrook to fail Gooding, De Niro begins to learn the real meaning of honor as shown by Gooding's determination and perseverance at insurmountable odds. Perhaps Gooding's conduct possibly rekindled in De Niro the recognition of those qualities that defined and are the very essence of honor in De Niro's burdened psyche. This film has much more to say than what seems apparent, but the images will linger with you.

Truly Inspiring.......2006-07-26

This movie is a true inspiration. The man portrayed in this movie overcame oppression and a disability all in the service of the country he loved. Cuba Gooding Jr does a great job playing Carl M. Brashear, the first African American Naval Diver.

If you ever have the feeling that you want to quit or give up on something you should watch this film for inspiration.

Unfortunately, today, we lost this great man. I have attached the story from CNN below.

RICHMOND, Virginia (AP) -- Carl M. Brashear, the first black U.S. Navy diver who was portrayed by Cuba Gooding Jr. in the 2000 film "Men of Honor," died Tuesday. He was 75.

Brashear died at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth of respiratory and heart failure, the medical center said.

Brashear retired from the Navy in 1979 after more than 30 years of service. He was the first Navy diver to be restored to full active duty as an amputee, the result of a leg injury he sustained during a salvage operation.

"The African-American community lost a great leader today in Carl Brashear," Gooding said of the man he played alongside Robert DeNiro, who was Brashear's roughneck training officer in "Men of Honor." "His impact to us as a people and all races will be felt for many decades to come."

In 1966 Brashear was assigned to recover a hydrogen bomb that dropped into waters off of Spain when two U.S. Air Force planes collided.

During the mission Brashear was struck below his left knee by a pipe that the crew was using to hoist the bomb out of the water. Brashear was airlifted to a naval hospital where the bottom of his left leg was amputated to avoid gangrene. It later was replaced with a prosthetic leg.

The Navy was ready to retire Brashear from active duty, but he soon began a grueling training program that included diving, running and calisthenics.

"Sometimes I would come back from a run, and my artificial leg would have a puddle of blood from my stump. I wouldn't go to sick bay because they would have taken me out of the program," Brashear said in 2002 when he was inducted into the Gallery of Great Black Kentuckians. "Instead, I'd go hide somewhere and soak my leg in a bucket of hot water with salt in it -- that's an old remedy I learned growing up."

Brashear faced an uphill battle when he joined the Navy in 1948 at the age of 17, not long after the U.S. military desegregated.

"I went to the Army office, and they weren't too friendly," Brashear said in 2002. "But the Navy recruiter was a lot nicer. Looking back, I was placed in my calling."

Brashear, the son of poor sharecroppers in Sonora, Kentucky, quickly decided after boot camp that he wanted to become a deep-sea diver.

"Growing up on a farm in Kentucky, I always dreamed of doing something challenging," he said. "When I saw the divers for the first time, I knew it was just what I wanted."

In 1954 he was accepted and graduated from the diving program, despite daily battles with discrimination, including having hate notes left on his bunk.

He went on to train for advanced diving programs before his 1966 incident.

"He kept to himself personally, but his military life was an open book," said Junetta Brashear, his first wife, who lives in Portsmouth, Virginia, near Brashear's home in Virginia Beach.

She said Brashear's health started to deteriorate about three years ago, but that he had experienced problems ever since the amputation.

Brashear married childhood friend Junetta Wilcox in 1952 and had four children -- Shazanta, DaWayne, Phillip and Patrick -- before their divorce in 1978. He later married Hattie R. Elam and Jeanette A. Brundage.

This film really is taking the mickey.......2006-02-17

In all honesty, this film is taking the mickey when it comes to the issue of egalitarianism in the armed forces. This is an issue that is very close to me as I have Asperger's syndrome (a condition on the autistic spectrum) and was rejected by the Army on account of this. However, I passed my Potential Officers Course yesterday, which is the first examination you have to do in order to gain entry to the Royal Marines. If an amputee were to try and become a Royal Marine Commando, I would think he was taking the mickey. This film serves to make a mockery of the issue of equal opportunities.

Average customer rating:

There Should be More Movies Like This
Honorably Courageous
What Mettle defines Honor?
Truly Inspiring
This film really is taking the mickey

Men of Honor (Full-Screen Edition)
Starring: Robert De Niro , Cuba Gooding Jr. , Charlize Theron , Aunjanue Ellis , and Hal Holbrook
Director: George Tillman Jr.
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | African American Cinema | Genres | DVD | Video

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( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000062XGI
Release Date: 2002-05-21

Amazon.com

Description

One of those rare films that grabs you by the gut and never lets go, Men of Honor was inspired by the life of Carl Brasher (Cuba Gooding Jr.), an African American who dared to dream of becoming a U.S. Navy Master Diver. Despite a bigoted training officer (Robert DeNiro) and a tragic shipboard accident, Carl never gives up and achieves the impossible in an incredible finish that will leave you cheering.

Customer Reviews:

There Should be More Movies Like This.......2007-03-22

Honorably Courageous.......2007-01-09

What Mettle defines Honor?.......2006-11-22

Truly Inspiring.......2006-07-26

This film really is taking the mickey.......2006-02-17

Average customer rating:

There Should be More Movies Like This
Honorably Courageous
What Mettle defines Honor?
Truly Inspiring
This film really is taking the mickey

Men of Honor [Blu-ray]
Starring: Robert DeNiro , and Cuba Gooding Jr.
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

General | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

Drama | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Rules of Engagement
Courage Under Fire
Broken Arrow
Pearl Harbor [Blu-ray]
Behind Enemy Lines

ASIN: B000K0YLMS
Release Date: 2007-01-23

Amazon.com

Description

Customer Reviews:

There Should be More Movies Like This.......2007-03-22

Honorably Courageous.......2007-01-09

What Mettle defines Honor?.......2006-11-22

Truly Inspiring.......2006-07-26

This film really is taking the mickey.......2006-02-17

Average customer rating:

A TRUE AMERICAN HERO...

Men of Honor
Starring: Robert De Niro , Cuba Gooding Jr. , Charlize Theron , Aunjanue Ellis , and Hal Holbrook
Director: George Tillman Jr.
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | African American Cinema | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00066FAF8
Release Date: 2002-05-21

Description

Customer Reviews:

A TRUE AMERICAN HERO..........2006-12-05

This is a wonderful, heartwarming film, as well as an indictment of the US Navy at a certain time in history. The story is a cinematic, biographical sketch of Carl Brashear, the first African-American to become a diver for the US Navy. Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Robert De Niro both give Oscar calibre performances in this gripping film.

The movie tells the story of Carl Brashear, whose parents instilled in him a determination that would cause him never to give up his dream of becoming a diver in the US Navy. He stuck to his guns, despite the overt racism that he encountered when he joined the Navy. The racism that he encountered would make it harder for him to achieve his life long dream.

Once he became a diver, Mr. Brashear upped the ante and strove to become a master diver. He struggled to do this against all odds, and just when he was on the cusp of achieving his goal, a tragic accident befell him, derailing him temporarily from the path to his ultimate goal. What he then does to fulfill his dream is radical, yet inpirational.

Cuba Gooding, Jr. gives a perfomance so moving and heroic, that the viewer feels like giving him a twenty one gun salute at the end of the film. Robert De Niro plays a racist master diver who is ultimately converted to the side of the angels, when he realizes that Carl Brashear is truly the best of the best. His performance is stellar.

The only problem with the movie is that most of the supporting roles pale in comparison to the two central ones played by Gooding and De Niro. Charlize Theron's role, that of De Niro's wife, is really superfluous to the story. Aunjanue Ellis, who affectingly plays Gooding's wife, has a more crucial, pivotal role than Ms. Theron, but remains a shadowy figure in the backround. Hal Holbrook's portrayal of a loony, racist Navy commander is rather one dimensional, more of a caricature than a character. Notwithstanding these small shortcomings, this is a riveting film that should not be missed.

Heroes of War Collection - Soldier's Stories (Men of Honor / Courage Under Fire / Tigerland / The Thin Red Line)

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Heroes of War Collection - Soldier's Stories (Men of Honor / Courage Under Fire / Tigerland / The Thin Red Line)
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Episode Description: GiftSet Includes the Following Titles:

Description

Antwone Fisher & Men of Honor (Full Screen Edition)

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Antwone Fisher & Men of Honor (Full Screen Edition)
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There Should be More Movies Like This
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Men of Honor [Region 2]
Starring: Robert De Niro , Cuba Gooding Jr. , Charlize Theron , Aunjanue Ellis , and Hal Holbrook
Director: George Tillman Jr.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video