Terrific Pro-RKBA Movie I Just Saw: "Second Hand Lions."

[Travis McGee]

"Second Hand Lions."

Yesterday I took my family out to see the movie "Second Hand Lions" at the San Diego Naval Base theater. (They show first-run movies for free, but about a month after the general release.)

This movie stars Robert Ducall, Michael Caine, and some newcomer 12 year old boy. All three were incredible, but I would have to say Duvall really shined above them all. I laughed through 90% of the movie, and had to hide my misty eyes the rest of the time.

The reason I'm posting this thread is that during the entire movie (mostly set in Texas around 1960) firearms are shown in a very fun and positive way. There's no killing folks with them; mostly the two old coots use off-target shotgun blasts to drive pesky salesmen off of their sprawling ranch. At one point or another just about everybody is handling a rifle or shotgun, and the only characters who are against guns are portrayed as dorks and jerks.

The other thing that is really terrific about this "coming of age" movie is that the two old coots are both retired military veterans with service in two world wars and too many smaller wars to count. Military service is shown as a noble calling throughout. You just have to watch Robert Duvall in action, and in words, to understand what I'm talking about. It is really moving.

The film is rated PG, but don't let that stop you, anybody of any age will enjoy this movie tremendously. If you have the chance to take kids to see it, great, but see it anyway even if you don't have kids. The movie is THAT GOOD. Go to see it or buy it or rent it, you'll thank me for the tip!!

Matt

 

[Razor]

What are you doing watching a movie? Shouldn't you be writing?

Thanks for the review, I think I'll have to catch that one.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

and some newcomer 12 year old boy.

WHAT???? That would Haley Joel Osmont. Sixth Sense, AI. Excellent child actor. He's actually 15 now, if I recall correctly.

I give this movie the highest recommendation. It treats RKBA very positively, as described above. It also comes from a very clear understanding of what drives men. If you have young boys I really recommend going to see this with them and talking about it together. Any guys interested in understanding what I'm talking about should read "Wild at Heart" by John Eldridge (spelling?). It's about men and how they work. The themes from that book resonate really strongly with "Secondhand Lions."

Either way, go see the movie. It's awesome.

 

[NIGHTWATCH]

Thanks, Im going this week.

 

[Don Gwinn]

Great movie. Watch for the two young boys showing admirable cooperation and teamwork as they operate an M1 Garand, one holding the butt and the other the front stock.

 

[Detritus]

WHAT???? That would Haley Joel Osmont. Sixth Sense, AI. Excellent child actor. He's actually 15 now, if I recall correctly

yepper, Haley Joel Osment... kid's been around a while, he's actually "Forrest Jr," from Forrest Gump as well.

 

[Mad Man]

IMDB

Here's the entry from the Internet Movie Data Base: http://imdb.com/title/tt0327137/

If you click on the "Trivia" link in the left-hand column, you learn this about the movie:

# The ending was re-shot due to negative test-screening feedback. The re-shot cost $600,000. The original ending will be available on the DVD.

# 'Haley Joel Osment' was attacked by the pig during filming. The lion had numerous trainers and handlers, but no one thought the pig might be a menace.

# Berkeley Breathed (Bloom County) drew the cartoons you see on the adult Walter's desk.

# The shoulder patch on the uniform of the Sheriff who meets with adult Walter shows Comal County, Texas.

 

[Travis McGee]

Mad Man: what was the original ending the got the negative reaction?

Matt

 

[Parker Dean]

# 'Haley Joel Osment' was attacked by the pig during filming. The lion had numerous trainers and handlers, but no one thought the pig might be a menace.

Yeah, it sounds strange but pigs are mean ********. The older they get, the meaner they get. Surprisingly quick with the biting once they get close. Definitely not recommended around small children.

 

[OkieGentleman]

Lions

I will second the motion that this is a movie to go see. I loved it! Cannot wait for it to be on DVD so I can get my own copy. You need to see this twice to get all of the action. I do not know the artist that drew the cartoons in the back ground, but I think it would be a cartoon strip I would look forward to every day

 

[Don Gwinn]

Yeah, it would have been hard to think those cartoons were drawn by anybody else.

Let me guess. . . . the original ending either made it clear that the old men were just telling fancy stories, or it left the whole question of the truth of their tales up in the air?

I can imagine the average viewer deciding that the whole movie was a waste without a happy ending. . . . and the whole bit with the Sheikh's grandson at the end just seemed tacked-on.

95% of the film, however, was just bloody brilliant!

 

[Devonai]

I will probably watch this one when it comes out on video, but I have to disagree with the perspective on firearms that it represents.

From what I saw in the trailers, firearms are used in irresponsible manners that in today's day and age would get you hauled into court.

Firing at fish with a shotgun? Better hope the shore patrol isn't nearby.

Putting a shot into the stratosphere to scare away a salesman? Looks like brandishing in the least and felony assault at worst.

If anything, this may serve only to perpetuate the image of "bubba" and his scattergun. I will withhold the rest of my opinion until I've seen the entire work, however.

 

[Dr.Who]

So good that I watched it 3 times, Yes I'll be getting my own copy as well...

There was another post on this prior....

 

[BowStreetRunner]

by far my fav scened is where robert duvall beats the tar out of a group of punks

 

[moa]

Agressive pig? Maybe somebody accidentally brought in one of those trained, man-eating pigs from the movie "Hannibal", which is pretty darn good flick too.

 

[Travis McGee]

I wish I had the script for that fast mini-speech Duvall gives the greasers in the restaurant before beating the hell out of them. Something like "I've been in two world wars, and too many others to count! I rode into battle on horses and on tanks! I've killed hundreds of men and loved one woman." Etc.

That really was a beautiful movie.

 

[Don Gwinn]

The shore patrol? Do farm ponds have shore patrols where you live? They weren't at a duck pond in Central Park, you know. That was their pond in the middle of miles of their property, and not another soul for miles. What they were doing was perfectly safe. No offense, but it's a little premature to condemn the film if you haven't seen anything but a trailer.

The speech was something like this, but I know I'm missing some parts. The Head Punk asks Hub who he thinks he is, in a sneering tone, and Hub replies:

"I fought in two world wars and too many smaller ones to count! I have led thousands of men in pitched battles with everything from artillery to rifles to swords! I have killed hundreds of men and loved only one woman, with a passion that a flea like you could never understand! I'm Hub McAnn, that's who I am!


What I really want to hear is the entire "What Every Boy Ought to Hear Before He Becomes a Man" speech. I bet the author wrote the whole thing out to choose the excerpt that made the film.

 

[TarpleyG]

Any guys interested in understanding what I'm talking about should read "Wild at Heart" by John Eldridge (spelling?). It's about men and how they work.

Just don't mistakenly watch David Lynch's "Wild at Heart" thinking it is the same story as this book

GT

 

[Travis McGee]

Don Gwinn: That was an Academy Award performance by Duvall, that's for sure!

 

[mcneill]

Thanks for the reviews - I wanted to take my 12-year old daughter to see it, but she thought it might be too sad (what a tender-hearted little girl). I'll be sure to get the DVD when it comes out.

Comal County, you say? I live in Comal County. Cool.

Jim

 

[Razor]

Wonderful movie.

(it just came out on DVD)

 

[HunterGatherer]

Do farm ponds have shore patrols where you live?

As a refugee of the communist northeast, I'd have to say yeah, they pretty much do. Do what you want on your own property at your peril. Even if the Environmental Police don't catch you, your eco-Nazi neighbor is almost certain to turn you in.

When I was a kid growing up there, they still had game wardens, real men. They hunted, fished, snowmobiled, etc...

Now they have Environmental Police and other jackbooted metro-sexual eco-Nazi types. They spend their days making sure that you comply with the thousands of environmental edicts that are passed - not by legislators - but by faceless beaurocrats.

Sad really. Beautiful part of the country, but wholly occupied by the left.


As far as Duvall goes, he is a superb actor. All three of the main actors are for that matter.

Duvall IIRC is the son of a Naval officer, and he spent several summers on his uncle's (again IIRC) ranch in Montana.

Quite likely that, and his own two years of Army service, helped him bring depth to his character.

 

[HunterGatherer]

"I'm Hub McCann. I've fought in two world wars and countless smaller ones on three continents. I've led thousands of men into battle with horses and swords, artillery and tanks. I've seen the headwaters of the Nile and tribes of natives no white men had ever seen before. I've won and lost a dozen fortunes, killed many men, and loved only one woman with a passion a flea like you could never begin to understand. That's who I am."

No wonder Ebert and Roeper hated it.

 

[Ed Brunner]

I'm a serious Robert Duvall fan. Thanks for the information.

 

[HunterGatherer]

As I thought:



Mr. Chairman and Members of the House Resources Committee.

I am honored to show my strong support for a Visitor Center at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. I am the son of a career naval officer. He taught me love of country. That love of country also made me a veteran of the U.S. Army.

Love of country. Where else can we see this love so vividly than at this place? Over 58,000 citizens have their names engraved here. Who is not moved by these names, these heroes?

Let us pass this bill. America's youth will someday see the photographs of the brave soldiers who did their duty for our country in a privately funded Visitor Center. This just may become the most profoundly memorable educational experience in Washington, D.C. as the experience of the Center works in synergy with the Memorial.

This is the third time Congress has tried to pass this bill. Mr. Chairman, I salute you for your dedication to finally getting this job done.

There were those who two decades ago did not want this Memorial on the Mall. But the wisdom of the Congress prevailed. And thankfully. Now we must complete the task. As this Memorial has evolved from The Wall that Heals to The Wall that Educates — America's youth must have the opportunity to learn patriotism and sacrifice at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Every decent American I know agrees with me when I say there is nothing to fear in the precedent of educating youth that will be set by this Visitor Center. Education is never dangerous. Young Americans could and should have learned about patriotism and sacrifice at The Wall with a Visitor Center long ago. I especially thank the President of the United States and National Park Service Director Fran Mainella for support of this concept.

I had a great line from Apocalypse Now — where I played Lt. Colonel Kilgore.

The line: “Some day this war is gonna end.â€

In a profound sense the societal impact of the war is not over. The Vietnam War changed our country and has ongoing implications for all Americans. Yet here at this sacred site - those who took opposing views stand united in respect for the citizens whose names are engraved. This is where we must have the Visitor Center. Right here at The Wall.

This is a historic day. This is a historic hearing at the site of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial — a Visitor Center for America is closer to becoming a reality.

I am moved as I look at the young people here today — future leaders of our country are here to petition Congress.

There is a visitor center at the Jefferson Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial. A visitor center is planned for the Washington Monument as well.

Yet Vietnam Veterans have to wage this struggle again and again for this noble cause! I am just so pleased to be a part of it and again salute the wisdom of this committee.

The youngsters here deserve to learn — they deserve to learn right here. This is what this hearing is about. It is about America's youth. They are here today petitioning Congress. This hearing is about America's youth and understanding our nation's democracy.

We are the land of the free and the home of the brave. We also are a land which is at war with terrorists who want to destroy our civilization. Some of these youngsters may have to serve as soldiers to defend our nation.

I end today with a quote from Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg address: “It is for us the living to be here dedicated to that cause for which they gave their last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth.â€

The spirits of the soldiers on this Memorial speak to us today with the sound of a thousand trumpets as they echo the words of the prophet Isaiah: “Open ye the gates that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.â€

I urge all efforts to pass H.R.1442. Let's bring about this Visitor Center. We owe it to those who are on this Memorial.

We owe this to our fellow citizens.

We owe it to those who are too young to know.

Robert Duvall