PodBill Just what I expected

Claysaba Excellent, Without a doubt!!

Guillelmina The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Marva It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Dan Guercio Taps is one of my favorite movies and it is without a doubt one of Timothy Hutton and Sean Penn's best performances. The entire premise of the movie is entertaining, heartfelt, and thought provoking all at the same time. The message of the film, which is while there is honor and valor in war there is also young and meaningless death, is one of the best messages a movie can convey and is also conveyed so perfectly that it is easily noticeable and understandable. Taps is an eye opener that expresses how war can be misconstrued as a playground for heroes and not an unnecessary loss of life. Overall, Taps is a great movie that deserves much better than it received.

Desertman84 Taps is a 1981 movie that stars the late George C.Scott,Timothy Hutton,Ronny Cox and introduced future Hollywood superstars,Sean Penn and Tom Cruise.The story was about how military cadets revolted to the announcement that their school,Bunker Hill Military Academy, a military school institution, is to be torn down and replaced with commercial condominiums.This sets off the young cadets led by their commander General Harlan Bache,who unfortunately passed away during an incident.With the passing of General Bache,the students continued their revolt under the command of a student cadet major,Cadet Major Brian Moreland.Eventaully,the cadets seize the campus, refuse entry of the construction crews and ultimately confront the real military led by Colonel Kerby.Aside from that,the story also presented two interesting characters in Cadet Captain Alex Dwyer and Cadet Captain David Shawn.The film's theme was about military idealism and how the cadets have yet to realize what the real world is all about.It was a great to see how twisted ideas and priorities can help the cadets realize their immaturity and gain knowledge on what the real world is all about.

fortethewriter A story often overlooked for less-than-stellar acting and direction, Taps brings into question if classical military leadership and the traditional honor of fighting men has a place in the modern age.Providing a springboard for young actors into future careers, the film showcases a number of actors ranging in ages from pre-teen to late teens with varying results. Some perform predictably while others really shine (particularly Brendan Ward as Charlie Auden).The film holds up well after 30 years, feeling more like a story SET in the early 80's rather than being burdened by its age. Cinematography is dramatic, though not always dynamic, and makes GREAT use of the borrowed setting of actual Valley Forge academy.The story is paced well, though some may feel it to be kind of slow. This is NOT an action movie, and is far from a traditional military movie either. Those who are looking for something along the lines of We Were Soldiers or even the first half of Full Metal Jacket will be very disappointed. Those with a more open mind for classical story-telling will find a surprisingly detailed portrayal of life in a military academy and a deeper story than may be seen on the surface.Atypical for the theme and maybe not for everyone, but definitely worth a shot.

happipuppi13 I saw dumb movies when I was young but every now & thenI'd actually find something that was worth the money I spent.Taps was the first film I saw in Jan. of 1982,weeks after it's release and at that time was without a doubt,at age 13 & 1/2 the most grown-up movie I had ever seen. I'm sure in the TV advertisements the appeal was obvious. Actors near my age and my older brothers' ages,the (then) cool look of their uniforms and without a doubt,that scene in the the ad where the students are overhead with their guns pointed at the adults,I.E. :rebellion. Hard to find a pre-teen or teen-age boy who wouldn't find this kind of thing appealing. In the new Reagan,conservative '80s era it was fitting. One's point of view can only describe to that person what this film is all about. Some have felt this film is pro-war,while others (like me) feel it's th opposite. I find it to be even more than that though. It seemed to me that it's just as I stated above. The naive' appeal of war and weapons to young minds,as well as the parents who send their kids to these kinds of places to shape them up. No offense to those who did attend an academy,there are those who actually do get something out of it,but for my own life experience and views,I'll more than likely never understand what that would be. Self discipline can be taught to one's self just as easily.Anyhow,getting back to the film. As a movie it was quite the intense experience. George C. Scott was great in it but I really wish his character had not been removed from the story. I felt he brought these kids a level measure of control and a wiser voice of reason. Timothy Hutton,Sean Penn and (aside from the younger kids)the 17/18 year old Tom Cruise are all fantastic in their roles. In the case of Penn & Cruise a pre-view of good things to come for them as actors.Penn is a great friend to Hutton's character and this may seem like a simple role at first but as the story goes on his performance builds on itself with his still very fresh abilities as an actor.Cruise is unsettling but electric as the cadet who likes the power & control he's been trained with just a little too much. Resulting in the climactic scene where he goes "trigger-happy" with a machine gun near the end of the film. "It's beautiful man!" is the most remembered line from the whole film.Hutton,the veteran actor of the 3,plays a young man who has a more idealistic view of his education at the academy and of the overall meaning. It's more like an elegant party for him and his hanging out with "old soldiers". The taking of the academy by the students was handled convincingly enough but the idea that they'd bring in tanks and the "real army" seemed a bit much. The pressure of that later resulting in a bit of a dissension between Penn & Hutton.The thing that has not set to well with those that have seen this movie is the senseless killing of a boy who's only about 10 or 11 by the military. Even over 27 years later,it still feels like it was not a necessary thing to put in this movie to make the point of what happens to these boys when they end up in "a real war". The point was made long before that. It was equally unnerving for me to realize that even kids that age can "stop living'.That nearly fatal story choice aside,the film really is great. The best thing one can do before watching is just put aside your left or right views and just watch it as you would any other movie. What I learned years later is not to let myself get so deep into the politics and just keep in mind,that's Hollywood and the film-makers ideas and/or ideals. (END)