In this week, I watched a movie named Saving Private Ryan. It’s a very famous movie and received universal critical acclaim, winning several awards for film, cast, and crew, as well as earning significant returns at the box office. I will give a brief introduction and the tension between following lawful orders and self-preservation in the military.

This is a very excellent film. And after watching this movie, I though a lot about tension between following lawful orders and self-preservation in the military. Admitted, following lawful orders is the first mission for a soldiers, but self-preservation also is very significant. Therefore, soldiers need protect themselves as far as possible, and do their best for the mission. According to the movie, If Miller did not follow the lawful order to find Ryan, German may occupy Ramelle and reverse the battle. Therefore, there is no absolute right or wrong, and following lawful orders and self preservation are relative.

Now I will have a brief introduction of this movie. In the begging of the film, an elderly World War II veteran and his family visit the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Normandy, France. The veteran walks around the cemetery and, upon seeing one gravestone, collapses to his knees, overwhelmed by emotion. Obviously, this veteran is Ryan. Then the film flashes back 1944, the beginning of the Normandy Invasion, as American soldiers prepare to land on Omaha Beach. After the painful battle, General George Marshall is informed three of the four brothers of the Ryan family were killed in action and that their mother is to receive all three telegrams in the same day. Therefore, Marshall send Miller to find Ryan and bring him back. Moreover, Miller find eight soldiers and organize a troop to find Ryan. Eventually, they found Ryan, and they had been lost two soldiers during the mission. However, Ryan does not want to go with them, because he need guard the bridge. Then Miller and soldiers decide to stay here and help Ryan to guard the bridge. At the end of the film, Ryan are with Miller as he dies and says his last words, “James … earn this. Earn it.”

To conclude, this is an excellent movie. I had a lot of thoughts when I watched this movie. And in my opinion following lawful orders and self-preservation both are significant.

In this week, I watched a movie name A Bridge Too Far. This movie mainly tells the story of the failure of Operation Market Garden, thus the alliance of America and Britain which were suffered the most disastrous attack by Germany during the World War II.

Now I will have a brief introduction of this film. In the beginning of this film, U.S. General George S. Patton and British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery have competing plans for ending the war quickly, and being the first to get to Berlin. Under political pressure, Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower chose Montgomery’s Operation Market Garden. Browning let Taylor, Gavin, Urquhart, and Sosabowski to led different airborne troops. Montgomery planned to adopt leapfrog tactics which made American troops and British troops to attack Germany. In the begging of the battle, Allies sent 5500 Transport Planes, 2596 Gliders, 8000 Warcraft and Bomber, unfortunately Allies lost a lot of soldiers. After securing Nijmegen Bridge, XXX Corps waits several hours for its infantry to secure the town. Finally, Sosabowski’s troops enter the battle, yet they are unable to effectively reinforce the British at Arnhem. Although Operation Market Garden is determined by Montgomery and his High Command to be 90% successful, most of those who actually carried it out feel quite differently. Urquhart confronts Browning about his personal sentiments regarding the operation: does Browning think it was as well as Montgomery estimates? Browning’s reply contradicts his earlier optimism for Market Garden: “Well, as you know, I always felt we tried to go a bridge too far.”

There were four mainly generals who were Taylor, Gavin, Urquhart, Sosabowski. In my opinion, they were totally different. Taylor was a four star general of the United States Army and diplomat of the mid-20th century, who served as the fifth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff after having been appointed by President John F. Kennedy. General Gavin respected his soldier, and he can used different way to encourage his soldiers.  Moreover, I noticed that Gavin’s soldiers had close relationship. For Urquhart, I think he did not finish his mission very well during the Operation Market Garden. Because, he just moved from India during the war, and he does not know how to command airborne troops. Therefore, in the begging of the battle he was scattered with his subordinate. Then, his troops was surrounded by enemies because of his lead. Also he said that he has airsickness. Sosabowski was a Dutch, thus Browning did not pay more attention on him.

To conclude, I had a lot of thoughts when I watched this movie. And in my opinion a great leader need pay more attention on his soldiers. Because, soldier is a very significant part of a war.

In this week, I watched a movie of Gettysburg battle. This battle was the most significant parts of the Civil War. Not only, this battle is often described as the war’s turning point but also involved the largest number of casualties of the entire war and is often described as the war’s turning point.

Now I will have a brief introduction of this film. This movie mainly described the battle, which between Union and Confederate, of Gettysburg. This battle was commanded by Union Major General George Meade’s and Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The Battle of Gettysburg was depicted in the 1993 film Gettysburg, based on Michael Shaara’s 1974 novel The Killer Angels. The film and novel focused primarily on the actions of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, John Buford, Robert E. Lee, and James Longstreet during the battle. This film is an extremely grand movie which is different from Glory. This movie successfully uses the variety of people and four hours to describe the five days’ battle. Moreover, I learned a lot of things from this movie. The movie told me that although these people had different opinion of the Civil War, there is no winner and loser during the war, because soldiers devote themselves to the country, thus every solider should be respect, they devote themselves to the country, and they all are immortal.

In this movie I noticed two people who was Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and Robert E. Lee. Robert and Joshua were both leaders. But they were different. First of all, Robert was the leader of southern Army, and Joshua was the leader of Union. Secondly, Robert graduated from United States Military Academy, which was a famously military school. However, Joshua graduated from Bowdoin university, and his major is literature which is totally different with military. Moreover, Chamberlain believed the Union needed to be supported by all those willing against the Confederacy. And he urged people follow their heart.

To conclude, Chamberlain and Robert both are successful leaders, and they both devote themselves to the country.

In this week, I watched a movie named Glory. The protagonist of this film is Robert Gould Shaw who was an American soldier in the Union Army during the U.S. Civil War. Born into a prominent abolitionist family, he accepted command of the first all-black regiment in the Northeast.

Now I will have a brief introduction of this movie. This movie happened during the U.S. Civil War, and the Union Army failed the war frequently. Therefore, Abraham Lincoln published The Emancipation Proclamation, and raise a regiment of Negro soldiers. Shaw is offered a promotion to the rank of Colonel to command one of the first all-black regiments in the Federal Army, the 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. And the Federal Government recruited 1100 Negro soldiers for Shaw. However, there were a lot of problems which need Shaw to face. First of all, these Negro soldiers can not concentrate on the war, thus Shaw trained them harshly. Then, The Southern Government has issued an order that all black soldiers found in Union uniform will be summarily executed, as will their white officers, and are offered a chance to take an honorable discharge, but none of them do. The black soldiers undergo a severe training regimen under Irish Sergeant-Major Mulcahy. When Shaw confronts Mulcahy about his methods he comes to realize that Mulcahy is in fact training them fairly and is trying to prepare the men for the extreme challenges that they will face. Secondly, Shaw learns that his men are being denied regular supplies and confronts the base’s racist quartermaster on their behalf. He further supports them through a pay dispute, as the Federal government decided to pay black soldiers $10/month as opposed to the $13/month that white soldiers earn. Trip encourages the men to go without pay in protest, and Shaw tears up his own pay stub in solidarity, earning the respect and admiration of his men. And, Shaw need find a way to join the war. Finally, the 54^th join the war in South Carolina. Finally, General George Strong informs Shaw and his other staff officers of a major campaign to secure a foothold in Charleston Harbor. Shaw was dead during this war, and lost a lot of Negro soldiers.

In my opinion, Shaw was brilliant, because he used a diversity of way to encourage this soldiers. And Federal government raised a regiment of Negros soldiers which was an excellent idea based on two reasons. First of all, these black people have more motivation than the white people. Secondly, they do not want to be slave anymore, and they want to have better life than before. And this is the beginning of diversity of American military.

To conclude, this movie, Glory, is an excellent movie. This movie let me know the importance of this battle. And Federal government liberate black people also is a excellent idea.

In this week, I watched a movie of all time “Patton”. Patton was a senior officer of the United States Army, who commanded the U.S. Seventh Army in the Mediterranean and European Theaters of World War II.

Now I will have a brief introduction of this movie. This movie mainly described the alliance of America and Britain were stuck by a famous German general, thus American government sent Patton to revival American armies and Bradley was his assistant. After this successful battle, he commanded the U.S. Seventh Army during the Allied invasion of Sicily. However, Patton and British general Montgomery had different plan about this battle. Finally, American government accepted Montgomery’s plan. Patton was angry about this decision, and he wanted to be the first Allied commander to reach Messina. Eventually, he achieved his goal but he lost a lot of soldiers. And he was temporarily removed from battlefield, because he slapped a shell-shocked soldier. Then Patton returned to command the Third Army following the invasion of Normandy in 1944, where he led a highly successful, rapid armored drive across France. After the war, Patton’s rank was raised, but he was relieved because of his aggressive statement.

There was an another famous general, who provided a lot of help to Patton, Bradley during the was. Bradley and Patton were both leaders. But they were immensely different. First of all, Patton and Bradley have totally different background. Patton’s family was prosperous, and George Patton spent his childhood on the family’s 2,000-acre estate. But Bradley was born in a log cabin and he was the only survival in this family. And Bradley disliked Patton both personally and professionally. This movie portrays Patton who was very aggressive and he strong emphasis on rapid and aggressive offensive action proved effective. For instance, a famous address to the Third Army, attracted favorable attention and he always said always take the offensive, never dig in. During the movie, Patton also said that When I want it to stick, I talk to them loud and dirty, and they will remember it. And during the movie, German said that Patton prays on his knees, but curses like a stable boy. Compare with Patton Bradley was totally different. He always used a variety of ways to decrease the death of solider. And he was not like another general, because he prefers to pay more attention on solider than to win the war and Bradley is most capable, but unpretentious. Therefore, people always said that Bradley was the G.I. general. On the contrary, soldiers always thought Patton was Old blood and Guts. In my opinion, I like Bradley more than Patton based on several reasons. First of all, soldiers will give more respect to Bradley, because Bradley care about his soldiers. Therefore, soldiers do not have too much pressure, and they can pay more attention on battle. Moreover, a lot of soldiers said that they want to kill Patton because of his statement. Secondly, Bradley did not have too much trouble. Because, he is very unpretentious.

To conclude, I had a lot of thoughts when I watched this movie. And in my opinion a great leader need pay more attention on his soldiers. Because, soldier is a very significant part of a war.